Replica(36)

“Trying to start your own pack?” Lea asked.

A slow grin spread across his face. His eyes never leaving hers, he said, “Are you volunteering?”

“Good God,” I groaned. “Do I need to sit up front and give you two some privacy?”

Ivan’s eyes darkened. “My reasons for being on my own are a lesson for another time.”

“I want to know more about witches,” I said. “What can they do?”

“They harness the energy of the earth,” Ivan said. “They have specialties—water, air, earth. Most are weak. They’ve diluted their lines and haven’t passed their ways down for generations. There are a few powerful witches, but they typically avoid vampires and werewolves.”

“And vampires avoid werewolves, and vice versa.”

“Typically.”

I cocked my head. “Why do I hear a but in there?”

“Things are changing. The magical world is being threatened. We’ll all have to work together to save ourselves as well as the humans.” His entire body tensed and the air in the car felt electrically charged.

“Because of Stravinsky?” I asked.

“The vampires are not the only species he has experimented on.” His voice was hard and tight, and I suddenly realized Ivan wasn’t here just because of Lea. He had a stake in this deadly game. “He’s a monster that must be stopped or the whole world is at risk.”

“Finally something we all agree on,” Lea said, not sounding very happy about it.

I had more questions to ask, but I couldn’t stop wondering what Ivan had seen. If he’d lost people he loved. But the murderous expression on Lea’s face stopped me from asking more.

We arrived at the private airstrip in no time, and Antonio hustled us out of the car, through the small airport terminal, and onto a waiting jet.

I suspected the vampire blood was beginning to leave my system because my energy seemed to fade with every step. I climbed the steps to the plane, which turned out to be a luxury jet. Score one for Lea. I found a seat and collapsed, shocked to see that Antonio had followed us aboard.

Lea gave him a glare, but he ignored her. “Alfred has instructed me to make sure you all are comfortable. The jet is stocked with food and drink.” His gaze landed on her. “Including refreshments to suit your own special needs.”

“Thanks,” Lea growled. “Now, get out.”

A slight grin lifted his lips, but he turned around and exited the plane.

“Jesus, Lea,” I forced out. “You could have been nicer.”

“I’m saving your ass.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. Go to sleep.”

I looked a question at her.

“Madre de Dio. Anyone can see you’re crashing from the blood.”

I sat up in my seat. “Don’t treat me like I’m a fucking drug addict,” I snarled. “You know it wasn’t my first choice.”

“Ladies, ladies,” Ivan said. His words were friendly, but the tensed cords of his neck betrayed him. “I think we’re all a bit strung out right now. Let’s just get this metal box off the ground and regroup in a few hours.”

Lea gave him a strange look, but remained silent.

My eyelids felt like weights were attached to them, and I dozed off a little, trying to stay awake until after we were in the air, but that was a useless battle. I was about to let myself fall asleep when I opened my eyes, shocked to see Antonio standing in the doorway to the back of the plane.

His gaze drifted around the plane and then he squatted next to me and whispered, “I told you I would watch over you. Sleep.”

Panic surged through me, but my body was too depleted to stay awake. I crashed and fell into a deep slumber, wondering if he’d be alive when I awoke.

Because I had a feeling Lea was going to kill him.





CHAPTER 17





LEA



The captain of the private jet, Johnson by his tag, gave me a nod. “Getting into Turkey won’t be a problem. Are you sure that’s where you want to go?” His eyes flicked to Ivan, whom he believed to be Victor.

The werewolf nodded. I kept a hand on the captain’s shoulder. “He’s sure. And he pays your bills, so off we go like a good little fly boy.”

Captain Johnson’s face went slack for a split second under my compulsion and Ivan poked me in the back. “You want him to be able to fly, don’t you? Ease off.”

“I think I know what I’m doing.” I bit the words out, but I let go of Johnson’s mind. He shook himself once, nodded, and twisted in his seat. His hands worked over the dials and levers at a rapid pace.

“If you two will buckle up, I’ll get my co-pilot in here and we can take off. We’ll stop over in London for a fuel up, then head directly to Istanbul.”