Angel Falls (Cassandra Bick Chronicles Book 3) (16 page)

‘Wife,’ Cain corrected, which in no way annoyed me.

‘Current girlfriend’s
ex
-lover.’ I added, pointedly, but Laclos grinned.

‘For now, dear heart.’

I ignored that and turned to Cain.

‘Much as I hate to agree with him when he’s being an annoying prick, he has a point. With you… under par and Medea out of the game, we need all the help we can get.’

‘But this is personal for her, now,’ Cain protested. ‘The angels humiliated her.’ He looked away for a moment, his face assuming that now-familiar, ever-annoying ‘it’s like explaining nuclear physics to sheep’ expression. But what he said next surprised me. ‘You know, I was a pretty good husband.’

I felt Laclos about to say a smart remark, but something in Cain’s expression stopped him.

‘But even if I hadn’t been…’ Cain went on. ‘Even if I’d been the kind of arsehole who thinks a strong woman needs a slap now and again – and trust me, back in the day that was a pretty common viewpoint – I would never have raised my hand to her.’

‘Because she would have cut your head off in your sleep?’ I suggested.

‘There’s that,’ he conceded, approvingly. I suspected Cain thought the best remedy for domestic violence was a permanent one. ‘But I mean… I dunno how much your movies about Thor and Loki cover about the Valkyries…’

‘They’re mainly focused on the hot guys, in fairness,’ I admitted.

‘OK. But… they’re a sisterhood. You hurt one…’ He trailed off. ‘Right now, she’s too pissed off and embarrassed to call the cavalry, but if things get worse…’

‘You mean there are more of them?’ Laclos asked, openly delighted.

I pushed him out of the way.

‘OK, but why is that a bad thing? We’re pretty outgunned right now. The more firepower the better, surely?’

‘But at what cost, Cass? You live in one of the world’s most populated cities. You think a Valkyrie-angel-vampire smackdown is going to go down quiet?’ He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. ‘You saw what happened when I tackled the Counsel. It wasn’t taking him out that weakened me – it was stopping myself pulling half the city down with him. You think Aeylith and Baelam will be as careful if they end up in a scrap with a bunch of warrior goddesses?’

I was about to protest when I realised what this was about. Val hadn’t been there when he’d agreed to give himself up to the angels. She didn’t know that was his plan – and, even little as I knew her, I couldn’t see her agreeing to it. But Laclos hadn’t joined those dots, yet.

‘So what do you suggest we do?’ he asked, his own calmness fraying.

To my astonishment, Cain reacted to this seemingly harmless question with fury. He grabbed me and shoved me hard behind him, away from Laclos, and I had a moment to wonder what the hell was happening, then the room went white and I stumbled against him.

A smooth voice said:

‘I suggest you surrender to the inevitable.’

Both Laclos and Cain had stepped in front of me – one, admittedly, more steadily than the other – but peering past them I could see Baelam, arms folded, looking pretty pleased with himself. Seriously, was he watching us or something? Nobody’s timing is that good.

‘I thought we agreed a timescale,’ Cain said, evenly.

Baelam looked amused, though his voice had a thinly veiled veneer of disgust.

‘I thought I would… pop by to remind you not to get so distracted by your… harem… that you forget your obligations.’

I rolled my eyes at this – what was it with everyone assuming it was all free love around here? – but Laclos reacted to this barb by stepping closer to Cain and, in an oddly intimate gesture, hooking a couple of fingers through the belt loop on his jeans.

‘I’m sorry, darling,’ he murmured, tilting his head towards Cain. ‘I thought you said it was the
other
one who was in love with you?’

Baelam snarled at that – clearly he prided himself on being the professional one in his partnership – and raised a hand, and the walls around us started to tremble.

‘Will you be so smug when I bring this structure down around you, vampire?’ he hissed, and as he lifted his hand, the whole building shook. Terrified, I grabbed onto Cain, but he appeared utterly bored by the whole thing.

‘Oh, just stop it, will you?’ he sighed, and with a wave of his own hand, the world instantly stilled. Baelam gaped at him, astonished.

