Biting Bad (Chicagoland Vampires 8)

Ethan put a hand on my shoulder. "It's freezing out here. Let's go back inside."

-

We moved back into the House, and Ethan called the vampires to the ballroom. Members of Grey and Cadogan stood alongside one another, sharing a moment of silence for Angelo and Louie, who'd given their lives in protection of the House. The swelling sense of worry was tangible, the magic that flowed from the roomful of vampires heavy and despondent.

When the ceremony was over, we returned to Ethan's office. The room was utterly silent, the mood and magic grim. In another time - perhaps in the era Ethan had been made a vampire - the mood might have been different. Vampires reveling in their victory, sharing mead and women and song in honor of having vanquished a foe, instead of mourning their losses and dreading the repercussions.

The Grey House guards, Scott and Jonah among them, stood in one corner of the room. They undoubtedly discussed their future, and the ramifications of our actions on their lives as GP vampires.

Our concern was just as great. The GP already thought us enemies. Although their act tonight - or at least the act of Monmonth's faction - had been one of naked aggression, there was no telling how Darius would react.

Ethan had already tried to call, but he hadn't been able to get through.

One thing was sure: Of the seven members of the Greenwich Presidium other than Darius, Cadogan House was now responsible for the deaths of two of them. Harold Monmonth and Celina Desaulniers, both treacherous and egotistical, had taken on our Houses. Both had lost, giving their lives for the challenge. Yes, they'd both been the aggressors, but would that matter to the remaining members of the GP? Would they find Monmonth's death justifiable, or yet another act of treason on our part?

The Grey House group disbanded, and Scott stepped forward. "The events that transpired tonight were our fault, and I am sorry for it. I think, considering the circumstances, it's best we accelerate our search for alternative housing. We're simply putting you at too much risk."

"The events that transpired were solely the work of Harold Monmonth and his cronies," Ethan countered. "Neither your House nor your vampires had anything to do with it. We chose to let you stay here, and Harold chose his response of his own free will, and apparently without the consent of the GP proper. You bear no responsibility for that.

"But as for your vampires and their best interest, that is a choice only you can make. You are welcome to bed here as long as you need. But I understand your desire to find a home."

"They may seek retribution," Scott said.

"They may," Ethan agreed with a nod. "That is up to Darius or, more likely, an incestuous cabal of the remaining GP members."

I glanced up at Ethan. "This may sound cruel, but the faction that supports Darius might be appreciative of what went down tonight. They might be glad Harold's no longer a factor."

"They might," Ethan agreed.

"That's who?" Scott asked. "Darius, Lakshmi, Diego?"

"At most," Ethan said. "They're the only ones left." He shook his head ruefully. "We've saved Lakshmi's and Darius's lives," Ethan said. "That helps, although I don't presume their loyalty. Diego came to us when Darius was kidnapped, which suggests he sees us as an asset."

"That's three to three," Scott said. "Assuming Darius gathers the will to act."

I yawned, putting the back of my hand over my mouth to cover it up.

"Let's call it a night," Ethan said. "We can look at this with fresh eyes tomorrow."

"There's still pizza in the kitchen if anyone missed dinner," Malik said.

Everyone in the room looked at me.

"Seriously," I said flatly.

"Yes," most of them said.

"Apparently I've become predictable."

"At least something is," Jonah said, walking toward the office door. "I'm going to have a slice, then head upstairs, unless you'd like to talk, boss?"

But Scott shook his head. "Get some rest. We'll reassemble at dusk."

Jonah opened the door, offered a salute to everyone in the room, and headed into the hallway. The rest of the Grey House vampires followed, with Scott at the rear.

"We'll talk," he said, and Ethan nodded.

"The same order goes for the rest of you," Ethan said, glancing around the room. "Get upstairs, get some rest. It's been a long night."

"Too long," Luc agreed, and everyone filed out.

When the room was empty, Ethan put an arm around my shoulders. I leaned my head against him, breathing in his cologne, which for biochemical reasons I didn't understand, always calmed me down.

"You're all right?" he asked. He'd been asking that often lately.

"I have no idea."

"Nor do I, Sentinel. So let us say nothing. Let us just be."

-

A few minutes later, I headed upstairs alone; Ethan begged off for a few minutes to try Darius again and close things down in his office.

In my room, I discovered Margot had found our new digs. Several white taper candles in silver candlesticks glowed on the bureau and nightstand, and a small silver tray - smaller to actually fit on the limited bureau space not already filled with candles - held bottles of sparkling water and wrapped chocolates.

Six minutes later, I was on the bed with a clean face and pajamas, when the door opened and Ethan walked in.

"Honey, I'm home," he said, jacket slung over his shoulder. His hair was loose around his face, and he looked weary and not a little depressed. He hung his jacket over the closet doorknob. Silently, he began unbuttoning his vest.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I've been better. I'm looking forward to oblivion."

The sun was on the rise, and a coherent response escaped me. But it was unnecessary. Ethan slid into bed beside me, his body warm and ready.

"Yes," I said. And that was the end of all thought.

Ethan found me, prepared me, and took my body for his own, lust lingering with exhaustion, with sweat, love made tangible by palms and calves, with the curve of his spine and the apple of his shoulder, with my br**sts and his fingers.

Love sparked and dissipated like sparks in the wind, and the sun rose high in the sky.

But night came again, because night, like death and taxes, was inevitable.

Chapter Fourteen

GROWING PAINS

I woke achy, but the pain in my back, at least, was reduced to a dull throb. The benefits of vampire healing couldn't be overestimated; the benefits of two adults of above-average height squeezing into a twin-sized bed could easily be overestimated.