King Tomb (Forever Evermore) (3 page)

She wiggled merrily, giggling, her red and black hair swaying with her rocking motion as she started again, staring down at me where she lay on my chest. “Ba-blah-blah-bu-ba-ba.” She laughed, hiccupping with her merriment, which she then thought was equally hilarious and just about rolled off me with her hilarity.

“That’s right,” I nodded grandly, smiling at my daughter and holding her safely. One of my true joys in life. I brushed my hand tenderly through her soft hair, amazed every day at how fast she was growing. She may be tiny for a Mystical her age — just a little over three months old now — but it seemed like she was huge. “You tell me
all
about it.”

This was part of my cherished free time. I had taken only a week to recover after giving birth to her and having my tubes magically tied — again — before going back to work, my duty unbreakable. Plus, I couldn’t do anything to rouse suspicions. The fact that so many had seen me ill when I was in labor had actually worked in my favor, giving me an excuse for being gone for the entire week. I had told everyone that I had simply been overworked, and it had made me ill. The excuse was true, and no one batted an eye, most already having taken a few days here and there for relaxation from our stressful duties. But, on the plus side, going back to work meant I got to alleviate my anger by fighting again, the one other true joy in my life.

I opened my eyes wide when Isa changed up her babbling to make a ‘ma’ sound. Coaxingly, I urged, “Ma…ma.” I was determined that was going to be her first word. I nodded, smiling blindingly. “Come on, Isa. Say
mama
.”

She blew a raspberry instead, then to add insult to injury she babbled, “Pa.” And stared. “Pa.”

My eyes narrowed.

Antonio had been spending a lot of time with her when I wasn’t around. He had better not have been trying to get her to say ‘papa’ or ‘grandpa’ yet. I had gotten over the fact that he was dead set on calling her ‘granddaughter’ every time he was around because he pretty much was her grandfather, but still, he was not going to own her first word. That was mine. Staring into her eyes that had once been blue, but were now the most stunning spring green, I pointed the tip of my finger against her bitty bronze nose, her coloring darker than my peaches-and-cream complexion. “
Mama
. Not pa.”

She grunted, shaking her head swiftly and puckering her Cupid’s bow mouth. “Pa.”

My lips pinched, and I held her close, lifting us off the bed and marching straight out of my tent. Everyone had seen her here, so it was no longer a shock when they saw me carrying a Vampire baby, the legal adoption process having been completed. I had gotten some grief from the Shifter Elders —I had to kick the living shit out of one for his comment, greatly enjoying it — but adopting a child wasn’t anything they could really argue about, plus most here knew and respected/feared me. Now, they practically called me a saint because I had adopted one of our own ‘needy’ children, so many kids having lost their parents already in this war. I only kept my distance, like normal, letting them believe what they wished since it worked in my and Isa’s favor.

Isa bounced in my arms, clapping her hands because we were outside, staring up at the Mage-spelled protection dome over our encampment.

Not bothering to ask for entrance, I barged inside Antonio’s tent, which was almost identical to mine if you disregarded all of the golden spells lingering throughout. He was lying on the couch, relaxing while reading a book. Again, as normal, the very sight of him made my blood run cold. When his startled gaze met mine, I demanded, “You’ve taken
my
first word! You’re not supposed to do that!” I pointed at my chest, riotous anger flooding my veins, melting a bit of the ice. “It was supposed to be
mine
!”

Isa quieted in my arms, her gaze watchful with her eyes darting back and forth between the two of us. She was extremely intelligent for a child, and that wasn’t just my hopeful wish as her mother. She watched everything with a keen eye, cautious like me, but extremely intuitive when the situation called for it. I was pretty sure that was caused by her strong Vampire genes; it was almost as if she was already scenting emotions, which she couldn’t yet do, though it sometimes seemed like it. And yes, I was a proud mommy.

Antonio sat up, carefully placing his book on the coffee table. “Lil, I don’t understand what you’re accusing me of.”

I huffed, glancing down at Isa. Smiling gently, I kissed her forehead to loosen her from her quietness, bouncing her a little, then I asked in a soothing voice, pointing at Antonio, “Isa, who is that?” I bounced her again, laughing lightly, almost completely faking it, but not wholly because she grinned at me. “Can you tell me who he is?”

She giggled and opened her arms wide in Antonio’s direction. “Pa.”

