"We're fine, Mrs. Anderson," Winkler said, knowing Lavonna would hear.
"Thank you, Mr. Winkler."
"This is so nice," Wynn leaned her cheek against Ace's shoulder. The white werewolf leaned in and kissed the top of Wynn's head.
"I have an announcement to make," Winkler grinned as soon as Dori ended the call with her mother.
"What's that?" Trace asked.
"Wayne and Wynter flew back to Dallas with me this morning. Wynter came and asked me a question. I made a phone call. She and Thomas Williams, Jr. are officially engaged."
"Really?" Wynn clapped her hands and laughed. "That is awesome, Mr. Winkler."
"Yeah. It really is awesome," Winkler grinned.
* * *
"Kid, do you want to go back to the airport with us tonight to pick up the vamps?" Winkler asked on the way home. Trace and Ace had offered to drive Wynn and Dori home; Ashe chose to ride with Winkler and Trajan.
"I can," Ashe nodded. "That way, Mr. Montegue can get a good look at the kid."
"Kid, that vamp is more than seventeen hundred years old. Almost everybody is a kid to him."
"Around midnight?" Ashe asked.
"Yeah. You can get a nap in, if you want, before we leave."
"Maybe."
* * *
"Curt, that information was pure gold. We have three in custody and they're answering questions now." Matt Michaels said. He was watching through one-way glass as one of his vampire agents questioned a detainee his werewolves had arrested earlier in the day. Two had tried to run. They hadn't gotten far—not many could outrun a werewolf, even in human form. This one was admitting his part in the courthouse bombing, and naming the other two as his accomplices.
"That's great news. I'll look forward to seeing the newsfeeds tomorrow," Curt replied and hung up.
Matt pocketed his cell with a sigh. Six people had died in that courthouse bombing. Matt hoped Curtis Roberts' new informant kept supplying reliable information. He wondered, though, what Curtis might eventually ask in exchange. A tenuous civility existed between Curtis and Matt, but Matt refused to trust Curtis. His distrust was one of the reasons he'd asked werewolves to go after the targets—he trusted them to do the job and not take unnecessary risks.
* * *
"This is my last communication until your wolves pick me up," Wildrif informed Zeke Tanner. "This side will be busy tomorrow when they hit the army base," he added. "Nobody will notice I'm gone for a while."
"Good. Make sure you're at the rendezvous point," Zeke managed to snap before Wildrif's cell went dead.
Chapter 7
"Gavin Montegue, this is Ashe Evans." Winkler made the introduction.
Ashe stared at Gavin Montegue while visions raced through his mind. He saw Gavin with Lissa. In many places. He saw them together, kissing at the base of the Guardian, the statue standing atop the dome of the Oklahoma Capitol. He saw images of Vampire Council meetings. Saw Lissa, nearly bald, as she stood before Gavin and argued with him.
"Kid, you in there?" Trajan jostled Ashe's arm, bringing him away from what he'd seen.
"Mr. Montegue," Ashe sighed and held out his hand to shake with the vampire. Surprisingly, Gavin took Ashe's hand.
* * *
"Ashe is one of the most respectful young men I've ever met," Winkler rattled ice cubes in his glass as he spoke with Gavin later in his study. "I'm asking that you give him the benefit of the doubt. I've learned that when the kid says something's important, then it's important."
"I hear he has unusual methods of getting from place to place. Have seen evidence of it, in fact."
"He's pretty broken up over his parents," Winkler changed the subject. "If you could, tread lightly in that area. I have no idea what his father thought he was doing, but Ashe is suffering as a result. That's not all, either. Adele, his mother, is already in another relationship, and I can only imagine it's because Aedan placed compulsion. This new guy has offered her a ring and a marriage proposal."
"Moving rather quickly, don't you think?" Gavin rumbled.
"I think so, but I can't control everything."
"Understood. I hear that college classes commence next week. We'd like to make use of the young man's talents through the weekend."
"I thought you might. Gavin, he's not vampire. I think I know how Wlodek feels. I hope that's not the case with you. We've worked together before, you and I, and I'm hoping that I can trust you now as I have in the past."
"I hope that remains true, although you know I can't circumvent a direct order from Wlodek."
"Yeah. I know that. Look at Aedan."
"Aedan is a shell. I fear he may be contemplating a trip into the sun, my friend. Should he learn of this marriage proposal you speak of, it may come sooner than anyone might expect. I am nearly a thousand years older than Aedan. I have seen this, many times."
"That will kill the kid," Winkler growled.
"I know not how to prevent it, should Aedan choose that path."
"This is impossible." Winkler rose to pace behind his desk. "Gavin, this kid, well, he's more than special. I don't know how else to explain it. If things continue to go wrong for him, I don't know what he might do."
"What has happened? That I do not yet know?" Gavin's face held no emotion, but Winkler knew this vampire. Probably better than any other vampire. Their friendship was based on mutual respect. Wlodek had no idea that Winkler and Gavin knew one another as well as they did.
"Have you ever heard the phrase, separating particles? I've seen it, and I still can't explain it. Hell, it's incomprehensible." Winkler raked fingers through his hair in frustration. "I trust the kid, but if his father walks into the sun, I just don't know what he might do."
"I am unfamiliar with this term. Can you describe it?"
"The kid took an execution the night of the full moon," Winkler began. "And I watched as the condemned just turned to sparks that floated away and winked out. The kid said that the condemned was with the universe, now."
"You're sure of this?" Gavin lifted an eyebrow.
"Yes. I'm sure of it. At this point, I don't know what might work against the kid, if you get on his bad side. Get my drift?"
"I worry about placing compulsion, then," Gavin muttered. "The Honored One did not tell me I was bound to report that sort of thing to him, but Anthony—I think Anthony may be required to do so."