Jake (Immortals of New Orleans #8)(71)

"Life is full of hard lessons, I'm afraid." Quintus followed them down the stairs.

"I'm sorry," Kai said, detecting the hint of sadness in his voice "I know you're right. It's just, it sounds as though Dominique, she's gone to great lengths to hide this. Makes you wonder how she got it? What did she plan on doing with it?"

"Probably planned on using it someday to get revenge. If Kasdeya really is a demon goddess, a triad, it makes you wonder if the demon that may have helped torture Dom might have been looking for it. Or maybe Mick wanted it?" Jake theorized. "We could ask Kade if he knows. But since she's not responding to anything or anyone, Dominique isn't going to be much help."

"We've got to figure out the best way to get home. I know we drove, but the weather's kickin' up," Quintus told them.

"Y'all know how it is down here. We're expecting storms." Jake eyed the courtyard through the door window.

"Let's get to the car if we can but if anything goes down, I'm buzzing us back to my house."

"If something goes down, you'd better think of getting us to my private plane. I can fly all our asses to San Fran. We could be there by the morning."



       
         
       
        

"I wish I could get all three of us to California but I'm afraid that's beyond my capability," Quintus admitted.

"Just when I thought you were like a superhero?" Jake joked, his hand on the door handle. "You crush my dreams, man."

"I'm good but not that good. If it were just me or maybe two of us, yeah, I've got that. But three adults? Thousands of miles away? Probably not a good idea. Might have to make a pit stop to feed, and I don't think we can chance landing in the open."

"Where are we going to stay when we get there?" Kai grew anxious as they spoke of returning to The Golden City.

"Kai, I know this isn't going to be easy, but Quint and I aren't going to let anything happen to you," Jake assured her. "We're going to find Shilan and kill Kasdeya. There's going to be an end to this."

Kai prayed like hell he was right. Kasdeya would be waiting, and she feared no one could protect her.

"We'll do this together, pet. I have a score to settle," Quintus said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

"I've gone so many years without being around supernaturals. The last time I was there looking for my sister I nearly died. Kasdeya wants me dead … wants my power." Kai took a deep breath and shook her head. "I won't let her take me. I'm going to get Shilan back. She didn't ask for any of this."

"Neither did you. But this kind of stuff happens for a reason. And honestly, after talking to those kids upstairs, I'm wondering who the hell the wolf was. Chaz was a piece of shit Alpha, but he's dead. I can't help thinking to myself that maybe some of the problems the Anzober pack is having in California might be related to Kasdeya. She's vampire … but also wolf and human."

"Let's talk on the plane." Quintus stared out the window, his eyes squinting as lightning flashed.

"Oh my Goddess." Kai jumped as thunder roared, shaking the house. Sheets of driving rain slammed against the windows, the patter growing louder as the storm moved closer. "It's on top of us."

"We'll make a run for it. I'll go first and clear the path, get the door open," Jake told them. "Quint, you bring up the back. If anything happens, you need to zap us out. Otherwise, we hop in the car and drive straight to the airport. As soon as we get there, we'll go to the Acadian hangar."

"I'd say let's just go now and leave the car, but the Kris … I'm concerned about how that might affect things. I've gotten into a few snags over the years trying that shit. Mystical objects … they don't always materialize well. Depends on the situation. I'm not sensing any of Kasdeya's demons right now." 

"Everyone ready to do this?" Jake asked. Keeping the Kris tight in one hand, he opened the door with the other.

"Hell yes. Let's get out of here." Kai nodded, stepping forward as it slid open, following into the courtyard.

A breeze of petrichor rushed in at her, its fresh scent giving her a false sense of security. But as she stepped out from underneath the awning onto the uneven stones, thunder rumbled, reminding her of the turbulent weather. Kai shielded her face from the pounding rain, chasing after Jake. By the time they'd reached the gate, water had soaked through her shirt. A gust of wind blew, sending a chill through her.

Jake struggled to open the locked gate. He tugged hard, until the metal door flew open, slamming against the home. Kai heard the faint sound of the car beeping open as she ran onto Bourbon Street. She turned back to Quintus, her heart pounding as she caught sight of the demons barreling toward them, casting dark shadows on the macadam underneath the street lights.