“My gut says it’s Cornelius,” Dmitri answered now, dropping the report on his desk. “It all lines up too well—the way the victims are emaciated, the red and cream feathers, and the fact that Giorgio spent half a century in Lijuan’s court at the beginning of his Contract. That last’s something I’ve just learned.” He put his hands on his hips, raised an eyebrow. “But Janvier and the hunter are chasing this trail. What can I do for you, esteemed consort?”
Her fingers itched for a blade. “Have you seen Raphael?”
“Ah.” He walked closer. “I’m afraid one of your favorite people has come to visit.”
“If you tell me Michaela is here, I’ll have to stab you for being the messenger.” Raphael had personally escorted the other archangel out of his territory prior to the battle, after Michaela pretended to be pregnant to gain their sympathy—or for some other Machiavellian purpose they hadn’t yet worked out.
“Such kinky things you say, Ellie.” A purr of sound, before the scents around her became intoxicating enough to strangle her breath.
“Dmitri, stop baiting Ellie.” Having entered behind Elena, Honor went to poke her husband in the side, a scowl on her face. “What are you doing to her?”
Wrapping an arm around Honor’s shoulders, Dmitri held her close. “Keeping her strong.” His eyes watched Elena, unblinking as a predator’s. “Her scent susceptibility is a weakness others haven’t yet learned to exploit, but they will.”
Elena wished she could disagree, but, bastard though he was, Dmitri was right. Forcing air into her lungs, she said, “Spit it out. Who’s here?”
“Caliane.”
Her mind simply refused to compute that. So did Honor’s, judging from the way her jaw fell.
“Caliane?” they both said in unison.
“Yes.”
“But she’s an ocean away!” Elena pointed out in desperation. “She can’t just leave her city and fly over.” Elena had spoken to Raphael about Naasir’s report of Caliane’s loneliness, but he’d said nothing about his mother visiting so soon. “What about the shield that protects her people? Lijuan’s generals are just a short flight away.”
“It appears Raphael’s mother has secrets like any Ancient,” Dmitri said, a faint curve to his mouth. “I’ve been in touch with Venom—the shield is active, and Venom didn’t even know she was gone until I called him. Caliane told her people she would be sequestered with her maidens for some days.”
Elena rubbed her face. “Oh, God,” she moaned. “My mother-in-law has arrived for a visit and the house isn’t even ready! Is she there?”
Amusement open, Dmitri said, “She was spotted by a far-advance scout—Raphael has flown out over the water to escort her the rest of the way home. You have at least an hour and I’ve alerted Montgomery that a suite needs to be made up.” The drugging tendrils of scent retracted, the vampire taking pity on her. “Trust your butler.”
Excellent advice, even considering the source. “I need to get home, change.” She had grease and blood on her from the capture, the acrobat having led her and Hilda into a junkyard. “Why didn’t you give me a call earlier?”
“The sire stated an hour’s warning would be enough. It’s all the time you need.”
According to whom? Elena wanted to yell. “Damn it, Honor, what do I do with an Ancient mother-in-law who thinks I’m a bug?” One that had infested the life of Caliane’s beloved son.
39
The other hunter winced, lifted her shoulders. “Sorry, Ellie. I don’t have any experience in that field.” Biting down on her lower lip, she snapped her fingers. “Wait, didn’t Keir come in last night? I bet Caliane likes Keir.”
“You’re a genius!” Kissing the other woman on the cheek, Elena ran out the balcony door and swept down to the infirmary floor. Keir was amused at her panic but promised to join them for a late supper if Caliane was not exhausted and wanted company.
“She has come to see her son, Elena,” the healer said, his hand gentle on her cheek and his eyes warm. “I think she will require little entertaining.”
Hoping that was true, and that Caliane would decide to ignore her for the most part, Elena flew homeward, the Legion fighters who fell in with her silent shadows. The Enclave house was lit up like a glowing beacon, and Montgomery—damn, but the man deserved a raise—had set up hundreds of tiny candles in the snowy yard, each protected from the elements and the wind generated by angelic landings by a glass cage.
It was astonishingly beautiful from the air.
Landing in the circular area that had been left clear for that purpose, Elena walked inside to find the house in a bother. It was highly efficient, but everyone had somewhere to be, and no time to waste. Montgomery actually had a hair out of place. “Guild Hunter,” he said, his relief obvious. “I took the liberty of putting out one of your gowns in readiness.”
“Great, thanks.” Elena took the stairs two at a time, while Montgomery kept pace with her. “Is there anything else I need to handle?”
“I’ve prepared the blue suite for Lady Caliane, and Sivya is ensuring we’ll have plenty of dishes for her to choose from,” he said as she walked into her and Raphael’s rooms and began to unstrap her weapons.
Crossbow, knives, the throwing stars Ash had given her, the blade sticks that had been a gift from Mahiya. Leaving it all in a pile on a table, although she usually made sure to clean and neatly store her tools, she began to unlace and pull off her boots. “It sounds like you’re on top of things.” She frowned, tried to think like a consort. “Run her a bath so it’s ready and at the right temperature when she arrives. She’s had a long journey.”
“Of course.”
“And get a few flowering potted plants from the greenhouse,” she said, remembering the lush gardens of Amanat. “Put them in her suite and her bathing chamber.”
“I’ll do it now.”
“What about clothes?” Elena’s head jerked up. “If she came alone, she might not have brought anything.” Nothing of Elena’s would fit her, Caliane being smaller and with more curves.
Montgomery looked momentarily green, but pulled himself together with commendable speed. “I’ll contact the tailor. He must have a suitable piece he can alter quickly, and I’ll have him work through the night to produce others.” The butler pulled the door shut behind himself.