She pulled away before he could touch her, rea.s.sure her. "No, he's fine," she told them both, told herself. "He's so fast. He's the best at what he does."

Gideon remembered what he'd told Daegan, what was pounding in his head now. Everybody can be hurt. Toe-to-toe, Hercules might not be able to stand up to you, but if someone plans carefully enough, a ten-year-old kid could. Everybody can be hurt. Toe-to-toe, Hercules might not be able to stand up to you, but if someone plans carefully enough, a ten-year-old kid could. He was glad Anwyn appeared occupied with her own rea.s.surances to herself, giving him time to push his damaging thoughts aside. He was glad Anwyn appeared occupied with her own rea.s.surances to herself, giving him time to push his damaging thoughts aside.

"We have to get to my lab," Brian said. "Once Stephen knows what she did, he will antic.i.p.ate my reporting this to the Council. He'll go there to do damage control before he tries to contact Xavier. It will never occur to him that you two will try to leave the castle and help Daegan. And I fear he will need your help. If we are lucky, the Council will not think to call you from your rooms for this discussion, and it may be quite a while before they realize you have left the castle."

Apparently Brian had already antic.i.p.ated what he and Anwyn were going to do, and Gideon appreciated his intuition. A look of warrior fierceness crossed Anwyn's expression before she pivoted and disappeared into the bedroom. She must have moved with the speed of a vampire, because the two men had only a handful of seconds to be impatient before she returned, carrying her overnight bag.

"Things we'll need," she said shortly. Brian nodded, opening the door and investigating the pa.s.sage before he waved them out. "We must move swiftly."

"Why don't we go to the Council as well?" Anwyn asked, hurrying alongside him, Gideon covering their rear.

"Because you are a fledgling and Gideon is a vampire hunter," Brian said. "They won't believe either of you over two Council members. If you have no proof, your life is forfeit for an accusation brought against them. I will handle the Council until you return. While my account will be secondhand, it will give them pause, buy you time. They will believe Daegan, if he can get back here with proof."

"What about Alanna?" Gideon asked.

"She is correct. Stephen will execute her as soon as he knows. There is no leniency for a servant betraying her Master. If she is lucky, he will be in a hurry and make it quick."

Gideon and Anwyn came to a stop together, but Brian gripped their arms and propelled them on. "There is nothing you can do for her. Not and save Daegan as well. She chose her path, and she does not seek rescue. If you looked in her eyes, you could tell she is already dead. She was groomed and raised to be a servant. If she betrays her Master, no other will want her, and she has no desire for purpose beyond that. Her heart and spirit are broken. She did this for her brother, a final act. If there is anything to be done for her, Gideon, I swear I will try to intervene. But you must choose. You can only save one of them."

Christ. Gideon forced down his helpless rage, the vision of what might be done to the woman. "Why are we headed to your lab?" Gideon forced down his helpless rage, the vision of what might be done to the woman. "Why are we headed to your lab?"

"You need something that will help you overcome fifteen military-trained vampires. Debra, my servant, is preparing what you need. I've sent her instructions already."

"You keep incendiary rounds in your lab?" Gideon queried.

Brian gave him a wry look. "I'm sure you already have that on your private plane. I have something far more useful."

True to his word, when Brian entered the lab, Debra was already packaging three vials for transport. She had a backpack of other materials put together, which included directions to Xavier's club, the Coffin. Gideon wondered if she'd ever considered throwing in her hat with the vampire hunters, because they could have used her efficiency.

Anwyn gave him a quelling look at that thought, but in several seconds they were both paying close attention as Brian gave them further instructions on how to use the vials. He barely acknowledged his servant as he took the items from her hands and turned them over to Gideon, showing he knew who would handle battle strategy. For exit strategy, he turned his attention to them both.

"There's an underground pa.s.sage from my lab, the beauty of old castles," he said. "It'll bring you out about a quarter mile on the service road. Steal a car and get to the Coffin as soon as you can. This time of night, you shouldn't be stopped. When you get there, Anwyn can tell them she's visiting the Council to be processed as a new vampire, and she was told there was entertainment to be found at Xavier's club. I'll include a note in the pack to ensure she is accepted, so they know she does have the protection of this castle."

