Destined for an Early Grave(25)

Bones growled it with barely restrained fury. The power seething off him struck me even several feet away. Gregor let out an equally venomous snarl and took a single step forward.

“That’s my wife I’m looking at.”

When Gregor uncurled his power like a peacock displaying its magnificent feathers, I sucked in a gasp.

Gregor had felt strong in my dreams, but that must have been the watered-down version. With the energy spilling from him in ever-increasing waves, he could have fueled the French Quarter’s electricity needs. Oh, shit. He’s at least as strong as Bones, if not stronger…

Brakes screeched close by, but neither man took his eyes off the other. I looked, and saw Liza roll down the window of a van. Her eyes bugged, and she made a hasty gesture with her hand.

“Please, Cat, get in.”

“Not without Bones.”

I said it to Gregor as well as her. It didn’t matter that the memory of Gregor’s voice had sliced through my subconscious like a knife. Didn’t matter that for a split second, as his gaze bored into mine, I’d felt a flicker of yearning. Awake, or asleep, I belonged to Bones, no one else.

“You see? She’s made her choice.”

Bones said it with luxuriant hatred in every syllable. Even with his back to me, I could just imagine his taunting half smile. Judging from Gregor’s livid expression, I was right.

“Despicable whoreson, her choice has been erased by Mencheres. He dragged her screaming from me only an hour after our binding!”

“I don’t give a rot if Mencheres yanked her off your throbbing, rigid cock,” Bones snarled. “Go dream a little dream, you sod!”

Marie wasn’t going to be able to keep them from brawling much longer. Lethal danger to Bones aside, there were also way too many bystanders. People would get hurt or killed if the two of them went at it. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fabian streak into the van.

“Bones.” I made my voice calm. Don’t startle the rabid beast. “If he knows we’re here, others do, too. We need to leave.”

“You’re only in danger because of his blind arrogance,” Gregor said. “Come to me, Catherine. I’ll keep you safe.”

“Insolent bastard,” Bones spat. “I reckon nothing’s beneath a man who’d try to steal another man’s wife before they even met.”

“Bones, leave.” Although Marie didn’t raise her voice, her tone was dangerous. “Gregor, you will stay here until the following dawn. You came to my city without invitation to provoke violence. No matter our history, you know better.”

“Marie—”

“You’re in my Quarter.” She cut Gregor off. “You of all people know better.”

Gregor flexed his hands. For a second, I thought he might hit Marie. Don’t do it, buddy. She’ll be burying you under her porch in no time!

“As you insist,” Gregor said tightly.

Bones inclined his head without turning around. “Get in the van, Kitten. Hopscotch, Band-Aid, you, too. Majestic, I hope more of Gregor’s ignorant ramblings won’t sway your judgment in the future.”

I climbed inside the vehicle, avoiding that smoky green gaze.

“And farewell to you, Dreamsnatcher,” Bones went on as he got into the van. “I hope you enjoyed tonight, because it’s the last you’ll see of her.”

“Catherine.” Even without looking at Gregor, I felt his stare. “Your memories lie in my blood. They’re waiting for you, ma bien-aimée, and I will keep my oath—”

The door slamming cut off the rest of Gregor’s statement. So did Liza’s peeling out of the narrow street like a drunken Tony Stewart. I closed my eyes so I wouldn’t be tempted to look back.



“How do you think he found us?”

I didn’t ask the question until much later. Truth be told, I hadn’t felt like talking after seeing Gregor. Neither had Bones, from his grim silence. The sun was up. Liza still drove. Ghouls weren’t as susceptible to morning tiredness as vampires were. Hopscotch and Band-Aid slept, dark sunglasses fixed over their eyes.

In this new SUV, at least there was more room than the last two cars. In case we were being followed, we’d switched vehicles three times. Bones glared the unknowing other drivers into submission while we hijacked their ride. It was done so quickly, a tail would have to have been right on top of us to catch it. There had been no sign of Gregor yet, and we were almost to Fort Worth.

Bones made an irritable noise. “Unless one of Marie’s people went behind her back—and that’s unlikely—or one of mine did, I’m at a loss.” His fingers drummed on his leg. “Perhaps Don had a hand in it. What name did he use to have those pills delivered to my home, Kitten?”