Without a second thought, I raced across the street and gave chase into the park.

CHAPTER 16

As I ran, my feet flying over the snow-clad sidewalk, a thousand thoughts fil ed my head. Usual y my sisters were with me when I was about to face a major foe. Usual y we took things on together.

Right now, the best I could hope for was that it took Ivana a lot longer in the tunnels than it had taken in the diner. Of course, if she brought the roof down, it might take her out and I’d never have to worry about her again.

My quarry dodged off the sidewalk into a patch of undergrowth, and I fol owed. I couldn’t hear him, but the fleeing blur—the quicksilver movement—spel ed vampire to me. As I went plowing through a hedgerow, I slowed to a walk. One wrong skewer of a bare branch could act like a stake. Not so good for continued existence. Fighting my way past the last part of the hedge, I stumbled out into a circular clearing. Benches curved around the center fountain, which was turned off for the winter. On the other side stood another figure, but it wasn’t the one I’d seen before. No, I was staring at Wade.

“Wade? What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I was out looking for your pervert,” he said, as we met by the fountain. “I saw someone come through the hedge, but then . . . I don’t know what happened, but he vanished. I know some vampires can turn invisible, but they’re rare.”

“Rare is right, and that skil usual y takes a long time to master. If this was our suspect, he’d have to be a lot older than we think he is.” I dropped to the edge of the fountain, sitting on the snowy rim. Wade joined me.

“I talked to Erin at the bar tonight,” he said.

Glancing at him, I gave him a weary smile. I wasn’t physical y tired, but the stress was catching up with me. “And?”

“She’l move into Sassy’s mansion once we get it outfitted. Meanwhile, I’ve asked her to come over and help us turn it into the haven we need. With her experience running a business during life, she could be a damned good project manager. I guess I should have asked your permission first, but it just seemed—”

“Perfect. Which it is. That’s fine, I real y hated seeing her waste her time cleaning the Wayfarer.

You’l send an escort with her to and from work each night? She’s stil so unaccustomed to being out on her own.”

He nodded. “I understand. And yes, in fact, I think she and Brett might get along. Both misfits.

He’s been a vampire for longer than I have, to be honest, so he’l do just fine on helping her adjust.”

“Brett . . . he stil on his superhero craze?” Brett was young when he was turned—in his early twenties. He’d been a comic book fan and had always wanted to be a superhero, so now he went around dressed as his alter ego, Vamp-Bat, looking for ways to use his life as a vampire to help people. He’d saved several women from being raped and a handful of citizens from being mugged, and he fed only on blood bank blood except when he couldn’t help it.

“Yeah, but it’s actual y good for him. Keeps him on the straight and narrow. Just like having a job wil help keep Erin focused. I truly believe one of Sassy’s problems was that she eschewed any real work. I tried to give her jobs within the VA, but she would get distracted. She never had to hold a job in her life, thanks to her parents’ money and then her late husband’s inheritance, and a a job in her life, thanks to her parents’ money and then her late husband’s inheritance, and a vampire with too much time on his or her hands is a vampire headed for trouble.”

“You’re right. Erin’s smart. She needs to be occupied, and she knows it.” I glanced around. “So, no idea where our runner went?”

Wade shook his head. “No, but I’l keep my eyes open on the way out. What are you doing here?”

I quickly ran down the events of the evening.

“Not Morio—he’s such a good guy. Crap. Wel , I’l see what I can find out about whoever was in the park tonight. I guess I’d better get moving. My thoughts are with your sister and her youkai.”

“I’d better get back.” Ivana wouldn’t wait forever, and I hoped I’d get back so she wouldn’t have to wait at al . The last thing I needed was for her to feel like I’d inconvenienced her. I brushed the snow off my shoulders. “Hey, Wade—”

He held up his hand, smiling. “It’s good to be talking again.”

“Yeah, I’ve missed it.”

“Me, too. Later.” And then he was gone.

I took another spin around the area and then headed back to the car. I’d barely reached the Jag when Ivana emerged from the tunnel in a cloud of sparkling dust. Her silver staff glowed like a light saber.