‘They told me you were weakened!’ he gasped, but Cain shrugged.

‘Guess not. Maybe you should be wondering what else they say about me that isn’t true.’ Then he smiled that lupine smile, and for a moment Baelam looked actually worried. Then he didn’t look anything – he was gone again in a wall of whiteness.

‘Wow, that was…’ I began, but Cain wasn’t there.

***

Well, OK, he was there – just not at my eye line. I looked down, stunned, to see him collapsed in a heap, Laclos trying to both help him and untangle himself at the same time.

‘It’s OK! Everything’s fine!’ Laclos called out, which seemed superfluous until I realised my door had opened, and Mariko and Leon were there, having felt the disturbance and come to help. He gestured them impatiently back inside.

‘Fuck,’ muttered Cain, struggling to all fours, his breath ragged, his voice hoarse. ‘I can’t do that again.’

Then he passed out.

Laclos looked at me in alarm as I kneeled beside Cain, cradling his head in my lap.

‘What do we do?’ he hissed, not wanting to be overheard, but before I could answer, Cain’s eyelids fluttered open.

‘I’m fine. I’m good,’ he muttered, though not very convincingly, since it took both me and Laclos to get him to his feet. ‘OK,’ he put a heavy arm around my shoulders, leaning on me for support. ‘Maybe we should keep the Valkyrie around for now.’

We waited outside for a moment to let Cain pull himself together. A couple of neighbours, woken by the tremors, stuck their heads out of their doors and hastily retreated at the sight of us, seemingly not reassured by my cheery wave. I’m guessing by this stage they were used to seeing me with strange blokes, and even at his weakest, there’s something about Cain that deters open curiosity. Laclos looked as shaken as I was – I forgot that, whatever cable access he thought he had to Cain’s mind, he hadn’t seen the Counsel’s takedown, had never experienced the kind of power the angels had at their disposal. Cain had sniped at Aeylith and Baelam and called them second rate and out of shape: if this were true, I would hate to see what an angel could do at top of their game. But despite the many questions he was clearly struggling to subdue, Laclos said nothing, simply stood by Cain until the latter straightened up with a brusque nod, indicating he was ready to go back inside.

***

We found Mariko and Leon in the hallway looking like statues from a particularly bad tempered religion, but I think that while they were near the front door so they could go to Laclos’ aid, they were also deliberately avoiding the kitchen, where things were getting a little heated, to say the least.

‘But why do we not just slay them all? Rid this city of the undead scourge!’ Val was demanding, on her feet now. Medea looked ready to pitch a fit, Katie not far behind her, and Jonesy was wearing his now-familiar look of a man who’d just been run over.

‘Because that kind of indiscriminate slaughter got us into this mess!’ Katie yelled.

‘Um, also… slaughter. Not generally a good thing…’ Medea protested, weakly, clearly being out-voiced by the more vocal women.

‘Laclos started this by killing people!’ Katie seemingly hadn’t noticed – or wasn’t bothered by – our return. It must be a fairly serious argument when even a minor earthquake doesn’t distract you. Or perhaps Val’s table slamming was already shaking the room so much they hadn’t noticed Baelam’s efforts, concentrated around us as they had been. ‘You want to balance it out by killing more? These aren’t animals. They’re Others, but they’re people. They’re Meds’ and Cass’s clients, for god’s sake!’

‘They are our enemies!’ Val slammed her fist down so hard on the table it cracked – great, another bit of my kitchen ruined – but Cain stepped forward and calmly laid a hand over hers, his voice kind.

‘They are not the ones who you are angry at, my wife.’ She glared at him, but he smiled, wryly. ‘Much as I have sympathy with your strategy, I would have you save your wrath for those who are worthy of it.’

She softened slightly at that, though not without a glower at Katie-the-appeaser. But I was done, now, and I couldn’t face any more arguing or broken furniture.

‘Look, we’re not going to settle anything now. It’s nearly daylight and frankly I’m knackered, so why don’t we all just call it quits and reconvene after dark tomorrow and we can see if we can set up some kind of parlay or something.’ Several people in the room looked ready to protest at this notion but I held up a hand. ‘Or launch a nuclear strike. Or whatever the fuck you want to do. I know we only have a few days to do this, but I just can’t be doing it tonight.’

