CHAPTER
10
“It’s good to hear your voice, Ronan,” Mikhail said through the line. “We were starting to worry.”
“It’s been a hell of a few days,” Ronan said. His cell had gone missing. Presumably wherever his rental car had gotten off to. He used Naya’s landline to check in, knowing that if he didn’t Mikhail would send someone after him and he didn’t want his king left without protection.
“What’s going on up there? There’s a period of time where there are no memories of you in the Collective. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.”
Neither had Ronan. The blank space in his memory was a sore reminder that there was a mystery here for him to unravel and he needed to get his ass in gear. “Yeah, well, it’s a long story. One I’ll be more than happy to tell you when I get home. How’s everything there?”
“Quiet,” Mikhail said.
Ronan knew his friend. Mikhail was leaving something out. “The Sortiari?”
“Holding to a tentative truce, it seems,” Mikhail replied. “No sign of Gregor, though.”
The slayer was smart to stay off the radar. Once Mikhail found him, he was as good as dead. “Jenner will find him.” The male was damned good at finding people who didn’t want to be found. He’d worked as a skip tracer when he wasn’t working for Ronan. Jenner could find anyone.
“Jenner is…”
“What?” Ronan asked. He knew Mikhail had been holding out on him.
“The transition has been difficult for him. I’ve tried not to pile too much on him until he’s had time to adjust.”
“How long has it been?” Gods, Ronan hated that he hadn’t been there for Jenner’s transition. To help him with his new senses. His magnified appetites.
“Only a couple of weeks,” Mikhail answered. “Give or take. I thought he’d have a grip by now, but his control is tenuous. He hasn’t learned to manage his thirst and Siobhan complains that he’s rutting on all of the females in her coven.”
Ronan’s stomach sank like a stone in the ocean. “Is that all she’s complaining about?”
“She’s prepared to hunt you down to the ends of the earth,” Mikhail said without humor. “And I think she’d gladly torture any soul she suspected knew where you were.”
“Let me hire more people to watch over the house. I’d feel better if I knew that you and Claire and the little human weren’t in danger of her doing something stupid.”
“I can handle Siobhan,” Mikhail said. “Don’t worry. I’m making progress here. Dhampirs are coming to me now. Relationships are being formed. Plans made. In a few months’ time I hope to see our numbers doubled. It would be nice to have you here for those who need help with the transition.”
That had been the plan. Until his life had completely run off the tracks. “I’ll be back as soon as I can. Before a month.”
“Have you found Chelle?”
Ronan dragged his fingers through his hair. “No. We’re going out tonight again to search for her. You’d think she’d be easy to find in a small town, but there are thousands of acres of forest out here. She could be anywhere.”
“We?” Ronan tried to ignore Mikhail’s arch tone. “Who have you employed to help you up there?”
He wasn’t ready to discuss Naya or his tether. “A local tracker, that’s all.”
“I suspect that isn’t all, but I will allow you your secrets for now.”
Of course, all it would take was a glimpse into the Collective if Mikhail wanted the truth. Weeding though millions of memories wasn’t easy, but it could be done. Mikhail wouldn’t do that, though. He kept his vows and wouldn’t press the issue.
“You have this number on the caller ID?”
“Yes,” Mikhail said. “I can call you there if I need to?”
“Sure, but only call if it’s an emergency. Siobhan is shrewd and I wouldn’t put it past her to find a way to track your calls. I’ll deal with her when I get back as well. I need to go. The tracker is waiting.”
Mikhail chuckled. “I can’t wait to hear all about it.”
“Tell Claire I said hi.”
“I will. Take care of yourself, Ronan.”
“You too. Later.”
Ronan hung up the phone and let out a slow breath. He needed to get back to L.A., back to his king and his duties. Jenner needed a hand, and until someone kicked him in the ass Ronan doubted the male would settle down anytime soon. A quick glance at the closed bedroom door caused Ronan’s stomach to knot up. Another night. Another hunt with Naya so close he could touch. The scent of her blood teasing his thirst.