“I don’t know. Mia mentioned something being off about your blood, but she wasn’t sure what it was.”
“Off?”
“Yeah, like it was more than vampire.”
“That’s impossible. As I told you, vampires can’t procreate with other species.”
“Just like your turning Hellina was impossible?”
He glowered at her, dark emotion pouring off him and as toxic as the rain. “My parents were vampires. There’s no … question of that.” He frowned.
That hesitation … “What is it? You can tell me, McKell.” She reached over, squeezed his hand. “You can trust me.”
He accepted the touch as if it were his right. “Vampires came to this planet a millennium ago, living in secret until recently, as you know. There weren’t many, but they came here because their planet was dying. There were hundreds of doorways to other planets, and so the people divided, some going one way, others another, and so on. Once they crossed, the doorway closed. Until …”
“Until—,” she prompted with another squeeze.
“My mother. She and my father had been wed for years with no offspring. But one day, suddenly, she disappeared. She returned a few months later, and a few months after that, she gave birth to me. For most of my childhood, I was teased, other children claiming my mother had cuckolded my father.”
That kind of explained his superiority complex. He’d needed to view himself as better than everyone else. Otherwise, he would have had to view himself as inferior, as everyone else had, and that was a weakness a warrior wouldn’t allow.
They were more alike than she’d realized.
“So, the rumors died—”
“When I began hurting those who spoke them.”
That’s my McKell. “Could your mother manipulate time? Could anyone? You might have told me, but I’m drawing a blank.”
His chest puffed up. “No. I’m the only one who has ever been able to do so.”
So, that might not be a trait of the vampires, but of another race. Could he be more than vampire? If so, how? “Your mother never spoke of another lover?”
“No. Nor did my father.”
From the corner of her eye, she caught of glimpse of the structure looming in front of them. “We’ll have to continue this, along with everything else, later.”
He nodded as the car eased to a stop at the AIR gate.
She flashed her badge, as always, but the guards wouldn’t let her through. They had to wait for Mia herself to arrive—in the company of three other agents—and then follow her to the back of the building.
Ava’s nervous system kicked into gear as the car eased forward. “Let’s come up with a code word or something, in case you need my help.” Maybe she shouldn’t have brought him here. Maybe she should have told him to run.
He lifted her hand and licked the wild pulse in her wrist. “If I need aid, I’ll say, ‘Ava, I need you.’” His mouth curled up at the corners. “How’s that for a code?”
“Unbreakable,” she replied drily, trying not to squirm in her seat as she savored the soft press of his lips.
“Well, I promise I won’t need your help.”
Her desire suddenly chilled. “Because you now think I’m weak?”
“You always think the worst of me first,” he said on a sigh. “No. I don’t think you’re weak. I know just how strong you really are, but I don’t want you in trouble with your coworkers. Not for my sake. I’ll behave.”
How … sweet. “I’ll—I’ll do better. About not thinking the worst.”
“Thank you.”
Still. The nervousness returned, welcoming another round of doubts. What had she gotten him into? How would this end? “Just answer Mia’s questions, give her some more of your blood, and then we’ll get out of here. Okay?”
“For you,” he said, giving her hand another kiss, “anything.”
This new, tender side of him destroyed her.
The car stopped in the underground parking lot. After sharing a long, long look, they emerged, Mia already waiting for them and tapping her foot impatiently. The other agents were still with her, pyre-guns now palmed.
“He’s not going to cause any trouble,” Ava said, stepping in front of him.
He grabbed her by the waist and shoved her behind him. Having none of that, she pulled free and returned to her favorite spot. In front, acting as his shield. A low growl left him, and he once again jerked her backward. This time, he didn’t let go of her, no matter how hard she pulled.
“I know that,” Mia replied, “but it pays to be careful. Now, come on. Let’s get this done.” She turned to lead the way, paused, then glanced at McKell over her shoulder. “Oh, and thank you for the vampires you sent me, injured or not. They’re recovering nicely and are currently in lockup, awaiting testing and sentencing.”
He inclined his head in acknowledgment.
Mia guided them through a part of the building Ava had never been inside before. There were no other agents here, the walls and even the hallways padded, with ID scans at every turn.
“Mia,” she said, hating the tremble in her voice. McKell still hadn’t released her, so she quickened her step and twisted her wrist, twining her fingers with his rather than attempting to sever contact, hoping to offer comfort but knowing she was taking it instead. She had brought him here. Had rushed him here. If her boss meant to lock him up like she’d done the others, Ava would—what? Tear down the entire building? Kill every AIR agent? “He’s here of his own volition. In peace. To help. Careful or not, please tell the guards to lose the guns.”
“Sorry,” was the reply. “Not gonna happen.”
She popped her jaw. “Keep in mind, he’s the only one who can help you track the Schön queen. You don’t want to accidentally hurt him.”
The threat had no effect. “Actually, Dallas can track her. Not to mention all my Rakans.”
“And none of them have done any good,” she reminded her boss.
“Anyway,” Mia continued with only the barest pause, “he hasn’t been helping us, has he?”
“He called you when he found her, didn’t he? And he’s been looking for ways to go out in the daylight so that he can do more.” A stretching of the truth, but she didn’t care. And why the hell wasn’t McKell speaking up in his own defense?