“I know. That’s the point. I want to get to know you. You intrigue me.”
Mouse leaned forward and kissed him, hands on the back of his neck and threading through his thick hair. He pulled her close, turning so that her back was to a stone column, and pinned her to him, kissing her like he hadn’t kissed anyone in years, all thoughts of Belial’s horn forced into submission. He wanted to drink her in. Actually, he wanted to take her right now on the floor of the chamber, in this place of light and water and stone. Instead, he eased back, both of them breathless.
“I think,” she said, lips full, skin flushed, and her pupils wide with desire, “that we should continue this discussion back at the hotel. After one more kiss.”
“Done.”
Twenty-Nine
“I hope this isn’t a set-up,” Barak said to Estelle as they approached Jiri’s sprawling villa.
It was several miles from their own place, but was high on a hill overlooking the sea. The coast spread below them, the lights of Cavo in the near distance. Ozan was meeting them all on the roof with another couple of Nephilim, and then they would split up to fight the others.
“Gabe is a good judge of character, and so are you. You felt you could trust him. Plus, he wouldn’t have told him about the women.”
“He would if he thought it would motivate him. It has certainly motivated me.” Barak was as furious as Gabe at that news—all of them were, actually. Except perhaps Estelle, whose incandescent rage had settled into cold, determined intent to rescue them all and kill the Nephilim responsible. Barak had eventually been summoned to join the discussion at the ruined fortress, along with Ozan’s friend, Nibal. Shadow had remained in hiding. “I believed him, but now I’m second-guessing myself. I know what Gabe saw though, because I saw it too, and we’ve both seen it too many times in the past. And experienced it, of course. Ozan and Nibal are trapped, and they hate it.” He remembered the hollow sense of being unable to control their destiny, and how it ate away at him until he seethed with frustration and impotence. “I felt smothered.”
“Much like I did with my father. We are doing them a service, as well as us.”
Barak smiled at her words. Estelle was fierce with her enemies. She had a true warrior’s soul. Her energy had been skewed in the past. Warped by frustration into taking out her pain on others who did not warrant it, but her balance was returning.
“Don’t put yourself at risk, though,” he warned. “I want a life with you after this.”
“Same goes for me, Barak. Be careful.”
He kissed her neck as he flew down to land on the roof of the small, round tower. “Always.”
“Liar. If you see Belial’s jewels, you ignore them, or I’ll fry your balls. And you know I mean it.”
They’d had a fierce argument after destroying the Cathar castle, and he wouldn’t forget it easily. “Yes ma’am.”
He spotted Ozan with Nibal and another two Nephilim, and checking his brothers were close by, they all landed together, Gabe with Shadow, and Ash with Lucien. There was a wary silence as they landed, the two Nephilim they hadn’t met before hanging back with worried expressions. They all looked beaten into submission, eyes hard with suspicion, as if this was another trap. All had dark hair, and were very similar in appearance to Ozan.
Gabe stepped forward confidently, hand outstretched to Ozan, and Barak followed suit with Nibal. They needed to settle nerves and instil confidence—as well as assess the others. This was not the ideal time to put their faith in people they didn’t know. Shadow hung back as was her way, sweeping the surroundings with her sharp eyes, and looking over the tower roof. It was a big building, all encompassed by a high wall, more fortress than villa. She finally joined them as they were introduced to each other.
“There are a few changes to our original plan,” Ozan said cautiously. “Jiri is still with Karim, his lieutenant, in his War Room, as he calls it. A glorified study, really. But following Mikal’s death, another Nephilim called Pirro now has Belial’s ring.”
“So, once more,” Barak noted, “there are three Nephilim with tokens now?”
Ozan nodded, and Barak glanced at Gabe and Ash, noting they looked as disappointed as him. Despite the fact that they had lost a ring, Jiri had others, as they suspected. They had planned to approach all the other Nephilim and attempt to sway them to their cause. If that failed, they would have to fight. However, with another ring in the mix, that would be hard.
“Pirro,” Ozan continued, “is in the main hall with the rest of our team, and my other two brothers who are with us are there, too. They are organising who to send to Venice. There are still some of The Brotherhood there, and they are deciding where to go from here, and how best to regroup with the survivors. They have every intention of continuing, and of course there are members spread further afield.”
“Despite what happened in Venice?” Gabe asked, incredulous.
“Even more so, now,” Nibal answered. “Belial, through Jiri, is determined he will not be thwarted. But,” his eyes gleamed, “Belial frets and rages, and he takes it out on Jiri. That is why Jiri is so angry. Of course they discuss how to deal with you, but all we have achieved has to be restarted. Belial commands it. He is working on a bigger strategy right now.”
“No,” Gabe said abruptly. “This ends tonight.”
“Jiri will do as Belial commands, and the others will follow.”
Gabe squared his shoulders. “Take me to Jiri. I want to discuss it with him. I’m sick of sneaking around.”
A ripple of unease ran through the other Nephilim, and Barak wasn’t surprised. “Gabe! Are you insane?”
“No.” Gabe turned to him. “Perhaps we can reason with him.”
“You have clearly,” Ozan said, amused, “never met Jiri. To parley signifies weakness, and to set foot inside his War Room will be suicide. You need to persuade him of your intent. Attacking him here, in what he considers his stronghold, will be another blow.”
Shadow interrupted. “We need a way to draw them all out and cause maximum confusion. I suggest a bomb at the front door.”
“Isn’t that more likely,” Ash said, “to get them to retreat behind closed doors?”
“No. That will definitely bring them out,” Nibal said, “but our brothers must not be harmed.”
“Why aren’t they with us now?” Lucien asked.
“To listen, to watch. To ensure they all remain in one place. And to ensure the women stay together.”
“Where are the women?” Estelle asked, her tone as hard as her eyes. “You need to take me to them.”
Nibal studied her. “We didn’t expect women would be part of the team. Neither of you are strong enough to fight.”
Shadow didn’t answer, only rolling her eyes, amused. Barak knew that Estelle did not want to reveal her power until she had to, and he respected that.
Estelle said, “Let me worry about that. Where are the women?”
Nibal glanced at Gabe, as if seeking approval. He said, “I suggest you answer her.”