The humans in the room looked at me sympathetically, my exhaustion clearly reminding them of their own, but the rest of the room descended into a sullen agreement, the uneasy silence when half of the room is clearly hiding something from the other half. Leon scowled.

‘What aren’t we being told here?’

Before Cain could formulate an answer, Laclos frowned.

‘There are many things you are not being told,’ he said, coolly. ‘As befitting your status as an employee. A rather junior one, at that.’

For fuck’s sake. I knew vampires were hierarchical, absurdly so, but surely even someone as aware of his status as Laclos could see that when you’re in a tight corner depending on the loyalty of people who have no pressing reason to give it, not behaving like an over-privileged twat might be an idea. Leon and Mariko exchanged a glance that could have frozen the ground between them, and Leon’s expression hardened.

‘An employee tasked with keeping you safe. The more information you keep from me, the harder that job becomes. And that is, after all, what we are paid
so handsomely
for.’

Laclos looked like he was about to reply but Cain stepped forward, giving Leon a remarkably expressive look that couldn’t have said ‘ignore him we all know he’s a dick’ any clearer if he’d had it printed on a t-shirt.

‘Look, we don’t think you’re idiots. You’ve realised my wife and I aren’t human. Fair to say, there are more players in this game than you know, and the stakes are far higher than you can comprehend.’

‘So… what? You just want us to shuffle along in blissful ignorance?’ Leon demanded. ‘How are we supposed to fight something if we don’t know what it is?’

Cain gave a sad shake of his head.

‘You won’t fight them. If it comes to that, none of you will. You’ll just die before you even know they’re here.’

***

So on that optimistic note, we called it a night. There was an awkward moment when we realised we had no idea where Val was staying (where did she usually stay? A luxury hotel? A cloud?), but Medea and Katie offered their spare room, and she gratefully accepted, though I heard Katie mutter to Medea that they would need to clear the Loki bobble-head doll out of the bathroom. Jonesy clearly had his own arrangements, and with a hunter’s caution wasn’t keen to share them.

‘Are you going to join your… family?’ I asked Laclos, but he shook his head and turned to Cain.

‘I was going to request that I could avail myself of your safe house once again.’

By way of response Cain dug a key from his pocket and handed it to him. Laclos inclined his head in thanks then turned back to a stony-faced Mariko and Leon.

‘Are we allowed to ask where we’re going, or is that above our paygrade?’ Leon asked, his commitment to being a career vampire clearly getting shakier by the minute. Laclos looked affronted at his tone (and by the fact I smirked openly at it). This wasn’t helped by Leon muttering to Mariko, sotto voce, as he left, ‘So do you want to drive Miss Daisy or shall I?’

Laclos caught my admittedly not-well-hidden snigger.

‘They
are
my employees,’ he reminded me, tartly.

‘But Jesus, Laclos. They’re not the help. They’ve risked their lives to save you.’

‘Which they are well remunerated for doing. You really have no idea how vampire society works, do you, Cassandra?’

‘Whereas you’re a master of its nuances and subtlety, Laclos?’ I sighed, too tired for this fight. ‘Because you’ve done a bang up job of securing people’s loyalty so far. Maybe if you stop treating them like disposable minions they’ll be a little less willing to slit your throat in your sleep? If you hang onto people through fear or money, there’s always someone richer or scarier. Maybe try the revolutionary ‘don’t be a dick’ plan and see how that works out for you?’

Laclos looked outraged at this, and turned to Cain, in search of supernatural support, but Cain was having none of it.

‘Go on,’ I went on, pleased by Cain’s non-reaction. ‘Treat them like actual people for 24 hours. What have you got to lose except a reputation for being a pompous prick?’

