“The view is definitely amazing. Come on, I’ll show you the rest.”
Charlie was in the kitchen, fixing a cup of tea. Temo was at the dining table, typing on his phone. He gave them a quick glance, blinked once at Cammie, then put the phone down and got to his feet.
“This is my admin, Charlene Rollins, and my head of security, Temo Danielson. Charlie, Temo, this is my sister, Sister Mary Lazarus Immaculata. Formerly known as Camille, so if you hear me call her Cammie, that’s why.”
Temo’s brow rose slightly as he smiled. “Very nice to meet you, Sister.”
Charlie stirred a spoonful of sugar into her tea. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“You too,” Cammie said. “Both of you.”
Charlie set the spoon aside. “Would you like some tea? I’d be happy to make you a cup.”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
Charlie picked up her cup. “If you’ll excuse me. Work to do. Governor, I’ll be in the office if you need me.”
Temo edged toward the downstairs steps. “I should go make sure the car is ready. I’ll be back in a few, boss.”
“Sounds good.” Donna was sure Temo had already prepped the car, but her team seemed to understand she needed time alone with her sister. She turned to Cammie and hooked her thumb over her shoulder. “There’s a sitting room. We could go in there and talk.”
“That sounds perfect.”
Once they were in, Donna shut the door and sat across from Cammie. This was the same room where she’d first met Fitzhugh. But this would be a very different conversation. With him it had been all about gaining the upper hand. With Cammie, well, no matter what the topic, no matter how serious, she and Cammie were family. Sisters. Equals. “So, what do you want to talk about?”
Cammie smiled briefly, then her face settled into a grave, no-nonsense expression. “What I’m about to tell you needs to stay between us.”
Donna nodded. “Of course.”
“Swear on your crucifix.”
Donna wriggled the chain and cross out from under her turtleneck so she could hold it in her hand. “I swear to keep secret whatever you’re about to share with me.”
Cammie relaxed a bit, taking a deep breath. “I didn’t go to Nicaragua to work at an orphanage. I went there to clean out a nest of rogue vampires that were preying on nearby villages.”
The crucifix fell from Donna’s fingers. She stared at her sister. Her hundred-and-thirty-pound, pacifist, married-to-God sister. “It really sounded just now like you said you went to clean out a nest of vampires.”
Cammie nodded. “Because that is what I said. Rogue vampires, actually.”
Donna blinked a few times as she processed. “I know you knew about vampires before I did, and you said that the church produces a lot of hunters, but are you telling me that you are a…vampire hunter?”
Her smile was terse, but Donna imagined Cammie meant it to be reassuring. “I am. Among other things.”
Other things? What else could there be? “But you’re also still a nun?”
“Yes. The Sisters of the Holy Rosary is one of many specialized convents around the world that train and deploy hunters wherever they’re needed. You also need to keep that to yourself.”
“Specialized? I think you’re underselling it.” Donna sat back and gave herself a little time to process. “This explains how you knew so much more about vampires than I did. But why are you telling me all of this? Especially when it’s such secret stuff.”
Cammie bent her head for a moment. When she looked up, there was fear in her eyes. “I’m telling you this so you’ll understand the next thing I have to say to you.”
Now Donna was worried. “Which is?”
“This…battle you’re about to engage in with the fae?” She shook her head. “It can’t happen. At least not with you attached to it.”
Donna frowned. “It’s not up for discussion. I have to do it. Rico needs my help. He’s being held hostage because of me.”
“The wolves can handle it. Let them.”
Donna spread her arms in disbelief that her sister would say such a thing. “Let me repeat. He’s there because of me.”
“I understand that. But please don’t go.”
“Camille. You’re asking me to abandon a friend. Potentially to his death. That doesn’t sound like you. Or at least the you I thought I knew.”
Cammie wiped her hand over her mouth. “If you do this, it will probably cause a war. And if that happens, there is a standing kill order for all vampires and fae. The order will not allow humans to become collateral damage, which is what would happen if war breaks out.”
A little shiver ran down Donna’s spine. “I’m your sister. The mother of your beloved niece and nephew. Are you saying you would—”
“No. Of course not.” Cammie looked toward the river. “But there are plenty of others in the order who would.” She glanced down at her hands, folded in her lap. “And I would be helpless to stop them.”
Heat built up in Donna’s eyes as a knot formed in her throat. Both signs that tears weren’t far behind. But then, it wasn’t every day that your dear sister told you your death might be imminent. She got up and walked to the windows. Heavy gray clouds blocked the stars. More snow was on the way, it seemed. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you won’t go.”
“I can’t.” Donna put her hand on the glass. The cold felt good. She wanted to press her forehead against it.
“Can you at least tell me when you plan on going?”
She put her hands in her pockets and looked over her shoulder. “Why? So you can stop me?”
Cammie stood. “No. So I can try to protect you.”
This was a deciding moment. Donna felt it. She’d always trusted Cammie. Always felt safe telling her secrets, never doubted Cammie’s love for her. Cammie had been her protector at times. Was Cammie still that same person?
There was only one way to find out. Tell Cammie the truth and then see what she did with the information and what she did to Donna. Defend her? Or betray her?
She turned to face her sister. “Probably tomorrow morning at first light. The fae will be asleep and at their most vulnerable.”
“But you can’t go out in the…” Realization dawned on Cammie’s face. “Except you can, can’t you? That’s why you asked me about the crucifix and what it might be able to do.” She let out a breathy little laugh. “You know, I had that crucifix specifically blessed to protect you from vampires.”
“It did its job. In a way.”
“I suppose.” Cammie’s eyes narrowed. “So you can daywalk, huh? I don’t think you know how rare that is.”
“I have an idea. But I would appreciate you keeping that information to yourself. If that’s even possible. Considering what you’ve told me, a little quid pro quo should be in order.”
“Donna, I’m not your enemy. But I’ve been a hunter a lot longer than you’ve been a vampire. It’s been my life. You can’t expect me to ignore the training I’ve been doing since I joined the convent.”