Dark Flame (Flame 3)

She tried to contact Brannick telepathically but got no response. The vampire was in trouble.

She tried Fergus next. I can’t reach Brannick.

Juliet?

I’m here, outside the front door. What’s going on?

We’ve got trouble, he said.

Okay to come in?

Yes. The gun battle is almost over, but something happened to Brannick. He took several steps into the living room, then collapsed. I can see that he’s breathing, but I’m pretty sure Roche has him, maybe in a dreamglide. I’m not familiar enough with your fae world to be sure.

Okay. She warned Fergus that she was shielded, then opened the door. I’m coming in.

The moment she stepped into the large foyer, she felt the battle fury that circled through the air and kept the Savage warriors revved up.

Fergus, I’m behind you about three feet.

Keep your head down. A couple of Roche’s men are still fighting. Don’t want you to get hit by a stray bullet.

Juliet dropped into a crouch. From her proximity to the door, she couldn’t see Brannick. But she knew she had to get to him.

Her senses told her he was unconscious and lying not far from where Roche had originally shot her up with dark flame.

Roche had him. No question about it.

Sitting on the floor, she slipped into her dreamglide. Before she began her hunt for Brannick, she circled the perimeter of the dream-space. Agnes had completely rebuilt her block, though even stronger than before.

Still, she felt the need to be as quiet as possible. She didn’t want anything fae to leak her presence to Roche.

She very carefully attempted to contact Brannick again telepathically. For the moment, she would wait to move her dreamglide.

Brann, I’m here, in Roche’s house. Can you hear me?

She listened.

But nothing returned.

Brann?

It was such a complete silence.

Yet, at a vast distance, as though from the earth to the moon, she could feel Brannick in Roche’s dreamglide. Despite the faintness of the sensation, she knew he was still somewhere in Roche’s home.

Roche hadn’t taken Brannick far away at all, though she suspected he’d done it for a reason, possibly using Brannick as bait.

Juliet thought for a moment. Brannick’s life was in danger, but she knew her faeness wouldn’t be enough to get to him. Rather than call on her fae abilities, she accessed what was direct, bold and very vampire.

She glanced down at her black leathers, made in Brannick’s mold. She wasn’t just fae anymore, but something else, something more.

She was done thinking the situation through. Action was required.

She contacted Fergus again. I’m going after Brannick in the dream-world and I’m going in shielded. When you’ve secured the halls, I’ll need you to guard both of us in real-time in case Roche sends more of his men up from the factory. I’ll be stretched out beside Brannick near the couch off to the right. You won’t be able to see me until I release my shield, but I’ll be there. Do you understand?

Got it.