Dying to Date(65)

She glared at her lover. While she appreciated the people she cared about trying to keep her safe, she wanted to contribute.

“It would help if you could call in the other elders,” Abbey said, turning to Lucian. “Having backup that can’t fall under a necromancer’s spell would be helpful.”

Lucian rubbed a hand down his face, but he didn’t reject the plan out of hand. “The council is staying out of it,” he replied slowly. “Without a formal declaration of war, they won’t intercede.”

“I have a few werewolf girlfriends I can call,” Melissa offered. “Or Chloe at Fated Match might help.”

“They’d get in trouble for going against their elders,” Abbey said with a shake of her head. “Looks like we’re on our own. How do we fight people who can stop us the moment they see us?”

Silence reigned.

There’s got to be a way, she thought. If we can’t find a solution, Eilin will be in danger and Tarian will risk anything to save her. Even if he succeeds, he’ll have to leave forever.

And she was not willing to let him go. Not again.

“What if they can’t see us?” she said.

Three sets of eyes turned to her.

“Dominic will want a location that is contained and private. If it’s lit by electric lights, we can cut the power.”

“Without our death magic we’re practically human,” Tarian said. “We’re stronger and a bit faster, but we can’t see in the dark the way vampires can. They’d never see their targets and without a visual link, their magic will be useless.”

“Not a bad plan,” Lucian said, “except that it will take time to hack into the electrical system. Will we know the location before Tarian arrives?”

Tarian shook his head. “Dominic will be careful. I probably won’t know where he wants to meet until I’m about to walk into it. We won’t have much forewarning.”

“Which means we need time to tap into the system,” Abbey murmured.

“We have to stall,” Melissa said. “Keep Dominic occupied long enough for Lucian’s guards to get in place and for the lights to die.”

“He’s going to know something isn’t right as soon as I show up alone,” Tarian said, running his hand through his hair.

“So you don’t.”

Again Melissa found herself the center of attention, and she lifted her chin. “If I go with you, Dominic will have no reason to believe you’ve switched sides. It will be the exchange he is expecting.”

“No,” Tarian said.

“Over my dead body,” Lucian agreed.

She clenched her fists. “I’m all for the loving sentiments, but this is about more than one woman,” she said. “Tarian has seen first hand that I’m not a helpless damsel in distress, and Lucian, you’ve taught me everything I know. I’m more than qualified to do this.”

“I’m not risking my family to secure a few radicals. We’ll go to war if need be.”

“Really?” she demanded. “You’re really going to put my life ahead of hundreds of vampires?”

Lucian looked away and triumph surged within her. She had him.

“A few minutes of my time and this will all be over with,” she said. “Tarian will be there to help me, and you’ll be following with the cavalry in minutes. What harm can I come to in that time?”

“You won’t be immune,” Tarian said, his eyes bleak. “If you do this, Melissa, you will have no protection from the necromancers around you.”

She turned back to her lover, blocking out the room around them. “I know,” she whispered, catching his hand in hers. “And I know protecting me can’t be your priority. Too many lives depend on you springing this trap perfectly. If things go bad for me, I don’t expect you to ride to my rescue.”

“And if I can’t help myself?” he asked, his voice rough.

Melissa closed her eyes and savored the moment. For once, she was the first thing on someone’s mind. She wasn’t the afterthought or the daughter. She was a person someone wanted to protect because he cared for her.

“Think of your sister,” she whispered. “I know what I’m signing up for, and if things go south, I’ll handle myself. My life is not on your conscience.”

A hand wrapped around her neck, pulling her closer. “I can’t compartmentalize like that,” he said into her ear.

“You have to,” she replied. “This is about more than you and me.”

As gently as she could she pushed away from him and faced her father. “I’ve been your little girl for a century,” she said. “But you need to let that idea of me go. I am choosing to do this out of my own free will. I understand the risks, and I believe the benefits are worth the danger. A lot of lives are riding on this, and you will not damn them merely because you can’t conceive of a world where I don’t need you.”