“Lucian’s sending someone for the woman,” Anders announced, putting his phone away. “I’m going back to bed.”
“So are we,” Mirabeau said on a sigh. “Good night, guys.”
Harper murmured good night, and then glanced from Stephanie to Drina. The two females were peering at each other, Drina eyeing the girl with worry, Stephanie peering back, her expression a portrait of misery.
“I don’t want to be a no-fanger,” the teenager said suddenly.
Harper winced, guessing the girl had read that worry from one of them despite their best efforts to keep the thought from their minds.
“We won’t let you,” Drina said quietly. “We’ll find a way to help you.”
Stephanie nodded but didn’t look as if she believed it as she lay back down and turned over to face the back of the couch.
When Drina sighed unhappily and settled back in her chair, Harper released a little sigh of his own. He wanted to tell her everything would be all right, but he wasn’t yet sure his plan would work, so simply gave her hand another squeeze and closed his eyes to sleep as well.
Chapter Eighteen
“I don’t think I like helicopters.”
Drina smiled faintly at Stephanie’s words as Harper urged them both out of the elevator and into his apartment. In truth, she hadn’t been too thrilled with the helicopter this time either. It was extremely windy tonight, and the ride had been a little bumpy. But they were here now, safe and sound and much more swiftly than it would have been by car.
“I guess you may as well call Lucian and let him know we’re here, Anders,” Harper said as he shrugged out of, and hung up, his coat.
“No need.”
Those two words brought everyone to a halt. Frowning, Harper moved to the end of the entry and peered into his living room. Drina could tell by the way his eyebrows rose that he was surprised, and not necessarily pleased, at who he found there. Lucian Argeneau. Drina would recognize her uncle’s voice anywhere.
“How did you get in?” Harper asked, sounding annoyed.
Drina hung up her coat, kicked off her boots, and moved to join Harper as Lucian answered, “Your doorman is mortal.”
It wasn’t much of an answer, but pretty much said it all. Lucian had controlled the man to let him in, Drina deduced, eyeing him where he sat looking relaxed and comfortable on Harper’s sofa. It was a con, of course; Lucian wasn’t at all relaxed. He was reading Harper. She’d bet her life on it, Drina thought, and then stiffened when his gaze suddenly shifted to her, and she felt the telltale ruffling as he now rifled through her thoughts as well.
Drina glared at him for it but didn’t try to block him. When his gaze slid past her and narrowed, she knew before turning that Stephanie had finished removing her own outer gear and moved up to join them. Drina spared the girl a reassuring smile and slid her arm around her, then glanced to Anders as he joined them.
“Yes, I can,” Stephanie said suddenly, and Drina glanced to her sharply, then peered warily at her uncle. One eyebrow was raised on his hard face, but otherwise, he looked as emotionless as ever. Standing, he walked toward them, and Drina stiffened, but he merely moved past to the closet to retrieve a long, leather coat.
“Anders, you’re with me,” Lucian announced as he drew it on.
The man immediately joined him at the closet, and Drina scowled. “That’s it? You dragged us all the way to Toronto, and now you’re just going to leave?”
Lucian shrugged. “Between your brainstorming and the arrangements Harper has made, you have everything under control.”
Drina’s eyes widened. She wasn’t at all sure she had anything under control, and she didn’t have a clue what he was talking about when he said “arrangements Harper has made.”
“So we return to Port Henry?” Harper asked.
“After the repairs and renovations you commissioned are done,” Lucian said.
Drina glanced to Harper with surprise, and he explained, “I made some calls last night after arranging for the helicopter to pick us up.”
“Stay here till then,” Lucian ordered. “Keep Stephanie inside unless you can find a way to disguise her.”
Drina nodded solemnly, knowing that Leonius was still a worry. While the man was supposedly in the States, that could change, and Toronto was one of the places he’d look for the girl.
“I’ll see what I can find out from the few older edentates, and tell Bastien to help you any way he can with whatever drugs he thinks might be useful,” Lucian announced.
Drina glanced worriedly to Stephanie. That idea had come up after the girl had fallen asleep. It was Tiny who had suggested that perhaps there was some sort of drug that might help block the thoughts of others for her until she learned to do it herself. It wasn’t a first choice, but a last resort to help her hold on to her sanity until she was able to deal with the thoughts, energy, and electricity herself.