This Side of the Grave (#5 Night Huntress)
This Side of the Grave (#5 Night Huntress)
This Side of the Grave (#5 Night Huntress)
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us, I was unable to suppress a shiver. I’d seen what Marie had installed for a booby trap in this tunnel, and let’s just say it involved enough blades to<br />
turn anyone trespassing into red-splattered coleslaw.<br />
After about forty yards, Jacques opened <strong>the</strong> metal door at <strong>the</strong> end that revealed a narrow flight <strong>of</strong> stairs. Again Bones went up first, me following<br />
behind him. At <strong>the</strong> top <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stairs was a small, windowless room that might be located in a nearby home, or we might possibly be inside one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
larger national crypts in <strong>the</strong> cemetery. I had no idea, and I was sure that was how Marie wanted it.<br />
“Majestic,” Bones greeted <strong>the</strong> woman seated on a plush recliner chair, nodding his head respectfully.<br />
But when I came out from behind him and saw Marie more clearly, my polite hello vanished under a burst <strong>of</strong> laughter. On <strong>the</strong> floor right next to her<br />
smart little heels was a pale container <strong>of</strong> plastic-wrapped poultry, and I didn’t have to look at <strong>the</strong> label to guess what kind.<br />
“A headless chicken,” I said once I’d gotten my laughter under control. “Very cool.”<br />
Bones arched a brow at me, not knowing that upon first meeting <strong>the</strong> ghoul queen <strong>of</strong> New Orleans, I’d commented that I was sure she’d be holding<br />
a headless chicken considering her fearsome voodoo reputation. Apparently, she’d remembered that, yet ano<strong>the</strong>r example <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sly humor lurking<br />
underneath her whole Queen <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Damned demeanor.<br />
“It was <strong>the</strong> best I could do under short notice,” Marie replied with an elegant shrug. Her voice was like acoustical caramel, that Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Creole<br />
accent sweetening each word. Her shawl shifted as she sat up, inky curls brushing her shoulders with <strong>the</strong> movement. Then her eyes narrowed as<br />
she fixed her gaze on Bones.<br />
“Did Jacques not relay my instructions for you to wait while I met with Cat alone first?”<br />
Bones didn’t lose any <strong>of</strong> his easy posture, but I felt tension that wasn’t my own brush over my emotions.<br />
“I’m certain you heard <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> incident at <strong>the</strong> Ritz yesterday, and I’m also certain you know <strong>the</strong> attack was aimed at her. So you’ll forgive me,<br />
Majestic, if I’m overprotective <strong>of</strong> my wife’s safety at present.”<br />
“Yes, I heard.” Not a hint <strong>of</strong> emotion flickered across her features. “I can assume <strong>the</strong> bodies recovered from <strong>the</strong> hotel were those <strong>of</strong> your<br />
attackers?”<br />
“All but one,” Bones replied. “We took him with us when we left.”<br />
Now we had Marie’s full attention. She leaned forward, her dark gaze intense. “Tell me you brought this person with you.”<br />
“Sorry, he’s dead now,” Bones stated impassively.<br />
“You killed him?” Marie didn’t look pleased, and I didn’t think it was because she’d wished a long, happy life on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r ghoul. In fact, if <strong>the</strong> man<br />
were still alive, he might be grateful that Vlad spared him whatever Marie had in store. From her reputation, she was hell on anyone who violated<br />
her safe-passage rules.<br />
“Vlad did,” I said before Bones could answer. “He didn’t know all <strong>the</strong> details.” Partly true, anyway.<br />
“I’ll speak with him about that later,” Marie murmured, almost to herself.<br />
I gave <strong>the</strong> single empty chair across from her a glance. “You mind?”<br />
She waved a hand. “Please.”<br />
“Bones?” I inquired, assuming I’d just sit on his lap.<br />
“I’ll stand, Kitten.”<br />
I settled myself in <strong>the</strong> chair. So far, things were going better than I expected. Marie hadn’t pitched a fit about Bones being here or <strong>the</strong> ghoul being<br />
dead. Maybe she thought Apollyon was as much <strong>of</strong> a threat as we did.<br />
“You may remain, but you will stay silent while I speak with Cat, or I will remove you,” Marie said to Bones in a tone that dared him to argue.<br />
My hopes plummeted with that single sentence. Bones folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against <strong>the</strong> wall, looking for all <strong>the</strong><br />
world like he was completely relaxed. I couldn’t feel his emotions—he’d locked <strong>the</strong>m down tight upon entering <strong>the</strong> tunnel—but I bet his little half<br />
smile concealed a slew <strong>of</strong> uncharitable thoughts toward Marie. I couldn’t help but admire his blasй performance. I could never fake nonchalance that<br />
well when I was pissed.<br />
I cleared my throat in <strong>the</strong> sudden uneasy silence. “So . . . how ’bout <strong>the</strong>m Saints, huh?”<br />
Marie’s sharp gaze didn’t leave mine. “The last time I saw you, you were still a half-breed. Tell me, Cat, how do you find being a full vampire?”<br />
“It’s great,” I said, knowing she had something up her sleeve with this, but pretending it was a casual question. “I haven’t missed getting my<br />
period even once, and hey, no more counting calories. What’s not to love, right?”<br />
She smiled at me, revealing pretty white teeth that contrasted nicely with her matte red lipstick. “You forgot to mention your ability to kill your first