“The closed sign is in the window.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious,” Alastair muttered from his place beside Ryker.
His friend’s dark head whipped around, and his mouth dropped open.
“Close your mouth, Ryker dear. You’re liable to catch flies.” GiGi tapped a manicured fingernail on the underside of her husband’s jaw. “My brother likes to pretend he only reads the classics while sitting in that isolated, sterile home of his, but Alfred’s assured me Alastair has watched television on occasion.”
Alastair let the lacy, white curtain drop back into place and moved away from the window. “I can only imagine that Delphine has spies everywhere. This is her city. She most likely knew the instant we checked into this hotel.”
“Do you think she left town?” Aurora daintily picked apart the powdered beignet on her plate.
He chuckled when she closed her eyes and moaned her delight. Since she’d awakened, she had been shoving in the junk food as fast as humanly possible. “How had I forgotten about your sweet tooth?”
She grinned around another bite, and he shook his head.
“Anyway, it’s doubtful Delphine left. She has enough of our arrogant Thorne blood coursing through her veins to believe she is invincible.”
“Yes, well, bearing that in mind, she has to be waiting for us like a spider in its web.”
He reached across and stole a piece of her fried dough. After the first bite, he almost moaned his own delight. Damn, he was going to miss New Orleans. The food and music spoke to one’s soul. Yet it was doubtful he’d come back anytime soon, not with Preston’s death as an ugly reminder wherever he looked.
“She’ll slip up,” GiGi said as she took a turn checking the street below. “When she does, she’ll pay.”
Ryker grinned behind her back. “That’s my bloodthirsty darling.”
She ignored him and sat beside Aurora at their table. Placing an empty teacup in front of her, GiGi swirled her hand and filled her cup. Next, she conjured a sugar cube and dropped it into the steaming liquid.
“Why didn’t you pour tea from the pot?” Alastair asked her.
“If Delphine does indeed have spies, don’t you think she would use them to try to poison us?”
Both Alastair and Aurora immediately dropped their teacups to the saucers. Lifting the porcelain cup to her lips, GiGi took a sip to hide her smirk. She gave a delicate shrug and finally said, “No need to worry. I magically checked when it was first brought up by room service. I just wanted to teach you both a lesson in trust.”
“Al is the least trusting person I know,” Ryker retorted, plopping in the last empty seat at the table and pouring himself tea from the pot. From his interior jacket pocket, he withdrew a flask and added a dash of brandy into his cup. He held it up in offer to his wife. “Counteracts poison and nagging women.”
“Très drôle,” she drawled and rolled her eyes.
Alastair met Aurora’s amused gaze and lifted a brow. She gave him an infinitesimal nod. Yes, when this was all over, and their family was safe from Delphine, the two of them would find a way to reunite husband and wife.
“When nightfall comes, I want to trace Preston’s footsteps,” he told the others. “I’ll pick the lock on the back door, and the rest of you can enter under a cloaking spell. I’d like you to stay hidden, but vigilant. Spring and Knox are creating a modification to the spell so I can see and hear you should a warning be necessary. Quentin will bring it when I call him to come down later.”
“That’s hours away,” GiGi protested. “What are we going to do during all that time?”
Alastair stood and pulled Aurora to her feet. “My beloved and I are going to take a nap in the adjoining room. You and Ryker can amuse yourselves.”
As they escaped through the door to the neighboring room, they heard Ryker and GiGi begin their squabbling. Alastair shook his head. “You’d think my brother’s death would have taught them something,” he muttered.
Aurora closed the door and went into his arms. “They’ll find their way back to each other.”
“Goddess, I hope so.”
“You seem more at peace since talking to your brother yesterday.”
“I am, a bit. It still hurts, but I have a purpose now.”
She pulled away slightly to look up into his face. “Delphine.”
“And Beecham, but Harold’s comeuppance is for another day. Hopefully not too far into the future.”
“Are you going to leave that to Ryker? Trina was his sister, after all.”
“Are you jealous of a dead woman?”
“As much as you were of your brother.”