Silently, I handed her the second bag of beef. I didn’t have to ask if she’d gathered the spirits.

The satisfied look on her face told me what I needed to know. I wanted to ask her if she’d seen anything indicating my serial kil er down below, but that would entail yet another bargain. One thing I’d learned in my evening with Ivana was that the Elder Fae do nothing without payment.

I didn’t thank her, but instead, slowly backed away toward my Jag. Ivana started down the street, grocery bags in tow. Then, she paused, turning back to me.

“Dead girl!”

“Yeah?”

“You may cal upon me again if you wish another bargain. Be cautious with yourself. Not al of the Elders are as discriminating as I am. Not al , as pleasant.” And then she vanished into the shadows.

I stared after her, wondering what condition she’d left the tunnel in. I wondered what she was going to do with the spirits and shadow men that she had carted off with her. Most of al , I wondered if the Elder Fae had al stayed Earthside or if some of them had fol owed to Otherworld during the Great Divide.

About to head below, I paused as my cel phone jangled. A glance at the Cal er ID showed me it was Delilah on the other line.

“Yeah? What’s up? Any news on Morio?” I waited for her answer.

She spoke slowly. “He’s out of surgery. Now it’s a matter of time. Sharah thinks he’l make it, but the next twenty-four hours wil tel the tale. Camil e’s a wreck. Tril ian’s helping her keep it together.

Morio’s liver was severely damaged, and he lost so much blood.”

“Twenty-four hours, huh? He’s youkai—demon. He should survive.” But the thought that he might not crossed my mind. “Delilah, if he slips . . . do you think Camil e would want me to . . .” I couldn’t even say the words, but they had to be said. There had to be no recriminations later over what I did or did not do.

Delilah let out a little mew. “I don’t know. I’l find out.” She hung up.

I paused, then punched in our home number. Iris answered.

“Vanzir there?”

But Iris wasn’t going to let me off the hook with being so abrupt. “Yes, he is, but you can just damned wel get your ass back here and tel me what’s going on. Nerissa and I’ve been waiting and waiting for the phone to ring.”

Damn. I should have told Delilah to cal her when she got the chance. “I’m busy—”

“It’s going on four in the morning. You may have a few hours left, but girl, you need to tel me what’s happening out there.”

I glanced at the tunnel. “Give me twenty minutes and I’l be home. Meanwhile, sit tight.” I’d been thinking to ask Vanzir to come help me, but Iris’s mood kiboshed that. With one last longing glance, I left the manhole cover and jogged over to my car, speeding off to home.

Iris was waiting up. She looked exhausted but had stubbornly stayed up al night in order to keep watch. Bruce O’Shea, her leprechaun boyfriend, was on vacation visiting his family in Ireland, but Vanzir was sitting with her in the living room, and Shamas, our cousin, was there, too.

“Hey, cuz,” he said. “How’s Camil e? How’s Morio doing?” He hadn’t ful y integrated into our extended family but was doing his best to try.

“Camil e wil be a whole lot better tomorrow night. If Morio lives. Sharah’s giving him a sixty percent chance to make it; if he passes the twenty-four-hour mark, he should live.”

Iris shook her head. “It boggles my mind how strong some spirits can become. I wonder if there’s a way to cleanse them from the area so you can go exploring without worry.”

“I . . . wel . . . I’ve taken care of that. At least as far as the diner and the tunnels are concerned.” I hadn’t meant to say anything—at least not yet—but Iris had a way of making you feel like you were lying if you omitted tel ing her something.

“And how did you do that?” She gave me a piercing stare.

“I made a bargain with one of the Elder Fae—the Maiden of Karask. She cleared the spirits for twenty pounds of beef.”

Iris gasped, and her fingers fluttered to her lips. “Oh no, my girl. You didn’t. Please tel me you’re joking.”

Vanzir looked confused, but Shamas stared at me, his eyes wide. “Are you mad, girl? The Elder Fae? Even the Lords of Fae let them be. They are our Titans and—often—our enemies.”