Brian put a hand on Anwyn's shoulder, drawing her gaze up. "Xavier is not a loose cannon. Not exactly. He was made during World War Two, and believes. .h.i.tler should have won. Which is ironic, considering Xavier is not a populist; he embraces the vampire world's brutal definition of order based on aristocrats. He is dangerous and merciless." Pausing, the scientist considered her from head to toe, a critical survey. "However, from my brief encounters with him, I remember he enjoys beauty. Deeply."

"She shouldn't go in there except as a last resort."

Anwyn turned to Gideon, but Brian spoke first. His tone, while mild, was implacable, his eyes sharp. "She's your Mistress, Gideon, not the other way around. I doubt she'll give you much choice. Plus, it will take both of you to get him out. I would prefer to go with you, but as I said, my voice will be needed to hold the Council's decision for a time.

"This is going to be very much a case of trial by combat." His gaze shifted between the two of them. "If you return alive, that will say much in your favor. If you do not return, then Stephen's claim will be believed, because his will be the only firsthand account heard. Xavier's role will be too easy to conceal."

"Why are they so determined to believe this a.s.shole?" Gideon demanded.

"He and Barbra were chosen to fill the made vampire positions after a severe selection process. There was a strong reaction from many conservative vampires, those who felt that they would ruin the Council's judgment. The Council is determined not to be perceived as having made a mistake. As you heard from Alanna, it is possible Stephen intended initially to practice his role as intended, advocating for made vampires, but his desire for vengeance overrode the possible good he could have done."

"If you say so. I think that a.s.shole was always a little weasel. Hate to say it, but I agree with the conservative vampires."

"The idea was not misguided." Brian glanced toward Anwyn. "I have met many worthy made vampires. Change is just slow in our world. Unfortunately, Stephen and Barbra already have over half of the Council doubting Daegan's loyalties. His behavior here, his defense of the two of you, has not helped."

"So why don't they just let him resign?" Anwyn snapped. Her gaze flicked to Debra as she hastily brought Brian the castle letterhead, on which she'd already written out the note for him to sign.

Brian shook his head at the same time as Gideon. "Doesn't work that way, Mistress," Gideon said softly, meeting her gaze. "He's too powerful."

Anwyn locked her jaw, looked as if she might say something else. Then a look of panic crossed her face, a peculiarly internal, concentrated look. Her gaze shot up to Gideon's. "No," she hissed, her eyes flushing to crimson.

d.a.m.n it. Of course, it had to happen at the most inconvenient moment, though he didn't blame her for that. With Daegan being in danger on top of everything else, it was a wonder she hadn't broken down in the hallway. And he'd been focused on this, not in her mind. He f.u.c.king needed to learn to mult.i.task better. Of course, it had to happen at the most inconvenient moment, though he didn't blame her for that. With Daegan being in danger on top of everything else, it was a wonder she hadn't broken down in the hallway. And he'd been focused on this, not in her mind. He f.u.c.king needed to learn to mult.i.task better.

He leaped to her side, but Anwyn's hands clamped down on his with bruising force. "Restraints . . . in pack. Knock me out, Gideon," she rasped, struggling past those shadow voices. Her face contorted, fangs lengthening. "There's no time. Don't you dare leave me behind or I swear to the heavens . . . you'd better stake me. If I wake . . . here . . . I will take the skin off your-"

Gideon tried to pull her out of the way, but Brian was too swift. He hit her with a metal pipe that looked as if it had come from under a sink. Gideon caught her in his arms as she immediately dropped, though her body continued to twitch, obscenely like maggots feasting on an unresponsive corpse. Debra was already pulling the restraints out of the tote and bringing them over.

"G.o.dd.a.m.n it," Gideon swore. "That wasn't necessary."

Though he knew it was. Brian's objectivity had enabled him to make the decision far more swiftly than Gideon. It didn't sit any better on his mind, though, to see the woman he loved struck so brutally.

"I know where to hit, and how hard, to temporarily knock out a vampire. It requires a vampire's strength at the precise point. When she awakens, you might mention that to her. It could be useful where you're going. She's right," Brian added in an urgent tone. "She must go with you. I don't know how Stephen will twist this, but he could dispel the protection that your Master imposed for you both before he left."