Smothering a groan, he led her to the bed. “You’re not wrong. I was incredibly jealous of Preston. The years he was able to spend with you while I was away. The years he spent with you when I returned. All the beautiful children you created together.” He burrowed his fingers into her hair and tilted her head back. Burying his nose into her neck, he inhaled her unique scent mingled with that of Chanel’s famous perfume. His lips brushed over the rapidly beating pulse, and he grazed her with his teeth. “I was jealous of Isis and our deceased loved ones who spent all those years with you in the Otherworld. I was jealous of the bed that cradled your body while you were in stasis, and of the sheets that got to touch your lovely skin.” He lifted his head and gazed deeply into her loving eyes. “There isn’t anything and anyone I’m not jealous of when it comes to you.”
“I’m yours, Alastair—just as you’re mine. That will never change in life or in death.”
“Let’s make sure it’s in life and for a long, long time, okay?”
His lips claimed hers, and it was a promise of that life, of their future life, and all the love he had to offer.
Night fell, and Alastair remained awake. He stared unseeingly through the windowpane beyond the parted curtain from his place beside Aurora. She stirred and placed her palm over his heart. He glanced down in time to catch a ghost of a smile flit across her face as she snuggled closer to his chest. He could watch her for days. She was as incredible in sleep as she was awake.
A soft knock sounded at the door. Alastair drew the sheet up to Aurora’s shoulder and called, “Come in.”
Ryker gave them a cursory look and scanned the rest of the room as if looking for enemies. He would be in spy-mode to his dying day, so deeply ingrained was his training.
“It’s ten. I think we should get this over with.”
Lines of strain bracketed his friend’s eyes. The tell-tale sign that he was feeling beleaguered by GiGi.
“I’d have thought you and GiGi would have spent your time more wisely,” he taunted Ryker.
The other man snorted and jerked his chin toward the bed. “We can’t all laze about, making love all day. Some of us have work to do.”
Alastair chuckled. “We’ll join you in a few minutes. In the meantime, make nice with your wife. We need everyone working as a unit.”
“We will be. We have a common goal.”
“Good.”
The door clicked behind Ryker as he left them alone.
“I’m worried.” Aurora sat up beside him and stifled a yawn. “I’m not sure any of this feels right.”
“I know. It’s off somehow, isn’t it? I thought the worry on Ryker’s face was thanks to my sister, but perhaps it’s more.”
“I’m going to call the girls.”
Maybe it was a parent thing, or maybe after the death of a loved one, it was common to become paranoid about other family members. It could be because Aurora was putting off strong emotional distress, but Alastair’s radar was picking it up and making him uneasy as well. Nothing was certain. Yet, what he did know was that he would protect his family at all costs.
“No. Do me a favor and call Quentin instead. Holly still has the tanzanite necklace we used to communicate telepathically when we were in Greece. Tell Quentin put it on and go to Thorne Manor. Have him drop Holly and the baby at my place before he goes. Alfred will watch over her.” He handed her his phone. “I’m going to go speak with Ryker and GiGi.”
When he joined them, Ryker and GiGi where deep in discussion. Their conversation broke up when they noticed him.
“You feel it, too,” he said flatly. “What do you suppose it is?”
Aurora came running into the room. The sheet was wrapped toga-style around her, and her blue-tipped hair was tousled. Smudged mascara emphasized the terror in her eyes. “No one is answering anywhere.”
“Get dressed,” he ordered. “Ryker, I want you to come with me. GiGi, please take Aurora and teleport to Rēafere’s Fortress without delay.”
The women locked eyes, some type of silent understanding passed between them. Alastair knew he wasn’t going to like it. Sure enough, GiGi put her foot down and said they were heading back to Thorne Manor.
“Good Christ, woman!” Ryker snarled.
Alastair stopped his rant with a hand on his shoulder. “We don’t have time to argue. Aurora, quickly now, change into pants and sensible shoes. Preferably all black.” He waved his hands and changed into a black t-shirt, black cargo pants, and boots with soles that would deaden sound. Ryker did the same. Once the women saw how the men were outfitted, they created similar clothing for themselves.
“We’re ready,” GiGi announced.
With a critical eye, Ryker scanned her body. “Not yet. I’ll be right back.”
Sixty seconds later, he had returned with a large black duffle bag. He unzipped it to reveal a whole host of weaponry.
Ryker handed everyone a gun and two extra clips. Then, he removed a sheathed knife from the bag to strap to GiGi’s thigh. A secondary sheathed knife he stuck in to the small of her back.
Without waiting for her consent, he gripped her face between his hands and dropped a hard kiss on her mouth. “For luck, sweetheart.”