My wolf growled, my attention slamming to Antonio.

He tried to hide it, I could tell he really did, but a huge, flashing grin still graced his handsome features, and he was instantly on his feet, lifting her from my arms. Hell, he even twirled her while she giggled and squealed in excitement.

My wolf huffed, irritated…but, at the same time, I loved seeing her so happy.

Still, I grumbled, “She was so close to saying
mama
.”

Antonio chuckled, but he quickly coughed to cover it and held Isa close. “I’m sure she’ll say it next.”

I pointed at myself. “I was supposed to be first.” My eyes went to Isa, and I nodded, whispering, “Can you say
mama
?”

She giggled, tucking her head under Antonio’s chin. “Pa.”

I groaned, throwing my hands up in the air because there was absolutely no fighting that face. “Fine.” I tilted my head back and forth in time to the sounds. “Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa.” She giggled, so I did it again. I sighed in motherly resignation, taking her back from Antonio, but complained to him, “It doesn’t mean she loves you more. It’s just easier to say.”

His lips twitched. “I know.”

I bared my teeth, but I stalled and blinked when an official, spelled letter with my name on it appeared directly in front of my face. It continued to hover there, not moving. I growled softly but handed Isa back to Antonio, then I plucked the letter from the air. I cracked the seal and pulled the sheet of thick paper out of the envelope.

Unfolding it, I read its contents.

Reread it. “What the fuck?”

“What does it say?” Antonio asked, maneuvering to read over my shoulder.

I turned toward the light, hearing Antonio exhale heavily when he didn’t get a chance to snoop. Peering at it closer, I made sure I was reading it correctly. I shook my head, seriously confused because we were doing so well here in Australia. In the three months since I had gone back onto the battlefield, we had almost reached the northern area where the Royal Australian Army bases were. Not that it was because of just me, but still, only three months.

I waved the letter. “It’s from Elder Harcourt. He’s relocating us to the US. Says he’s moving some of the Elders, Kings, and Queens around, trying different Mysticals in power together, attempting to find a better fit. He hopes it will benefit our efforts in the war.”

Antonio grabbed the letter from my hands, scanning the contents. It looked like he read it twice, like I had, then he shrugged a shoulder. “There’s nothing else to do except for what he says. He’s the senior Elder and runs the show.” He actually smiled. “I can’t wait to get back to the States.”

My jaw clenched, the familiar iciness overtaking my limbs. “But we’re almost to the north. Our goal here is almost accomplished. I don’t want to leave this behind.”

Again, his shoulder shrugged. “We’re needed elsewhere.” He handed Isa back to me. “And we don’t have a choice.” He rustled the letter in his hand. “This is war, Lil. We don’t always get to pick what we’re doing. We just go wherever we’re needed.”

Breathing heavily through my nose, I eventually nodded. “These Coms were beginning to bore me, as of late. They’ve been breaking too easily in interrogations.” I smiled, and it was feral as I thought of the new Com blood that could be spilt in North America. Even with Isa, my mind was still in chaos. Only her joyful attention and the fighting in battle kept me from going completely insane, my heart only melting in unconditional love when around her and my veins only melting in anger from their frozen state when slicing Coms’ heads off with my short swords — my Cizano. Any other time, I was still that block of ice. I nodded once curtly, turning to the door. “A distraction, a new challenge, sounds interesting.”

Antonio called after me, “Be packed by morning. The orders are for us to leave within twelve hours of receipt.”

I ignored him because I had read the letter, too, and already knew this. I wouldn’t have to pack but two duffles: one for me and one for Isa. The rest had been spelled to set up at whatever camp we went to. Which meant Isa, Bonnie — my Vizoac — and I had the evening to ourselves, which was just what I preferred.

Swaying with the motion of the cargo ship, which looked identical to the one we had arrived in Australia on, I wondered if it was the same one, and if it was specifically used for carrying Mysticals from country to country. We were on our way to the States, and I reclined the seat in my Hummer, sitting on the driver’s side while Bonnie sat on the passenger side and Isa slept in the back on her child seat. And, like normal when no one was near, I closed my eyes and tried to remember. Antonio, Felix, Aros, and Bindi were watching a movie on the small television that sat on the rickety old wooden table at the end of the cargo hold, so I wouldn’t be disturbed.

