Innocent Blood(39)

Jordan pulled Erin closer to him. “We’re in this together.”

Bernard looked ready to balk.

Christian faced the cardinal. “Even if Erin is not the Woman of Learning, she still has much knowledge. We might need her. I’m certainly not part of any prophecy, but that doesn’t mean I can’t serve.”

Erin realized he was right. It didn’t matter whether or not she was the prophesied Woman of Learning. What mattered was that if she could help, she would do it. This quest wasn’t about pride, it was about saving the world.

She stared down Bernard. “I want in.”

Jordan tightened his grip on her shoulder and looked at the cardinal. “You heard her. That’s nonnegotiable. Or I walk. And I have no aversion to sunlight.”

Nadia inclined her head in Erin’s direction. “I support this, too. Dr. Granger has proven herself loyal in battle and deed. While this one”—she yanked on the countess’s silver chain—“has proven the opposite.”

A wrinkle appeared in the cardinal’s forehead. “But the fulfillment of prophecy is clear about—”

Rhun raised his head, facing Bernard. “Who are you to pretend to know the will of God?”

Erin blinked, surprised by his support, from the priest who had resurrected Elizabeth Bathory to replace her.

The cardinal lifted his hands, palms out in a conciliatory gesture. “Very well. I concede. It would be foolish of me to dismiss Dr. Granger’s knowledge and keen mind. I’m sure she could assist Countess Bathory in her role as the Woman of Learning.”

Erin couldn’t decide whether to be relieved or terrified.

So, leaning against Jordan, she settled for both.





14





December 19, 11:55 A.M. CET

South of Rome, Italy



The train rocked as it continued south to points unknown.

As trees and hills rolled past the window, Jordan rested his chin on top of Erin’s head. She smelled like lavender and coffee. Her shoulder and side pressed against his. He wished the chairs weren’t bolted to the floor so he could pull her even closer.

Time alone with her would be great, without priests and prophecies. But that wasn’t going to happen any time soon.

Ideally, he would prefer that Erin stayed as far as possible from this mess, from Sanguinist priests and strigoi countesses. But that wasn’t going to happen either. He had spoken up for her because he knew how much she wanted to go. Additionally, if the Vatican sent her home, he wouldn’t be able to protect her.

But can I protect her here?

After Karen had been killed in action, time had stopped for him, and it hadn’t started again until he met Erin. He would always know that Karen had died alone hundreds of miles away from him. He would never let that happen again to someone he loved.

Someone he loved . . .

He had never spoken that word aloud, but it was there inside him.

He kissed the top of Erin’s head, intending to stay close to her no matter what.

Erin hugged him tighter, but he saw her eyes studying Rhun. The priest sat with his head bowed in prayer, his thin hands clasped in front of him. Jordan didn’t like how Erin had been acting around Rhun ever since he bit her. Her eyes seldom left him when he was near. Her fingers often touched the two puncture scars on her neck—not with dread but with something akin to wistfulness. Something had happened in that tunnel, something she also hadn’t spoken aloud about yet. Jordan didn’t know what it was, but he sensed she was keeping more secrets from him than just those damned bloody visions.

But there was nothing he could do to draw her out. Whatever she was working through was clearly private, and he would give her that latitude. For now the best plan was simply to get this mission done—then get Erin as far from Rhun as possible.

To that end . . .

Jordan stirred, keeping one arm tightly around Erin. “Anybody have any idea where we can find the First Angel? Or even begin looking?”

Erin sat straighter. “It depends on who the First Angel is.”

Seated at a neighboring table, the countess lifted her hands, rattling her handcuffs. “Does not the Bible teach us that the First Angel is the Morning Star, the first light of day, the son of the dawn?”

“You’re talking about Lucifer,” Erin said. “He went by those names, and he was indeed the first angel to fall. But the Bible mentions many other angels before him. The first angel mentioned in Genesis came to the slave Hagar and told her to go back to her mistress and bear her master’s child.”

“True.” The countess had the coldest smile that Jordan had ever seen. “Yet how could we hope to find an angel without a name?”

“That’s a good point,” Erin said.