"He's not my Master," Gideon said. Lifting Anwyn in a fireman's carry, he kept one hand free to use a weapon. "Give me the tote bag and show me the pa.s.sage we need to take." He gave Brian a measuring look. "You know, you're far less of a science geek than I expected."

"You need to learn not to look a vampire directly in the eye before one teaches you better manners," Brian returned. He glanced at Anwyn, regret crossing his features. "She is truly exceptional. Tell her to use that as a weapon as well. Don't hold her back, Gideon. Go swiftly now. I will let it be known where you have gone, and why, at the appropriate time, to ensure the Council will watch Stephen until your return and prevent him from contacting Xavier. If they do as I suspect, they will not allow him outside contact until you return . . . or this is resolved. They will wait to see the outcome."

"Trial by combat," Gideon echoed, and the vampire scientist nodded.

"I'll go with them."

The men both turned. Debra had been busy during their exchange, shedding her lab coat and gathering purse and keys. "I can get your car, my lord, and meet them at the pa.s.sage entrance. It will save time."

"You will not," Brian said. Debra, unaffected by his stern expression, touched his arm.

"Until she wakes, he'll need help. Someone to drive while he watches over her. When he gets there, an extra scout on the outside will be vital. She's formidable, but they're both new to our ways. At least from the inside view," she amended, glancing at Gideon. Then she brought her attention back to her scowling Master. "I can be useful," she insisted.

"Once she's up, she'll hold her own," Brian said, but Debra shook her head.

"I won't put myself in direct harm, my lord, but I can help him and Miss Naime. You both know it." Her gaze shifted between them. "It's the right thing to do, and we can't shirk that because you might have to train a new lab a.s.sistant."

A muscle twitched in Brian's jaw, and he drew her aside. "You think that is all your value to me?" While his hand on her elbow was their only contact, Gideon felt the pulse of a connection far stronger than that. However, the tick of seconds was as loud as cannon report in his mind. A couple more and he was going, whether they'd resolved it or not. That sense of urgency for Daegan was only getting more severe, starting to cramp in his gut. He hoped Anwyn woke soon, because he wanted her to keep trying that phone call to the vampire's mind, see if she could get him to answer. Daegan also couldn't use the conduit across her mind to Gideon when she was unconscious.

"I am a servant, my lord," Debra said. "I never a.s.sume my worth is greater than what it is. Let me continue to prove my value to you. Lord Stephen and Lady Barbra are weakening the Council. You know it as I do. We can show that to the rest of them."

A wealth of furious thoughts apparently pa.s.sed between the two of them then. Masters and servants. Tools or more than tools? It seemed to vary from servant to servant. Gideon didn't fear that Anwyn would ever think of him as Stephen did Alanna, but Brian was closer to the "norm" for vampires and servants.

He knew his time with Anwyn was limited, but what if, before that hourgla.s.s ran out, the day came when Anwyn did view him with the same absolute sense of possession most vampires had for their servants, that he was her property? How would he reconcile his feelings toward her then, feelings that would no longer be appropriate to who and what she was? Or what she thought of him? Worse, what if he found his view of his own role had changed, and he accepted accepted that? Embraced it, even? f.u.c.king craziness. that? Embraced it, even? f.u.c.king craziness.

Nothing was ever simple, was it? Or maybe it was so simple it was hard to face it.

And why the h.e.l.l was he wasting time soul-searching about it right now? He opened his mouth to tell them to move their a.s.ses, etiquette be d.a.m.ned, but Brian beat him to it.

"Go, then," Brian said. When Debra nodded and turned, his arm shot out, bringing her back against him. She let out a short gasp as his fangs p.r.i.c.ked her neck, just enough to render her still and quivering against him. His arm stayed locked across her chest, fingers curled under the shirt at her waist, teasing bare skin. "You come back without a scratch, or I shall be very displeased with you."

"Yes, my lord," she responded. She lifted her head to look at him, her lips inadvertently brushing his jawline. He let her go with an oath, but it seemed to Gideon he had difficulty turning back to the two of them after his servant slipped out.

"Good luck," he said.

"I'll watch after them both," Gideon said. "It's tough to find a good lab a.s.sistant."

