Part 29 (2/2)
”Party on,” I called after her. ”Start talking,” I said to Ty.
”Her name is Ixtab.”
”And?”
”You know, the ancient Mayan G.o.ddess of death. She gathers the souls of victims of suicide, childbirth and sacrifice and takes them to paradise. At least that's what the legend says, but I've got it on good authority that they don't make it past Vegas.”
Hey, it made sense.
”Anyhow, she's been keeping Mordred young in return for the souls of his sacrifices. He tried to cheat her this time and she wasn't too happy about it.”
I remembered the flying body parts. ”Obviously not.” I shook my head. Could this night get any stranger?
Right about the time I asked myself that question, I heard the squeal of tires and the slam of several car doors.
Ty heard it, too. ”We'd better get you untied.” He grabbed the discarded dagger and went to work on the ropes at my feet.
Since they were infused with silver and soaked in garlic, he fumbled a few times, but in a matter of seconds, my right foot was free.
”It seems Rob called Nina back when he found out that she called him. ” The bonds on my left foot eased. ”When she didn't answer, he got worried and called me.” Ty moved around my head and reached for the ropes on my left wrist. ”I didn't answer, so he called his brothers, who called your dad, who called Evie, who called Ash.” My hand broke free and he moved to the next one.
”They were on their way, the last I heard.”
”Which ones?”
”All except for Evie. She's holding down the fort back home.” The voices grew louder, more discern-able, and he cut through the last of the restraints. ”They got into town about an hour ago, talked to Elmer, and here they are.”
I rubbed at my wrists. ”When did you get into town?”
His gaze met and held mine. ”Baby, I never left.”
I'd like to say that Ty swooped me into his arms at that very second and carried me off into the sunset a la some romantic Taylor Swift song, but hey, we're vampires. No sunsets allowed.
On top of that, I was in so much pain that there was no swooping allowed either.
Instead, he peeled off the dark blue T-s.h.i.+rt he was wearing and helped me into it. I winced and cringed and yelped a few times.
Finally the soft cotton slithered over me just as Ash and his brothers barreled through the opening of the tunnel.
Zee and Mo split, one heading for Esther, who was still strapped to a nearby table, and the other going for Nina. Ash rushed over to me, his expression fierce, his eyes glittering with concern. He stopped just shy of touching me, his gaze locking with Ty 's. Some silent male thing pa.s.sed between them, and instead of reaching out he settled for a thorough glance at my leg. ”f.u.c.king h.e.l.l,”
he muttered. ”I'm sorry I got you mixed up with that guy.”
”He said he's going to get you fired.”
His expression was cold. ”We'll see who gets fired.” Another sweeping gaze and his attention settled on my face. ”Are you really okay?”
”Are you kidding?” I grasped at Ty and let him help me into a sitting position. ”Don't get me wrong. I could use a few pain pills right about now. Or maybe a box of wine. But otherwise, I'm fine.”
My words drew his attention and he grinned. ”I never figured you for a cheap drunk.”
”Right now, I'd drink just about anything.”
Ty didn't need to hear me twice. He did the swooping then. His strong arms slid under me and he carried me through the tunnel, to the crowd gathered outside.
Ash and his crime scene team descended on the cave while a special medical unit (i.e., a few choice blood donors) whisked Esther away to nurse her back to health. My BFF was awake now and sitting in the back of a nearby cab, a smile on her face. Rob had declared his love in front of the entire crowd, which he'd also demonstrated by flying thousands of miles, and she'd declared hers. I don't think she'd told him about the baby yet, but I knew it was just a matter of time.
Meanwhile, I sat on the hood of DeWalt's black stretch Cadillac, nursed a bottle of blood and explained myself to my parents.
Max. Jack and Mandy. The Connecticut Huntress Club. DeWalt. Remy.
Yep, even he showed up.
He looked casual chic in jeans, a pullover Hollister tee and loafers. His blond hair was rumpled, his smile infectious. ”Glad to see you're still in one piece.”
I glanced down at my now bandaged leg. ”Mostly. What are you doing here?”
”I've been babysitting your dad while your mom's been on retreat.” He shoved a hand through his hair, which explained the rumpled look. ”The man's been trying to buy jet engine fuel for a bomb he 's building in his garage. I couldn't let him near an airplane by himself.”
”He's really building a bomb?”
”d.a.m.n straight I am,” my dad said as he walked up to us. ”Just wait until I finish. Then we'll see if Viola has b.a.l.l.s enough to cut down another one of my bushes.”
”Dad, if you launch a nuclear weapon, she'll not only have b.a.l.l.s. She'll have a third eye.”
Ty paused a few feet away, where he was busy giving a statement to one of the suits Ash had called in. He grinned and I went warm in all the right places.
”I'm definitely going to need a vacation after this,” Remy declared.
I nodded. ”You and me both.”
”Drink up, dear.” My mother's voice drew my attention as she came up next to my father. Her narrowed gaze roved me from head to toe. ”You still look terrible. And your hair-”
”Mom, I almost lost my afterlife. It's not my proudest hair moment.” ”You're telling me.” She gave a disdainful s.h.i.+ver. ”If this isn't proof enough that you should give up that disastrous business, which almost always seems to land you in trouble, then I don't know what-”
”Ma,” I cut in.
”-else to do. However are you going to find a nice male vampire if you're busy running around getting yourself flayed-”
”Ma.”
Her gaze collided with mine. ”Yes, dear?”
I smiled and motioned Ty over. He reached me in a heartbeat and I took his hand, my fingers twining with his. ”I've got somebody I want you to meet.”
”I forgot to tell you ...” Evie handed me an envelope. It was a clear, moonlit Friday evening and she was about to call it quits for the night, while I was just getting started matching up New York's sad and single. ”Tabitha dropped these off earlier today on her way to meet prospect number twenty-two.” I arched an eyebrow and she added, ”They're bungeeing near Coney Island.”
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