I shrugged. “We needed to do something and I didn’t want Camil e trying to take them on herself, especial y with Morio so wounded. You know her—she’s going to feel it’s her duty to take care of this. I put a stop to that before it could begin.”

“But the Maiden of Karask? Girl, her history is terrifying. We have such like her in my own homeland, and the people and Fae give them a wide berth.” Iris stood, pacing. “She knows you now; she wil study up on you. Once you bargain with the Elder Fae, they never forget you and always come sniffing for what else they can gain from you. You’ve bound yourself to her as certain as you are bound to the twilight hours. Do you realize what this means?”

I stared at her. “But the bargain was met and paid—”

“The bargain! The bargain is the connection. You merely paid the first instal ment. She has the right to contact you again. She has the right to touch you for more meat—the kind she longs for, not the kind you’re wil ing to pay. She has the right to ask a bargain of you, now. Don’t you understand? There are no bargains when it comes to Elder Fae. Only enslavement on an unwritten level.” She was seriously upset, and I began to realize I might have dived in over my head. “For the sake of the gods . . . you did not say ‘thank you’ or ‘I’m sorry’ to her at any time?”

“No, that I was mindful of.”

“Thank heavens for smal favors. But girl, you opened a can of worms. The best we can hope for is that she forgets you. That you slid beneath her notice.” With a swish of her robe, Iris returned to the rocking chair and curled up in it.

I didn’t want to tel her, but given how grave she felt my error was, I thought I’d better. “When we parted, she said that I could contact her again.”

Iris let out a long sigh. “Then it is done. She wil remember you. And you wil have to deal with her in the future. Pray she’s distracted for some time.” Iris shook her head. “Don’t they teach you anything over in Otherworld? I’m sure some of the Elders crossed over during the Great Divide.”

Shamas cleared his throat. “Don’t be too hard on Menol y, Iris. We have Elder Fae over in OW, too, but they are usual y left to themselves. In the city-states like Y’Elestrial, they are banned and do not have truck with most city folk.”

“I wanted to go back down in the tunnel tonight, while the ghosts are gone.” I told them what Ivana had done. Iris said nothing but stared at me, a grave expression on her face. Trying to avoid her gaze, I glanced at the clock. “It’s nearing five. I have two and a half hours that I could put to good use.”

“No.” Shamas crossed his arms. “Not unless you take me with you.”

“I can come,” Vanzir said.

At that moment, a sound caught my attention and I looked up to see Nerissa, rubbing her eyes, enter the room. She was wearing a long pale pink gown and her golden hair trailed down her shoulders. Without her makeup, without the skirt suit, she looked vulnerable, soft, and dewy.

Breathless at her beauty, I crossed to her side and gathered her into my arms, pressing my lips to hers, drinking in deep the fragrance of sleep and perfume and the scent of her body. After a moment, I stood back.

“I love you. It’s that simple. I love you. ”

Nerissa stared at me, her mouth curving into a bow. Her eyes glittered. “I love you, too. Now tel me what’s going on? I heard some of it on the way in.”

“Great, ruin a romantic moment.” I sighed. “I apparently screwed up in trying to help out.” I explained what I’d done. “Have you ever heard of the Elder Fae?” I wasn’t sure if the Weres were aware of the differing flavors of the Fae race.

Nerissa frowned. “I don’t know. Venus the Moon Child would have known, but he didn’t talk about stuff like that much. Not before you guys opened the portals and came over. We knew the Fae existed, but they were stil in the closet. It was hard to mingle when you never knew who your enemies were, or who might out you.”

I grinned. “Now you’re out in more than one way.”

“Check and mate. So are you sure you can get down in those tunnels and out before dawn? You don’t want to be caught out of your lair when the sun rises.” She ran one hand along my arm, and I caught my breath. Standing next to my half-naked girlfriend who was al softness and bed-headed made me want to forget al about the tunnels and the serial kil er and spend some serious time exploring her mysteries.