Well, I would be disturbed, but only in my mind.

Thoughts ricocheted, making my head ache, but I tried focusing on a simple memory rather than all of them at once, trying to push past that black void of nothingness. But only chilling anger met my attempts, and I growled softly, rubbing a hand over my face. Then I tried again, focusing on another blacked out section. With only the same results.

Opening my eyes, I stared at the ceiling. Being mind raped, having someone sift through your most intimate experiences, see them, and pluck your
life
from your mind, leaving gaping holes, could only create a monster out of what was left. I wasn’t afraid — never afraid — to admit freely that I had become a terror at times. And I was content with the monster, which someone else had made by stealing from me, traumatizing my very soul. I was a jaded individual whom my younger self wouldn’t recognize. I had grown up and now saw life as the cruel reality that it was.

Life was not pleasant. Life was not kind. It only gave you sips of joy when you were parched. And when it handed you a full glass, it stole it from you when you turned your head, only the remnants of condensation on your palm left to let you know it had been there in the first place.

Life was harsh, leaving not even a bitter taste in your mouth. Instead, it left a burning acid. That acid consumed you when you finally swallowed down the blissful ideals your parents had fed you.

Unsure of how long I had zoned out for, I shifted and grabbed one of the files from Elder Harcourt that had been delivered — having just appeared— for me to review the camp’s officials. Flipping through the files, I didn’t need to see the cliff notes on the front stating the head officials were Vampire. Hell, more than half their Commanders were Vampires. No wonder Elder Harcourt wanted to switch things around. Was I guilty of the same thing back in our camp? Maybe. But still…I glanced at the name of the camp again. King Shadow. I snorted, even though I didn’t really feel the humor, the action mindless. The name was a dead giveaway that the most powerful of the group was a Vampire. And the notes at the top of each chosen Commander proved as much.

Elder Zeller and King Zeller ran the show.

I had never met the two Kings and other Queen, but from what I heard around the camp through passing gossip, they were just as hardcore as I was. I could respect that, but it was still daunting to know I was to meet one of my co-Rulers, to go onto his turf. It would have been much easier to have him come to my camp where I was already known and feared. Now my duty was making me deal with the King Vampire, who I already knew — though I didn’t know how I knew that. I also knew by my Vizoac that he was the most powerful of the four Rulers. I wasn’t intimidated or scared; it more gave me a headache, like an irritation, knowing I would have to put up with someone more powerful than I was. Antonio was enough, the other Elders at my camp having left me alone, but now I would have to deal with another male — make that two because of Elder Zeller, King Zeller’s father — on a daily basis.

Did I honestly care?

No.

I would deal with it like I dealt with everything else, excluding my daughter or fighting.

By just doing it.

And pray that my free time wasn’t completely occupied so I could spend time with Isa, and hope there were enough Coms to slaughter so I didn’t completely lose it.

“Where are you going?” Antonio asked as I kissed Isa’s warm forehead as she slept.

“Reconnaissance,” I stated. “You know I don’t go anywhere without knowing the layout first.”

His eyebrows rose. “You’re going to sneak into King Shadow?”

“Yes.” I lifted my dark brown hair into a ponytail. “All I know about the place is it’s chock-full of Vampires. I want to know the lay of the land and see their normal routine when we’re not around.” I threw on my hooded black fur coat over a simple tight white t-shirt and black leather pants. The coat hid all of my weapons well. A quick head tilt toward Isa. “And you know I’ll be given grief about her since they don’t know and respect me yet. I need to have escape routes in case I get cornered.”

He watched me for a moment, then he nodded. “Just be careful, and call if you need help.”

I felt nothing even though I scowled at him. “Of course.”

He pointed to Bonnie. “And take her with you just in case.”

“I was already planning to.”

Sneaking in hadn’t been too hard. Even though we were on the outskirts of Kansas City, Kansas, the place was set up identically to my camp back in Australia, but with more vegetation; the leaves that were still on the trees in the nippy fall weather were reds and browns and golds. Elder Zeller and King Zeller had set up camp on farm land, which was genius really because food could easily be grown to supply the ranks. I had ordered Bonnie not to wander too far away from my Hummer, which I had parked in the woods about a mile away from the golden protection dome. Then I had jogged the rest of the way and scoped the place out from the branches of a bare tree.