Draping her coat over her shoulders, he drew her into his arms again.
Richart reappeared with Bastien at his side.
The vamps tensed and eyed the two anxiously.
Bastien’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll be damned. He wasn’t bullshitting me.”
“Richart,” Étienne said, “would you take Krysta to my place so her brother can heal her?”
“Of course.”
Releasing her, Étienne touched a finger to Krysta’s chin and tilted her head back so he could lower his lips to hers for a soft kiss.
“Chick flick,” Ben whispered in a singsong voice.
Krysta smiled. “That one’s a keeper.”
Shaking his head, Étienne stepped back.
Richart touched her shoulder and whisked the two away.
Bastien sighed. “When Richart returns, have him take you, too.”
Étienne opened his mouth to protest. They had quite a mess to clean up.
Bastien held up a hand. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this.” He glanced at their vampire audience. “And a cleanup crew is on the way to take care of the rest, most likely with Reordon to oversee them. So do it. Everyone here can see that you want to be with her.” He raised his eyebrows at the vamps.
They nodded.
“It’s totally obvious,” Jeremy said.
“So obvious,” Ben agreed.
Étienne sighed. He really did want to be with her, so he would trust Bastien this time.
Jeremy shifted. “Who’s the new guy?”#p#分页标题#e#
“Someone with whom I thought you might feel more comfortable,” Étienne said. “Sebastien Newcombe.”
They stared, then exchanged amazed looks.
“Sebastien as in Bastien?” Jeremy asked. “The Bastien, who raised and led an army of vampires in war against the immortals?”
“Yes,” Bastien responded. “But I don’t like to brag.”
Étienne sighed and motioned to the vamps. “Bastien, meet our new recruits.”
The vampires all relaxed. Apparently, they were new enough that they didn’t consider him Bastien the Deceiver as the crazier ones did.
“There’s a fifth around the corner there. He was tranqed while helping us hold off the mercenaries,” Étienne added.
“I’m Jeremy,” Tar Heel proclaimed eagerly.
Bastien smiled and offered his hand. “Good to meet you.” He shook hands with the other vamps next, the action requiring each of them to sheath their weapons.
The man knew how to handle vampires.
Richart returned. “Sean’s healing her.”
“Thank you.” Would you be okay wrangling Bastien and the vampires by yourself? he asked mentally.
Of course. I used to hunt with him, remember?
Right. Étienne had forgotten.
A familiar passenger van full of network guards sped down the street and turned into the alley. A low rumbling told the immortals a bus full of cleaners followed more slowly.
Once more, the calvary had arrived.
Good timing, too. Cam must have lit a fire under their asses to get them here so fast.
Network guards approached, armed and alert, Chris at their forefront.
“The mercenaries are all either dead or down,” Étienne informed them. “There’s one on the roof there.” He pointed. “The rest are on the ground.” He motioned to their vampire audience. “These wise vampires have agreed to join us. Bastien will aid you with them. Richart will fill you in on the rest when he returns.”
“Where’s he going?” Chris asked, issuing orders to his men with hand signals.
“Krysta was shot twice and is at my home, being healed by Sean. Richart is going to take me to her, then return to offer his assistance, along with an accounting.”
“Okay.”
Étienne hesitated. “Really? You aren’t going to bitch and moan about me not sticking around?”
“No. I’ve seen how you guys are with your girlfriends.”
Étienne didn’t bother to deny it this time. Hell, he wanted Krysta to be his girlfriend.
“Go ahead and take off. I’ll handle things here.”
Étienne frowned. “Don’t forget to check them for tracking devices.”
“I won’t.” Chris left to inspect the damage.
“Ready?” Richart asked.
He nodded.
Richart touched his shoulder. UNC’s campus dissolved into Étienne’s living room.
“Where is she?” Étienne asked.
“In Lisette’s room,” Richart said. “You need blood first.”
A thud sounded downstairs. Krysta cried out.
Étienne raced for his sister’s bedroom and barreled through the open doorway.
Sean was on the floor beside the bed, Krysta and Cam kneeling beside him.
Krysta looked up when Étienne entered, tears in her eyes. “He collapsed after healing me.”