Broken Heart 09 Only Lycans Need Apply(29)

“Believe it or not, I know who I am,” I said. “It’s the only thing I do know right now.”

“Being introduced to parakind can be disconcerting,” he offered. “I am Patsy’s husband, Gabriel.”

“Is it a rule that all of you must be beautiful?” asked Dove. “I mean, if someone fat and ugly and old wanted to get into the paranormal club, are they even considered for membership?”

Patsy laughed. “Oh, hell. She’s a hoot.” She smiled at Dove. “Wait’ll you see the vampire nudist colony, honey. You have to die at the age of fifty or older to even get in.” She looked at me. “It’s just another perk of visiting our little haven in Oklahoma. It’s getting close to dawn, and we need to rest during the day before traipsing to the desert. Ugh.”

Dove turned to me, her expression serious. “I cannot live another day without seeing naked vampire senior citizens.”

“You are so easy.” I crossed my arms and eyed the non-humans. “I’m going to be a harder sell.”

“Didn’t we mention the booby-trapped pyramid that will magically appear tomorrow night?” asked Patsy.

“You forgot the booby-trapped part,” I said, which honestly made traversing the pyramid an even greater incentive. “How are we going to get to Egypt? I guess I could get the private plane ready, but that takes a little bit of planning, and I don’t know if my pilot—”

“We have transportation handled,” said Patsy. “But it’s safer if you hole up in Broken Heart until we know the pyramid will show up again. Our town is invisible to the outside world and probably the most protected spot on earth right now. We’re of a mind to protect parakind. Karn wants to introduce us all to the world, and then take it over from the humans. We think that’s a dumb-ass move.”

“Karn didn’t strike me as a dumb-ass,” I said.

“He’s not, and that’s why he’s even more dangerous.” This statement came from Drake. “We need your help, Dr. Jameson. Please . . . come with us.”

Oh, man. That German accent, and those gorgeous gem eyes . . . I wanted to say yes just so I could stay in proximity to that man. Er. Werewolf. Okay. I had to be a little flattered that big, bad supernatural creatures needed my little ol’ human help. Except maybe, just maybe, they considered me expendable. If I got hurt or dead . . . what was it to them?

“I can’t disappear from the college,” I said, knowing full well I could, and it was almost expected (and, might I mention, welcomed) by most of the staff and all of the administration.

Drake lifted his brows, and Patsy rolled her eyes. “You think we don’t know about you, Dr. Jameson?” she asked. “We know all about you. You’re eccentric, tough, honest, and persistent as hell. You as much as own this college and can take off whenever you like. If you were to tell people you’re going away on another dig, no one would think twice about it.”

“You’ll make us go whether we want to or not,” I accused.

“To protect you,” said Drake. “Karn obviously wants you to get him into the pyramid.”

“I’m not the only archaeologist in the world.”

“You are the one who opened it. And you are the only granddaughter of Ezra Jameson,” said Drake. “He was a friend to parakind.”

I stared at him as I processed his words. “My grandfather knew about supernatural creatures?”

Not everyone can receive your gifts.

On that night so long ago, had my grandfather been talking to a vampire or a werewolf? And had he known that we employed a mermaid as a teacher? Who else on staff wasn’t human? I really needed to rethink our vetting process.

“Yes,” said Drake. “You’ve been under the watchful eyes of some parakind already . . . You just haven’t known it. Just like you haven’t realized that you’ve been carrying on your grandfather’s work for the Consortium.”

My mind raced. “Wait. That’s why he digging around in the Sudan? To find that crypt?”

“To find what was supposed to be in the crypt,” said Gabriel.

“We didn’t know it was a whole pyramid and that getting our Ancients out of it would require so much drama. Ugh,” said Patsy. She paused, her gaze drifting over my shoulder. I looked, but saw nothing.

“No, Dottie,” she said, “we can’t take the banshee home. Because he’s on loan, that’s why. I don’t care if he has a cute accent.” Patsy rolled her eyes. “Why don’t you just go home with him? I’m sure he’d love a smart-ass dead girl hanging around his castle.”