Part 20 (2/2)

The dragon-s.h.i.+fter shook his head. aThatas wrong. Iave been here all along. In this universe. This is my home. Iave never heard of this Vandar thing, until I picked him up in your mind.a He gestured toward the chalet. aI live up there. Iave lived there for fifty years.a Kenna had stiffened her legs. aBut you could go back and forth. Vandar sent me here. And he called me back again.a Gallagher kept his voice even. aWhatever you think, Iam not him. You lived with Vandar for months. Has he disappeared for long periods of time?a Kenna swallowed. When she spoke, doubt crept into her voice. aI . . . donat know. I suppose itas possible. I just did the job he a.s.signed mea”preserving books. I didnat see him on a regular basis. Except for the ceremonies where he killed one of us.a Talon looked from the dragon-s.h.i.+fter to Kenna and back again. aWhy do you think heas Vandar?a She shuddered in his arms. aVandar told me about his early life. Gallagheras life is the same. He was the slave of a man named Halendor when he was a boy. So was Vandar. I mean, there was just one slave, not two.a Renata stepped out from behind the rock. Jacob was right behind her, gun in hand.

aMaybe both of you are right,a she said in a voice that cut through the thickening atmosphere.

aHow?a Gallagher demanded.

aIam from this world,a she told him. aBut Iam the reincarnation of an ancient G.o.ddess who came back to the world over and over. You donat know it, but the timeline split in 1893.a Quickly, she related the story of the Chicago Worldas Fair and how Eric Carfoli had thrown the world into chaos by giving people psychic powers. She turned her hand palm up. aThis is the confusing part. I was reincarnated in both universes until Carfoli changed that other world. Then I was only here. So, if youare the same . . . being . . . who was alive in 1893, there would be two versions of you now. One here and one there.a Kenna made a wheezing sound.

Gallagher tipped his head to the side, staring at Renata with an all-consuming focus.

aYouare saying that there are two of me, one in each universe?a he asked, emotions seething under the calm of his voice.

aI canat say for sure. But it would make sense. If both of you had the same early life.a His gaze turned inward. aIn 1893, I met someone who . . . affected my life.a aMaybe Vandar didnat. Or maybe he did. And it came out differently.a He nodded. aWe should get out of the middle of the road. Come up to the chalet and talk about it.a Talon gave him a questioning look. aYou mean where you can take us prisoner?a aYeah, why should we trust you?a Logan asked.

Gallagher looked at the two werewolves who had challenged him. aBecause I think we need to sort this out.a Renata looked at the other women. aWhat do you think?a They all gathered together, holding hands, and Kenna could sense power surging among them. The sensation awed her. Since theyad first joined together, she could feel their group power building. Enough power to fight off Ramsay Gallagher? She didnat know, but she had never felt anything like that among Vandaras slaves.

One by one, they nodded.

The men stared at them.

aYou have to be sure itas safe to go with him!a Logan said.

aHow can we be?a Renata asked.

Ross cleared his throat. aWe need to set some ground rules. Like we agree that weare all on the same side.a Talon laughed. aThat will last until we have a disagreement.a Kenna jumped back into the conversation, addressing her mate and also Gallagher. aFrom what Renata said, I believe youare not him. And since thatas true, we are on the same side. Vandar is planning to invade this world. If he establishes a base here, heall come looking for you.a aAnd if you arenat as ruthless as he is, heall destroy you.a Logan said.

Gallagher nodded. aIf what you say is true.a aIt is!a Kenna insisted.

Far above them, a jet plane cut across the sky, reminding everyone that they were still part of the modern world.

aCome inside,a Gallagher said. aIall be waiting for you at the chalet.a He turned and walked behind the rocks. A few moments later, the dragon leaped into the air, flying back to the chalet.

aYou trust him?a Talon asked Ross.

aYes. To a certain extent. He needs us.a aAnd when weave destroyed Vandar?a aFrom Kennaas description of him, we canat do that by ourselves. Not if we hope to fight his adepts at the same time. I think we need Gallagher. So letas hope heas honorable.a aYou think heas not a killer?a Logan demanded.

Ross turned to him. aI think heas dangerous when cornered. Iam sure heas killed to protect himself.a He looked at the other werewolves, each in turn. aWead do the same. Itas part of our nature.a There was a moment of tension before the other men nodded.

aI think he doesnat kill for pleasure,a Ross continued, aor to a.s.sert his power over others.a aWhat makes you think so?a Logan demanded.

aInstinct. And he could have already gotten us, if head wanted to.a aHe wants information.a aAnd our help. Maybe he even wants to be friends. Iam guessing heas been alone for a long time.a aIf youare wrong, weare in trouble,a Logan muttered.

Ross turned back to him. aAny way you look at it, weare in trouble. Apparently, he discovered Kenna long before we got here. He knows about all of us now. He could come after us if he wanted, but I donat think thatas how he operates. So we might as well try to set the ground rules for the relations.h.i.+p. While we still have some bargaining power.a There were murmurs of agreement.

aMaybe wead better go in one car,a Antonia suggested.

