asked softly, really worried now.
She lifted her chin the tiniest bit. "I have a message for you, Kailin Odel."
Why so formal?
I gave a "go ahead" nod, and she took a thready breath, as if she'd been waiting for my permission to speak.
"By the order of the High Priestess of the DeathTalkers of the North American Continent you are hereby summoned to fulfill your Blood Promise."
The words rang out across the apartment and I could have sworn I heard Lady Kira's imperious voice overlaying Nerina's voice.
Not too long ago when I'd needed a way to get to the Graylands to save my sister Greer, I'd been forced to appeal to the DeathTalker High Priestess. She'd given me a key that allowed me to traverse the veil between worlds, and in return she'd extracted a Blood Promise.
And Lady Kira was calling in her marker. Of course I had little choice but to respond. I'd known when I'd struck the bargain that one day I'd have to fulfill my end of it. I just hadn't expected it to be so soon. Or sound so ominous.
Because the girl's tone was worrying.
"Of course I'll come," I told her. "But what's wrong? You can tell me."
I waited while Nerina bit her trembling lip. When I leaned closer she jerked her head away, and I figured she had no authority to tell me what I wanted to know.
That left me with one choice. To go to the death talker estate and find out for myself.
CHAPTER 12
A S SOON AS N ERINA LEFT , I hurried to my room to change. Soft slacks and an oversized tee were not the clothes I wanted to wear when going head-to-head with the ice-priestess.
I drew on a pair of formal black pants, a silky long-sleeved blouse, and my leather jacket--a concession to normal working attire.
I was pulling on a pair of black high-heeled ankle boots--and wondering why I even bothered to dress up for a woman who neither liked nor respected me--when someone knocked.
This place was Grand Central Station all of a sudden.
I stifled a grumble and headed to the door, only mildly appeased to detect Logan's signature scent on the air.
I'd gotten into the habit of sniffing before I opened the door, and before I entered the apartment. I'd let my guard down once and paid for it. My wood floor still bore the marks of my abduction by a band of crazed Walkers.
Lesson learned.
I opened the door and though I was in a hurry, one look at his face sent me straight into his arms.
He'd held back last night while Saleem had been with us, and now the truth of his emotions showed in his eyes.
He crushed me tight for a moment and then I leaned back so he could read his expression. "I wish I could help you remember."
He grabbed my butt, gave it a squeeze then looked over my shoulder his expression a little chagrined.
I laughed. "Don't worry. Grams won't catch you in the act. She's off somewhere investigating something."
I pulled him inside and closed the door. "I can't stay, sorry. I'm on my way out."
"That's fine. Just came by to thank you, and to tell you not to worry about me." There was an odd note in his voice.
I thought I knew why. "You heard about the High Council meeting."
He nodded. "I have a high clearance level."
"Figures," I said, as I zipped up my boots. "I was going to tell you, then Saleem came and . . ."
"You don't have to explain." His crooked smile flashed. "You always put everyone else first. I'm used to it." He curled his arm around my waist. "So how was it?"
"Awful. You should have seen Dad's face." Then I laughed softly. "And wonderful, too. Three non-walker women threw the pack law back in their faces. It was brilliant."
He chuckled "I heard. A lot of people are impressed with them. So what happens now?"
"Now the couples stay away from each other until things settle and they have a better handle on where the clans stand in relation to the High Council."
I leaned back to study his face, my stomach a little queasy as I wondered if I could trust him with the whole truth.
His eyebrows rose. "Sounds like they got it
She lifted her chin the tiniest bit. "I have a message for you, Kailin Odel."
Why so formal?
I gave a "go ahead" nod, and she took a thready breath, as if she'd been waiting for my permission to speak.
"By the order of the High Priestess of the DeathTalkers of the North American Continent you are hereby summoned to fulfill your Blood Promise."
The words rang out across the apartment and I could have sworn I heard Lady Kira's imperious voice overlaying Nerina's voice.
Not too long ago when I'd needed a way to get to the Graylands to save my sister Greer, I'd been forced to appeal to the DeathTalker High Priestess. She'd given me a key that allowed me to traverse the veil between worlds, and in return she'd extracted a Blood Promise.
And Lady Kira was calling in her marker. Of course I had little choice but to respond. I'd known when I'd struck the bargain that one day I'd have to fulfill my end of it. I just hadn't expected it to be so soon. Or sound so ominous.
Because the girl's tone was worrying.
"Of course I'll come," I told her. "But what's wrong? You can tell me."
I waited while Nerina bit her trembling lip. When I leaned closer she jerked her head away, and I figured she had no authority to tell me what I wanted to know.
That left me with one choice. To go to the death talker estate and find out for myself.
CHAPTER 12
A S SOON AS N ERINA LEFT , I hurried to my room to change. Soft slacks and an oversized tee were not the clothes I wanted to wear when going head-to-head with the ice-priestess.
I drew on a pair of formal black pants, a silky long-sleeved blouse, and my leather jacket--a concession to normal working attire.
I was pulling on a pair of black high-heeled ankle boots--and wondering why I even bothered to dress up for a woman who neither liked nor respected me--when someone knocked.
This place was Grand Central Station all of a sudden.
I stifled a grumble and headed to the door, only mildly appeased to detect Logan's signature scent on the air.
I'd gotten into the habit of sniffing before I opened the door, and before I entered the apartment. I'd let my guard down once and paid for it. My wood floor still bore the marks of my abduction by a band of crazed Walkers.
Lesson learned.
I opened the door and though I was in a hurry, one look at his face sent me straight into his arms.
He'd held back last night while Saleem had been with us, and now the truth of his emotions showed in his eyes.
He crushed me tight for a moment and then I leaned back so he could read his expression. "I wish I could help you remember."
He grabbed my butt, gave it a squeeze then looked over my shoulder his expression a little chagrined.
I laughed. "Don't worry. Grams won't catch you in the act. She's off somewhere investigating something."
I pulled him inside and closed the door. "I can't stay, sorry. I'm on my way out."
"That's fine. Just came by to thank you, and to tell you not to worry about me." There was an odd note in his voice.
I thought I knew why. "You heard about the High Council meeting."
He nodded. "I have a high clearance level."
"Figures," I said, as I zipped up my boots. "I was going to tell you, then Saleem came and . . ."
"You don't have to explain." His crooked smile flashed. "You always put everyone else first. I'm used to it." He curled his arm around my waist. "So how was it?"
"Awful. You should have seen Dad's face." Then I laughed softly. "And wonderful, too. Three non-walker women threw the pack law back in their faces. It was brilliant."
He chuckled "I heard. A lot of people are impressed with them. So what happens now?"
"Now the couples stay away from each other until things settle and they have a better handle on where the clans stand in relation to the High Council."
I leaned back to study his face, my stomach a little queasy as I wondered if I could trust him with the whole truth.
His eyebrows rose. "Sounds like they got it
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