Brian gave him a sharp look. "Your clever tongue may get your throat ripped out before it's all over, human." But as he held the door open, he paused, stared into the darkness of the pa.s.sage. "She will be an a.s.set to you. She is exceedingly intelligent, as brave as she is beautiful. Perhaps too brave."

Gideon nodded. "You might think of telling her that when we get back."

Because whatever a vampire-servant relationship was or wasn't, Gideon knew sure as h.e.l.l that no one should be treated as Alanna had been treated. A heart freely given wasn't a disposable item.

It was a treasure beyond price.

17.

DAEGAN swam through Anwyn's consciousness. Invincible Invincible. From the first time she'd met his gaze across her club, it had been the one word that applied to him, no matter the circ.u.mstances. She hadn't realized how much she'd learned to count on that, how much of her strength she'd built upon the idea that something in this world could withstand anything. Maybe that was why she'd pushed him away, time and again, just to see him come back. She'd wanted to see if his heart was as invincible as the rest of him, willing to take any level of rejection and keep right on coming. And he had. Nothing could stop him.

But now in her dreams, there was a roar of rage, his own, broken by an explosion of blood, pain, nothingness.

"Daegan." She surged out of her dreams, only to find herself bound. "Gideon." She surged out of her dreams, only to find herself bound. "Gideon."

"I'm here." His hand was on her brow. She was in the back of a roomy sedan, a car blanket tucked around her for warmth. When she tried to sit up, she met the restraints, holding her arms and legs fast.

"Take this off."

"Easy." His hands were already busy, doing just that. Then his touch was on her back and waist, steadying her as she struggled to a seated position. Thank the heavens she hadn't thrown up on herself this time, a small blessing. Maybe she should have someone knock her out more often when seizures occurred. She could save dry-cleaning bills.

"The bag I brought. Is it-"

"Right here in the front seat, no worries."

She nodded, taking a deep breath. It was night, but no longer early night. Her vampire senses told her it was around midnight.

"He's in trouble, Gideon. He doesn't open his mind to me unless he means to do it. Yet, just now, he was under attack and couldn't control it. Daegan Daegan couldn't control it. In pain . . . I think they knocked him unconscious . . ." Her voice trailed off. "Oh my G.o.d, what if he's dead?" couldn't control it. In pain . . . I think they knocked him unconscious . . ." Her voice trailed off. "Oh my G.o.d, what if he's dead?"

"You would know," came a firm female voice from the front. "He shares blood with you, right?"

Anwyn focused on Debra, driving with both hands prudently on the wheel, her hair a neat plait down her back. "Yes."

"If he was killed, you'd know at that second. Much as a vampire knows when her servant is killed. It's a feeling that can't be mistaken for anything else."

Anwyn's gaze flickered to Gideon. She didn't want to dwell on either option. He was was alive. She wouldn't accept anything else. "If they were strong enough to do that, Gideon, we have to get more help-" alive. She wouldn't accept anything else. "If they were strong enough to do that, Gideon, we have to get more help-"

"We're it," he said grimly, and filled her in on all she'd missed in Brian's lab.

What had Daegan told her? That the vampire world was a more intense version of Atlantis, and that he was certain she was better prepared to handle it than most new vampires. She'd wanted more time to get used to that idea, but Daegan didn't have that kind of time. And she wasn't alone.

Straightening her spine, she tightened her chin and met Gideon's midnight blue eyes. In the shadows of the car, he looked lean and dangerous, long leg stretched out beneath Debra's seat, the other bent to give her something to brace against. She was sure he was armed to the teeth, and wondered if they'd had time to stop at the plane for his guns and crossbows.

"It was on the way," he confirmed with a flash of teeth. That was fine. She trusted him in her head fully right now.

"I brought clothes, so we can fit into a club environment," she said. "I'll ask for a tour behind the scenes. I'm fairly certain I can get us close enough to the owner to use the weapon Brian gave us."

"I didn't want you to go in there. Not if there was any way to avoid it."