Laclos stared, shocked. He was so used to my willingness to find his arrogance charming I think he forgot that, with my lifelong membership of the Little People Club, my existence was already dictated by the whims of pasty-faced posh boys, so I found his condescension to his employees genuinely irritating. Vampires were nature’s ultimate aristocrats, and his snobbery and casual acceptance of his privilege could be infuriating. Especially as, in true rich man style, it was too often other people who had to deal with the consequences. He opened his mouth to protest but, realising he wasn’t getting any sympathy here, he gave a curt bow and stalked after his bodyguards.

***

‘Jesus,’ I said, slumping against a countertop and surveying my ruined kitchen. I held my hands skyward. ‘Right, if anyone else plans to attack, materialise or break any more of my stuff, do it now! Please!’

For a moment, my heart stopped, and I thought I’d tempted fate too far. But no: silence.

‘Cass,’ Cain’s voice was low, ragged with tiredness. He was sitting on one of the chairs, looking as done in as I was, though obviously with more cause, since he’d been a bit busier on the ‘not letting the building fall down’ front. His legs were sprawled out in front of him, and he looked like nothing short of the next apocalypse would shift him.

‘No more angels? No more hunters?’ I asked out loud, though not that loud. I was a bit worried they might hear me.

‘Cass…’

He reached out and closed his fingers on my wrist, gently tugging me towards him. I let him pull me down into his lap, putting my arms around him and burying my head in his neck, as if somehow I could offer him respite. For a moment, I just nuzzled at him, allowing that familiar sensation of solidity and heat to soothe my weary bones. Then the reality of the hour hit me and I straightened up, reluctantly.

‘Fuck, I need to make the bed up.’ Had it only been hours since his wife had been there? It seemed impossible, but the thought of sleeping in sheets stained in her blood was too much for me. I went to move, but Cain’s arms were around my waist.

‘Screw it. We’ll throw the spare duvet over the couch or something.’ He paused, green eyes serious. ‘I feel like… we’ve been running around in circles forever. I’ve missed you, Cass.’

It should have been a ridiculous thing to say – we’d barely been out of one another’s sight – but I knew what he meant. Our lives were suddenly jam-packed with chaos and I felt like we kept passing one another in the crowd. I nodded, and put a hand to his jaw, stroking the scruff of beard that was starting to emerge since he’d been too tired or busy to shave.

‘I’m right here,’ I said gently, resting my forehead against his, my eyes closed. We stayed like that for a while, then he kissed me, softly at first, tenderly, then his kiss hardening as his arms tightened around me, pulling me against him.

‘Uh, maybe we should move this to somewhere more comfortable?’ I murmured, but his mouth curved into a smile against mine.

‘I’m good here.’

I sat back, and put my hand on his chest.

‘I’m really, really tired…’ I protested, weakly, but he grinned at me and, despite my exhaustion, my stomach did a little flip.

‘I promise, you really won’t have to do much,’ he said, his voice almost a growl, and I laughed at that, before wrangling myself free of his embrace. I shimmied out of my jeans and pants with as much sexiness as I could muster – I suspect, at this stage, that was almost none – but his smile widened and his eyes darkened nonetheless, and as ever I felt my own desire stoked by his obvious appreciation. I skipped back as he moved to help me pull off my t-shirt and bra, laughing at his huff of frustration as I moved out of his reach. Then I leaned back in and kissed him, my hands at his belt, his jeans, and he let out a soft groan of pleasure as he shifted to free himself.

‘God, you’re beautiful,’ he murmured, pulling me back onto him, my legs wrapping themselves around his waist.

‘I assume you mean you appreciate my beautiful soul,’ I smiled, then froze in horror: shit, was I being insensitive about his angel-ex? But if I was he was too far gone to notice. He just chuckled throatily and dipped his head to my breast, his mouth hot on my skin.

‘Totally. Beautiful soul.’

Then his hands were strong on my hips, guiding me onto him, and I couldn’t tell if I was shaking from tiredness or passion as I put my arms around him and rocked myself against him, onto him. Both of us were exhausted but we needed this connection, this reminder of who we were, joined together against the madness and the violence. I clung to him, my eyes clenched shut against his neck as he gasped his release into my hair, and for a moment, it was just us, and it was enough, and it was everything.