“For luck,” she said softly, touching her fingers to her lips.
Because his paranoia was kicking into high gear, Alastair moved to each of them and whispered an instruction to teleport into the old barn on the Thorne property. He didn’t want anyone scrying to hear that part of their plan. It was enough that they would know the whole group was coming.
He paused and sent out a magical feeler. Sensing the barn was empty, he nodded to each of them. He went first, followed by Ryker. The women showing up together a mere second later, hands joined.
A single hand gesture signaled Ryker toward the rear door. Another sent Aurora to the loft. He nodded to the front window, indicating GiGi should be their lookout. Next, he conjured a scrying mirror. As he suspected, he couldn’t see into the house.
He whispered the words to cloak the barn and those with him. “They’re here,” he said in a louder voice, confident they wouldn’t be heard. “I’ll teleport onto the porch. GiGi, wait exactly three minutes, then teleport into Preston’s room. Rorie, I want you to teleport into Autumn’s old room. Ryker, you take the basement.” Alastair conjured four watches and synced them with a swipe of his hand. “Put these on. In precisely four minutes, pull on your element and create an energy ball. Don’t hold back. Aim to kill, and if you get an opening, take it.”
He met Aurora’s worried gaze with what he hoped was assurance. “I protect what is mine. Your children fall under that umbrella, my love.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded.
“Have faith,” he encouraged.
“I do.”
He didn’t bother with hugs, kisses, or any type of affection. Those things were for goodbyes, and he didn’t intend to lose another. Without further delay, he closed his eyes, warmed his cells, and visualized the west corner of the front porch. He opened his eyes and listened. Hearing nothing, he placed his back to the wall and peered around the corner. Seeing it was clear, he inched his way to the kitchen window and peered into the room. He mentally cursed his blocked sight line to the living room. When this was over, he intended to talk to the family into a modern, open floor plan.
Pulling back, he crept around the side of the house and peeked through the sheer curtains. Only Keaton and Autumn were present. They sat together hands clasped together, faces pale. Upon closer inspection, Alastair noticed Autumn fixated on a point on his side of the room just to the right of the window. Without removing her eyes from whatever she was focused on, she moved her head to the right once as if she were stretching her neck.
He held up a single finger—certain she could see him—and then pointed to the direction she indicated. Again, without glancing his way, she moved her head in a downward motion. It was a slow, steady bob as if she were stretching. Her lips twitched as if she struggled to suppress her smirking smile. Keaton, on the other hand, wore a scowl that promised retribution. Righteous fury burned in the young man’s eyes.
Only two reasons could enrage a man to that degree in this situation. One, someone held his wife hostage, and two, someone was using his daughter for a shield. Alastair suspected both. But little Chloe was smart, she’d see a chance to escape and take it when presented. He pitied her captor when Keaton got his hands on them. They wouldn’t be long for this world.
Alastair ducked into a squat and scanned the area around him. Closing his eyes, he felt for the closest presence. Two feet to his left. A small figure radiated fear and was located directly in front of a much larger person. Positioning himself behind the wall where he felt the physical energy. He glanced at his watch. He had roughly two minutes before the others arrived.
Taking a deep breath and offering up a silent apology to the great-great-grandparent who built their family home, he created a three-by-seven-feet opening in the wall. Hooking an arm under the startled man’s gun arm, he lifted up and back, securing a hand around the back of his enemy’s neck. “Dormio,” he whispered. He caught the man’s weight as he fell asleep.
Keaton jumped up, ready for action, and Autumn pulled Chloe against her massive belly.
With a finger to his lips, Alastair whispered, “Cloak yourselves and get out of the house. Go to the old barn. Now.”
“Spring and Winnie are somewhere in the house,” Autumn whispered back. “Five men showed up and separated us all.”
“Where is Summer?”
“I don’t know. Delphine took her away.”
“How did she neutralize all of you at once?”
“I don’t know that either. I’ve never seen anything like it. A knock sounded on the door. When I answered, she waved her hand, and it was like ten Blockers in that one small gesture.”
“I thought Knox was with you,” he whispered as he peeked into the hall.
Her face paled. “Before he knew what was happening, Delphine injected him with something. It was like an elephant tranq or something. He went down fast.”
“Okay. Get out now. I’ll find the others and make sure they are safe.”
“Be careful, Uncle.”
“Always. Go.”