“Are you going to make it without her?” Marcus asked his father. He had been away from Phoebe for less than twelve hours and already he was uneasy at their separation.
“I have to,” Matthew said, though at the moment he couldn’t imagine how.
“Does Diana know what being apart will do to you?” Marcus still had nightmares about Ysabeau and how much she had suffered during Philippe’s capture and death. It had been like watching someone go through the worst withdrawal imaginable—the shaking, the irrational behavior, the physical pain. And his grandparents were among the fortunate few vampires who, though mated, could be separated for periods of time. Matthew’s blood rage made that impossible. Even before Matthew and Diana were fully mated, Ysabeau had warned Marcus that his father was not to be trusted if something were to happen to Diana.
“Does she know?” Marcus repeated.
“Not entirely. She knows what will happen to me if I stay here and obey my brother, though.” Matthew shook off his son’s arm. “You don’t have to go along with this—with me. You still have a choice. Baldwin will take you in, so long as you beg for his forgiveness.”
“I made my choice in 1781, remember?” Marcus’s eyes were silver in the moonlight. “Tonight you’ve proved it was the right one.”
“There are no guarantees this will work,” Matthew warned. “Baldwin might refuse to sanction the scion. The Congregation could get wind of what we’re doing before we’re through. God knows your own children have reason to oppose it.”
“They’re not going to make it easy for you, but my children will do what I tell them to do. Eventually. Besides,” Marcus said, “you’re under my protection now.”
Matthew looked at him in surprise.
“The safety of you, your mate, and those twins she’s carrying is now the Knights of Lazarus’s top priority,” Marcus explained. “Baldwin can threaten all he wants, but I have more than a thousand vampires, daemons, and yes, even witches, under my command.”
“They’ll never obey you,” Matthew said, “not when they find out what you’re asking them to fight for.”
“How do you think I recruited them in the first place?” Marcus shook his head. “Do you really think you’re the only two creatures on the planet who have reason to dislike the covenant’s restrictions?”
But Matthew was too distracted to respond. He already felt the first, restless impulse to go after Diana. Soon he wouldn’t be able to sit still for more than a few moments before his instincts demanded he go to her. And it would only get worse from there.
“Come on.” Marcus put his arm across his father’s shoulders. “Jack and Andrew are waiting for us. I suppose the damn dog will have to come to New Orleans, too.”
Still Matthew didn’t respond. He was listening for Diana’s voice, her distinctive step, the rhythm of her heartbeat.
There was only silence, and stars too faint to show him the way home.
Sol in Libra
When the sun passeth through Libra, it is a good time for journeys. Beware of open enemies, war, and opposition.
—Anonymous English Commonplace Book, c. 1590,
Gonçalves MS 4890, f. 9r
Let me in, Miriam, before I break down the damn door.” Gallowglass wasn’t in the mood for games.
Miriam flung the door open. “Matthew may be gone, but don’t try anything funny. I’m still watching you.”
That was no surprise to Gallowglass. Jason had once told him that learning how to be a vampire under Miriam’s guidance had convinced him that there was indeed an all-knowing, all-seeing, and vengeful deity. Contrary to biblical teachings, however, She was female and sarcastic.
“Did Matthew and the others get off safely?” Diana asked quietly from the top of the stairs. She was ghostly pale, and a small suitcase sat at her feet. Gallowglass cursed and leaped up the steps.
“They did,” he said, grabbing the case before she did something daft and tried to carry it herself. Gallowglass found it more mysterious with every passing hour that Diana didn’t simply topple over given the burden of the twins.
“Why did you pack a suitcase?” Chris asked. “What’s going on?”
“Auntie is going on a journey.” Gallowglass still thought leaving New Haven was a bad idea, but Diana had informed him that she was going—with him or without him.
“Where?” Chris demanded. Gallowglass shrugged.
“Promise me you’ll keep working on the DNA samples from Ashmole 782 as well as the blood-rage problem, Chris,” Diana said as she descended the stairs.
“You know I don’t leave research problems unfinished.” Chris turned on Miriam. “Did you know that Diana was leaving?”
“How could I not? She made enough noise getting her suitcase out of the closet and calling the pilot.” Miriam grabbed Chris’s coffee. She took a sip and grimaced. “Too sweet.”
“Get your coat, Auntie.” Gallowglass didn’t know what Diana had planned—she said she would tell him once they were in the air—but he doubted they were headed for a Caribbean island with swaying palms and warm breezes.
For once Diana didn’t protest at his hovering.
“Lock the door when you leave, Chris. And make sure the coffeepot is unplugged.” She stood on her toes and kissed her friend on the cheek. “Take care of Miriam. Don’t let her walk across New Haven Green at night, even if she is a vampire.”
“Here,” Miriam said, handing over a large manila envelope. “As requested.”
Diana peeked inside. “Are you sure you don’t need them?”
“We have plenty of samples,” she replied.
Chris looked deep into Diana’s eyes. “Call if you need me. No matter why, no matter when, no matter where—I’ll be on the next flight.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, “I’ll be fine. Gallowglass is with me.”
To his surprise, the words brought Gallowglass no joy.
How could they, when they were uttered with such resignation?
* * *
The de Clermont jet lifted off from the New Haven airport. Gallowglass stared out the window, tapping his phone against his leg. The plane banked, and he sniffed the air. North by northeast.
Diana was sitting next to him, eyes closed and lips white. One hand was resting lightly on Apple and Bean as though she were comforting them. There was a trace of moisture on her cheeks.
“Don’t cry. I cannot bear it,” Gallowglass said gruffly.