Page 76 of Bonded By Blood
Joe swallowed compulsively. “And Jasen managed to decapitate Tobias.” If they only counted the bodies, the odds were in their favor. But if Boris really was Trista’s brother, the deck was stacked.
“That really pissed the old guy off,” Kendall said from the sofa beyond Joe’s line of sight. “Then Jasen went and egged him on like a meathead.”
It was strategy, actually.
“Old guy?” Trista repeated. Her hold on Joe loosened, marginally. “This other vampire, how old did he appear? Did you notice his fangs?”
“You don’t think Bri would recognize her own uncle?” Kendall asked with a note of incredulity.
Trista’s eyes narrowed. “I think it’s been more than long enough for her memory to blur around the edges.”
“Mid-sixties, maybe,” Joe said. “About my height. Thin, silver hair. Not a real impressive build. Just the kind of aura that … well, I’m not entirely sure you would understand, actually.”
Trista arched a brow. “Oh?”
Joe couldn’t stop the lip-twitch. “It’s a power thing. Innately powerful people exude a certain aura that others, you might say lessers, don’t. Those of us who have always been weaker just learn to recognize it.”
Her expression smoothed back to neutral. “Hmm.” She released his throat, allowing him to straighten. “Joseph. I told you to impress me.” She paused and, for just a second, he felt like an awkward teenager at the principal’s office. “You made the right choice tonight. Now stay, and make certain Kendall doesn’t get in any more trouble.”
“What?” Kendall demanded.
Joe wanted to echo the sentiment, but bit the word back. “At the risk of losing my head, I’m not sure it’s a great idea to send you out there.” He had to assume that was where she meant to go with her speech.
Trista took a half-step backward to better narrow her eyes at him, presumably without craning her neck. “I beg your pardon?”
Resisting the urge to clear his throat, he said, “You’re the Queen. It doesn’t matter at this point whether this Boris guy is your direct brother, or if he’s older or younger. After all this time, and all the effort you’ve put into building this network of vampires and Families, you’re the Queen. He can’t just waltz in and stake a claim. But if he is older, or even the same age, he could give you trouble. And no sane strategy risks its monarch in a one-on-one fight to the death.”
“My daughter is out there—”
“I know.” It was eating him up, taking all this time just talking. He’d never been so desperate to go back to a fight. “Which is why I need you to help me out. Send everyone you can. I’m going back out there, even though the most I can do is die in her place. And I’m asking you, for Brianna’s sake, take advantage of the wolves already in the area. Send them in, too. Every fighter counts. Right now, we just want to bring Brianna home. That’s the real goal tonight.” That was his goal, anyway. He wasn’t sure there was such a thing as a winning strategy against an Original.
Trista had regained her composure while he was speaking. She didn’t even flinch when he mentioned the wolves. Instead, she inclined her head. “Very well, Joseph. You have my support. Kendall, you can give me the location, so he can go, correct?”
“Yes!”
Trista looked him in the eye. “Bring her home, and you may stay.”
Joe attempted to smile, because he knew in his gut he wasn’t coming back without Brianna regardless. He didn’t know if that was what Trista meant, or if she meant something deeper. There wasn’t time to reflect. He turned and let himself out of the room, breaking into another run as soon as he was clear of the doors.
He didn’t know if anyone would show up to help fight. He didn’t know who Trista would call, or authorize, or if it was already too late.
That was the fear that prompted him to run faster than he’d ever run before.