Destined for an Early Grave (Page 48)

"Since we’ve established that I’m in a really foul mood, let’s move on to the question-and-answer phase. Oh, and if you make me use this knife again…I’m not healing anything I cut. What was your purpose in the French Quarter with Bones?"

Cannelle kept flexing her hand while staring at me in horror. "I was to f**k him, naturellement, and once assured that you heard of his infidelity, I was to take him to Gregor. Marie wouldn’t let Gregor’s people into the Quarter, though she did tell Gregor he could come."

That was news. I’d thought no one was allowed in.

Ian was also interested. "If she’d granted him passage, then why didn’t Gregor meet Crispin inside the Quarter and fight him there if he wanted to kill him so badly?"

Cannelle’s mouth dipped. "Gregor said Bones wasn’t worthy of a fair fight."

"Or Gregor was just chicken shit and wanted to stack the odds," I muttered.

"Gregor is stronger," Cannelle hissed, "but why would he allow his opponent to die with honor, considering his crimes?"

I wasn’t about to get into a character fight with Cannelle over Gregor. "So Gregor got Marie, the Queen of Orleans, to side with him. Interesting."

Cannelle shrugged. "Marie said Gregor could only ambush Bones outside her city, which was why she didn’t let Gregor come with forces into the Quarter. Marie didn’t want to participate in making Bones leave, either, but Gregor made her."

"He forced her?"

"Non, you misunderstand. He made her. ‘Twas his blood that raised her as a ghoul, and Gregor killed Marie’s other sire the night he changed her, so her fealty was only to him. Gregor agreed to release Marie in exchange, and Marie’s wanted free of Gregor for over a hundred years."

"And Bones would trust Marie because she always guarantees safe passage in her meetings." That clever, dirty schmuck.

Cannelle actually smirked. "Oui."

My anger turned to ice. "Is that all, Cannelle?"

"Oui."

I turned to Ian. "Think she’s got more?"

He met my gaze with equal coldness. "No, poppet. I think that’s it."

I still had the knife in my hand, slick from Cannelle’s blood.

"Cannelle," I said in a steady, clear tone. "I’m going to kill you. I’m telling you this so you can take a moment to pray if you choose, or to reflect, whatever. You lured my husband around with the full intention of taking him to his slaughter, and that’s just not forgivable to me."

"Cat, no," Geri said.

I didn’t answer her. Cannelle gave me a look filled with malicious defiance. "But Bones isn’t your husband. Gregor is."

"Semantics. You’re wasting time. Get right with God. Fast."

"I am a human," she hissed. "A living, breathing person. You may have it in you to wound me, but not to kill me."

I ignored that, too. "Marie got her freedom for her role in this. What did Gregor promise? To change you into a vampire?"

Another hostile glare. "Oui. It’s my payment for all the years I’ve served him."

"You backed the wrong horse," I said. "You’re not going to be a vampire, Cannelle, but I’ll let you die like one."

She stood up. "You wouldn’t dare. Gregor would kill you."

Then she looked down. The silver knife was buried in her chest. It even vibrated for a few seconds with her last remaining heartbeats. Cannelle watched with astonishment the handle quiver before her eyes glazed and her knees buckled.

I stood over her and felt more of that awful coldness.

"Maybe Gregor will kill me for this, Cannelle. I’m willing to take that chance."

I went to see Don. He was busy with his own preparations for departure. I didn’t know where my former unit was stationed now, and that was good by me. I wouldn’t have put it past Gregor to use that information to his advantage. Don wouldn’t, either. That’s why everyone from our division was clearing out right after I did.

Vlad was in Don’s office. As soon as I entered, they both quit speaking. My mouth curled.

"How obvious are you two? Come on, boys, what’s the topic? ‘Will Cat have a breakdown?’ or ‘Ten easy steps to talk someone out of suicide’? Both of you can save it. I’m okay."

My uncle coughed. "Don’t be so dramatic. I was getting a way to contact you since you can’t exactly send me a postcard, and Vlad was informing me that you’ll be with him."

I gave Vlad a look that would have been challenging – if I hadn’t just spent umpteen hours flying overseas on an empty stomach, lack of sleep, and general hypertension.

"For now."

Vlad smiled, disdainful and amused at the same time. "It’s your choice, Cat. I’m not forcing you."

Don looked back and forth between us, his gray eyes narrowing. They were the same smoky color as mine, and right now, they were glinting with suspicion.

"Is there something going on with the two of you that I should be aware of?"

"Isn’t there something going on with you that she should?" Vlad responded.

Now it was my turn to glance between them. "What?"

Don coughed and flashed a single glare to Vlad. "Nothing."

Vlad let out a noncommittal grunt. "Then that’s all you’ll get from me as well, Williams."

I was about to demand to know what the hell the subtext of this was when Don spoke up.

"Cat, you asked me before to find out if those dream-suppression pills had any side effects. I’ve checked with Pathology, and they said you might experience depression, mood swings, irritability, paranoia, and chronic fatigue. Have you noticed any of that?"

I thought back to my last few times with Bones and couldn’t help but burst into demented laughter.

"Yeah. All of the above, and all at once. This information would have been useful a couple weeks ago, but it’s kind of irrelevant now."

I wasn’t going to use those pills again. I’d rather be ignorant of my whereabouts than subject to the side effects that had helped drive Bones and me apart. Don must have guessed some of my train of thought because he gave me a sad look.

The moment was broken when Cooper came running in. "B4358 is coming in for a landing."

"What?" my uncle snapped. "They didn’t get permission!"

My eyes widened. Those were the call numbers to Dave’s plane. The one that was carrying Bones and Spade.

"I know, sir. The tower ordered them not to land, but they said an Englishman got on the wire and said to shut it or he’d beat the seven shades of shit out of him."

Bones. "We have to leave," I said to Vlad. "Now."

"’Run, Forrest, run!’" Vlad mocked.