"I know." When the moonlight filtered through the window, she knew he saw the lingering trace of red in her eyes. She could feel the bloodl.u.s.t simmering through her, the heated whispers of her shadow gremlins, but tonight she would use their savage madness, their absence of fear. She would take control and turn them into her weapon. "I'll never run again, Gideon. You know why. Plus, Brian was right." She reached out, caressing him, not an absent touch, but a deliberate, firm stroke, a reminder. "I am your Mistress. We do this together, because that's the way I want it to be. And," she added in a quieter tone, "as the more experienced strategist, you already know it's the best way. Right?"

He gave a reluctant nod. "No use lying." Then he gave her a look she knew well enough to be rea.s.sured by it. "Of course, if you're going to dress me up in something embarra.s.sing, I'd rather leave Daegan to die. He's not worth abject humiliation."

Anwyn's lips twitched, but then he put his hand to her face, fingers stroking her temple, the line of her cheek. As their gazes met, she knew it was a dangerous moment, acknowledging how badly tonight could go, what they might lose. But his voice stayed firm, even, steadying her. "You still feel a little wiped out. We've got about another half hour on the road before we'll stop and get ready. Why don't you lie back down and build up your reserve? Take some of my blood, if you need it."

Though her stomach wasn't yet settled enough to feed, his reasoning about the rest was sound. She complied, putting her head on his bent knee as his hand fell naturally to stroking her hair. Touching his belt, she found the scabbard for one of the daggers hidden at his lower back and traced it. They were silent a few moments, but she knew his mind was in the same place as hers.

"Can you still . . . feel him?"

"No. Nothing. But he's not dead, just like Debra said." She closed her eyes, but not to sleep. She tightened her fingers on his knee. "Gideon . . ."

"We'll get him out of there. Once we do, we won't let him live it down. That alone is worth the risk. Maybe even the humiliating costumes."

She nodded, feeling his resolve despite his typical male refusal to speak of danger, death . . . pain. The humor was the veteran fighter in him, instinctively soothing her nerves, helping her to relax. How many young vampire hunters had he helped this way?

Best thing is not to think about it a lot, Anwyn. We'll go over our strategy right before. It's not going to be overly complicated, and we're going to have to think on our feet, because things will likely change moment by moment. We're both good at that. Think about this as a night at your club. The way you wander through it for your own enjoyment, taking in all the new and unexpected things, but not missing a single detail, because you own own the f.u.c.king place. the f.u.c.king place.

His insight was uncanny, as usual. When she'd been human, she'd done such a transformation every night she stepped onto the floor of Atlantis. Leaving behind the Anwyn that read books, drank tea and played with alley cats, she became Mistress Anwyn, every thought and movement aligned with the s.e.xual energy of the club she'd built. Rubbing her cheek against his thigh, she closed her eyes to immerse herself in the images, the provocative scent of heat and arousal, lights and music. Voices raised in sultry laughter or pleasurable cries of aroused pain, just like her dreams. She let it all unfurl in her lower abdomen to compete with the nerves. If she could fool her mind into thinking it was going to a new fetish club for her own pleasure and challenge, not to rescue the male she needed more than she needed blood . . .

"I liked the two men manacled together at dinner."

"Yeah, I pretty much got that."

She looked up, also liking the way the moonlight highlighted the hard planes of his face, the determined eyes. He would be h.e.l.l on wheels tonight. She might be crazy, but seeing it, she wasn't afraid. Whatever happened, they would be fighting, fighting together. She could accept that.

He met her expression then. He was concerned about protecting her, but he also believed in her strengths. That meant something to her. Still, if she might be dead in a few hours . . .

You're still resisting your attraction to Daegan.

Gideon grunted. "Vampires are enough of a pain in the a.s.s as it is. Don't need to make it a reality." Then he shook his head. You're better at explaining things. I'm too busy avoiding thinking about it to a.n.a.lyze it. You're better at explaining things. I'm too busy avoiding thinking about it to a.n.a.lyze it.

She smiled then. Gideon, I love you. Gideon, I love you.

A wealth of meanings was attached to the words, the new and untried, as well as the deep and always. It was that thing that had drawn them together from the first and might continue to hold them together, no matter how things evolved. When the words. .h.i.t his consciousness, she felt his mind surround them like a protective detail, not certain how to handle the impact of such a missile. He caught her wrist when she reached to touch his face, his eyes deepening in color.