“A fortress?” Inga snorted. “Have you forgotten that, just a couple months ago, Brigette managed to escape from my dungeons and that crazy druid priestess opened a portal in my throne room?”
“True,” Levet was forced to concede. He’d been kidnapped by Brigette and taken to a bizarre dimension where they’d nearly been killed. More than once. It’d been a grand adventure. “Is anything missing?”
“Not that I can tell. I really need to have Mother make an itemized list so I can be certain that we keep track of everything. Most of them are quite dangerous.”
Levet stepped closer to the shelves. He could easily detect the sparkles that floated in the air, revealing a magical barrier to protect the items.
“Did you attempt to use any of these?”
Inga moved to stand next to him, the soft scent of an ocean breeze wrapping around him. Levet sucked in a deep breath. He loved how she smelled.
“My mother has.” Inga pointed toward an object on the top shelf. It was hard and black, with a luminescent sheen. Like a black pearl. “This one forms a protective bubble that is impervious to everything but lava.”
“Impressive.” Levet nodded toward the large, golden medallion that was hanging from a leather strap. There were strange marks etched into the gold that he’d never seen before. “What about this one?”
“So far, all we’ve discovered is that it smells awful.”
Instantly enchanted, Levet reached up a hand. “Really?”
Inga grasped his horn and tugged him back. “Absolutely not.”
Levet didn’t argue. He was already distracted by a delicate figurine that looked like a diamond chiseled into the shape of a swan.
“What about the sparkly one?”
“We’re not sure. My mother could sense tremendous power, but she couldn’t ignite the magic.”
Levet pointed toward an object that looked like a plain pebble on one of the lower shelves. “I know what that one is.”
“Really?”
“It is a doulas stone.”
“What does it do?”
“It—” Levet was interrupted, as there was a knocking in his head. There was no other way to explain what he experienced. “Oh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Someone is wanting in.”
“In?” Inga’s gaze darted toward the door, as if expecting an attack. “In where?”
Levet tapped a claw against his temple. “They wish to speak to my mind.”
A portion of Inga’s tension eased. “Who is it?”
“I’m not certain.”
“I thought you could only speak telepathically with those whom you’ve made a mental connection with?”
He absently nodded. Inga was right. He had to have established a relationship with the creature who wished to mentally contact him. A good thing. Otherwise, every Tom, Dick, and Larry…no wait, hairy? Harry? Anyway, they would all come a-knocking on his brain.
“It is familiar,” he murmured. “And yet strange.”
Inga looked worried. “Don’t answer it.”
“I have no choice.” Levet shuddered. “It will not stop. Thump. Thump. Thump. As if my poor head is a drum.” Closing his eyes, Levet concentrated on the presence reaching out to him. “Bonjour?”
“At last,” a female voice echoed through his mind.
“What do you mean ‘at last’?” Levet mentally protested. “You are fortunate that I answered at all.”
“Levet, I don’t have time for your babbling.”
“Babbling?” Levet furrowed his brow. The rich, powerful voice was familiar, but it wasn’t until the female had used that particular word that Levet realized who was speaking. “Oh, Brigette.”
“Yes.”
Levet’s wings fluttered with relief. Most people assumed that Brigette was evil and had done terrible, awful things, but Levet had glimpsed into her heart. The female Were genuinely regretted what she’d done and now spent her life punishing herself for her sins.
He’d been quite worried about her.
“How are you? Non. Wait. Where are you?” Levet demanded. “I have tried to search for you, but—”
“Levet, just hush up and listen to me.”
Levet stiffened. “Rude.”
“Oh, Christ.” Brigette abruptly laughed. “I’ve missed you.”
“I have missed you as well,” Levet assured the Were. “Is there a reason you wished to speak with me?”
“I need you to get a warning to Styx.”
“What has happened?”
“There’s a group of rebels who are plotting a coup against him.”
Levet frowned. Why would the vampires be plotting a chicken house against the Anasso? That didn’t make sense. Oh, no. That was a coop. A coup was something to do with lopping off the king’s head, right?
“Not Chiron?” he asked in surprise. He’d heard that the Rebels had made nice with Styx and they were all one big happy family.
Well, as happy as a bunch of arrogant, ill-tempered blood-suckers could be.
“No. They’re not a part of the Rebel clan, they’re just rebels. They hate Chiron as well.”
“Who?”
“It’s some vampire who calls herself Maryam and a pureblood Were named Roban,” Brigette told him.
The names weren’t familiar, but Levet preferred to avoid leeches whenever possible.
“Where are they?”
“In a section of tunnels beneath Chicago.”
Levet jerked in shock. Styx’s lair was in Chicago. Not to mention his besties Viper and Dante. Three of the most powerful vampires in the world.
“That is bold. And rather…”
“Suicidal?”
“Oui.”
“They have hundreds of warriors signed up for the cause.”
A dozen questions buzzed through Levet’s mind, but he forced himself to concentrate on the most important one.
“Including you?”
“I’m just here for the sightseeing,” she instantly denied a loyalty to the traitors.
Levet breathed a sigh of relief. “What do you wish me to tell Styx?”