After Logan pulled the other vehicle to the side of the road, they all squeezed into the SUV Ross was driving.

Two of the men had to sit in the back. When they were all settled as best they could, the vehicle started up the narrow road that led to the chalet. They didnat get very far before they came to a heavy iron gate blocking the way. The mountain rose on one side, and a sheer drop fell away on the other.

aWell, I guess you donat get anyone to deliver pizza,a Talon said.

aJust a moment,a Gallagheras voice issued from a speaker on the gate.

The gate swung open, and they drove through. When they were on the other side, it clanked closed behind them.

aOr escape with the family jewels,a Logan added.

They drove up a winding gravel road that was probably deadly in winter. Even now, the loose gravel and the lack of a guardrail made the journey treacherous.

Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into a parking area in front of the chalet. aAt least thereas room to turn around,a Ross said.

Kenna studied the house. It was built of stone, with a high peaked roof, and she thought that it was probably bigger than it looked, with some of the structure below ground or built into the side of the mountain. She saw no other vehicles, but there was a wide garage door in front.

All of them got out, the men with their guns in their hands.

Gallagher came out the front door. He was wearing well-worn jeans and a navy T-s.h.i.+rt and looking totally at home in this world.

aCome in.a They followed him across the porch and into a large reception area. Kenna looked around and gasped when she saw one of the pictures hanging on the wall.

Gallagher turned toward her. aWhat?a She pointed. aThat picture. Vandar has the same one in his cave.a Ross walked up to the painting. aItas a Monet. Where did you get it?a aI bought it at an auction in Paris, in the mid-1800s.a aBefore the timelines split,a Renata said. aSo heas still got it, too.a aYouare an art collector?a Ross asked, looking into the sitting room off the reception area where several more paintings hung.

Gallagher gestured. aYes. Iave got several Pica.s.sos, some Van Goghs, some Modiglianis. As well as artists who didnat turn out to be as famous.a He looked back at them. aCome in and sit down. Iam sorry that I canat offer you any refreshments besides water.a aBecause you drink blood,a Kenna said in a gritty voice.

The room grew very silent as all of the werewolves instinctively moved closer to their mates.

Gallagher turned toward her. aYes. In my early life, I did live on the same food as humans, and I wasnat very healthy. Then I discovered that blood was my natural sustenance.a aAnd you kill to get it?a Logan asked.

He gave the werewolf a hard look. aI did. But my life-style has evolved over the years. I donat need to kill. And I donat need to drink human blood. I maintain a herd of deer up here in the mountains. I tap them for food. Much as the Masai tribesmen in Africa tap their cattle.a Kenna stared at him. aVandar always kills. He wants the people to be scared of him.a Gallagher turned to her. aI went through a period like that. I . . . changed. I discovered morality.a Before anybody could ask another question, he said, aLetas sit down.a They walked into what Talon would have called the living room, although it was furnished much differently from his own lodge, with elegant chairs and sofas that must have come from earlier ages.

Each of the werewolves sat with his mate. And Ross and Gallagher took chairs by the window.

Gallagher turned to Kenna. aFrom your mind, I picked up a lot about Vandar. He thrives on power.a aAnd he wants more territory. Which is why he plans to come here.a aI donat really understand how head do that if this universe is separate from the other one,a Gallagher said.

Rinna answered. aHead come through a portal between the worlds. The way I did. A strong group of adepts can open them.a When his brow wrinkled, she went on quickly. an.o.body here could open a portal. The other world is more primitive on an industrial level, but the psychics there are strong because theyare recognized in childhood and taught to perfect their talents. Still, it takes more than one person for a task that big.a aVandar has adepts who did that,a Kenna said. aIf we attacked his stronghold, theyad fight for him.a aWhy?a Talon could tell she was struggling to keep her voice steady. Gallagher might not be Vandar, but he was too close for her comfort. aBecause they fear what will happen if they defy him. But itas more than that. If youare one of his slaves, he gets into your mind and forces you to do his bidding. You might want to resist, but you canat. He sent me here to spy on this world in preparation for an invasiona”before Renata and the other women freed my mind from his power.a Ross said, aHe wanted her to bring back guns for his soldiers to use in a conventional fight. But we donat know exactly what he has in mind. Iam a.s.suming head come through and start taking over peopleas minds, the way he did in his own universe. We want to prevent that from happening.a aSo what are you proposing exactly?a Gallagher asked.

aI wish I knew,a Ross answered. aFor right now, Iad like to know youare on our side.a The dragon-s.h.i.+fter kept his gaze steady. aLet me think about it.a aFor how long?a aYouare asking me to risk my life by challenging him.a aI guess thatas right,a Ross answered. aVandar has to be stopped from establis.h.i.+ng a beachhead in this world, one way or the other.a aYou should go home. Iall contact you in a few days,a Gallagher said.

aGo home? So you can attack us there?a Logan asked.

aI can attack you here. Iam not going after you.a aBut you may not be willing to join us,a Ross clarified.

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