Devil May Cry (Dark-Hunter 11)

"I can almost believe it when you say that."

Stepping back, she smiled. "So what do we need to do?"

He took a deep breath before he answered. "One. Don't die. Two. Don't get bitten."

She really hoped there was more to it than that. "And?"

"Kick their ass," he said simply.

"Good plan. Little vague on the details."

He gave her a wicked grin. "Isn't it though?"

She laughed at his mischievous demeanor. It would be infectious if their lives didn't hang in the balance. "I've found that specifics aren't necessarily a bad thing at times like this. Plans can actually be your friend."

"Really? I've found a game plan usually gets in the way. Better to hang loose and improvise."

She took his glass and drained it. "Hang loose, huh? Is that really what you're going to do?"

Sighing, he stepped away from her, and his face fell to complete sobriety. "No. We have a time bomb in our hands and a lot to do. Step one-"

"Get your brother."

He shook his head. "We have to get the Tablet first."

"You're willing to leave Zakar in their hands?"

He winced as if the mere thought cut him. "It's not my first choice, but now that they know we can get to him, they'll be guarding him a lot closer than before. And if they have the Tablet when we go for him..."

"They'll kick our asses."

"Exactly. We have to get the Tablet back. The question is how."

Kat considered that for a minute. They couldn't exactly waltz in there and demand it. They didn't even know where it was. What they needed was an insider.

"Does Kessar have a weakness?" she asked.

"None that I know of."

Why didn't that surprise her? Simple. If he'd known of one before now, he no doubt would have used it. "Well, I might know someone who can find it. Hold that thought."

He scowled at her. "Where are you going?"

"The Vanishing Isle. You stay here and rest and I'll be right back."

He actually appeared to be afraid for her. "You sure you don't want me to come with you?"

"Yeah. This I'll need to do alone."

"Be careful."

Warmed by his concern, Kat nodded before she tried to flash. She didn't get far.

"It's the Tablet," Sin said as she let out a frustrated growl. "You're still drained."

She let out a fierce growl. "This is just a little inconvenient."

Sin moved to stand behind her. She closed her eyes as she felt the heat of him radiate through her. There was something about him that never failed to warm her body. His scent, his presence, it filled her with desire and strength.

He placed his hands on her hips and bent his head so that he could whisper in her ear. As soon as the melodic Sumerian words started, she felt power radiating from his hands to her body. It sent a warm fissure up her spine to her scalp, where it tingled.

"What are you doing, Sin?"

"I'm loaning you what powers I can."

His whispered words brought tears to her eyes and choked her. "You're trusting me?"

His lips were so close to her cheek that they tickled her skin. "You asked for another chance. I'm trying my best to give it to you."

Don't fail me.

Even though he didn't say those words, she could feel them in her heart. "I won't fail you, Sin," she whispered back to him an instant before their weakened powers united enough to flash her to the hall where Simi had taken Kytara. But Simi must have returned to Las Vegas, since she was nowhere to be seen.

Her raw emotions still churning, Kat paused in the corner to give herself a moment for composure. D'Alerian, M'Adoc, and M'Ordant stood with their backs to her. From this angle, the dream gods were almost identical in appearance. D'Alerian had long, straight black hair that hung just past his shoulders. M'Ordant's black hair hung to his collar and was straight, while M'Adoc's was the same length, only wavy. All three were dressed in black and speaking in a low tone.

M'Ordant lifted his hand and covered Kytara's body with a light silk sheet. "It's disturbing to imagine a gallu with this kind of power. I thought we'd seen the last of those bastards centuries ago."

D'Alerian shook his head. "Only on the human plane. Their gods were smart and hid them well from the rest of us."

Kat cleared her throat to let them know they weren't here alone. The three of them turned toward her with stern frowns that melted as soon as they realized it was her and not one of the other gods.

She closed the distance between them. "I'm sorry to eavesdrop."

M'Adoc didn't appear very forgiving of her actions. "Been there long?"

"No. I came in on the disturbing comment and concur with it."

Unlike M'Adoc, D'Alerian's expression was completely stoic. "So what brings you here, Katra? Does Artemis want us to haunt someone?"