“On it. I’ll send you the info.”
“Cool. And, Astrid? Blayk has my dad and Adair. We’re on our way to get them, but I wouldn’t put it past Calloway to try to take you guys out as well. Alone, I’m not as much of a threat. Be on guard for whatever he may have planned.”
“Near Oia, you think?”
“Yeah. A good place to start anyway.”
“Perfect. Lana and Vann should land in Istanbul within the hour. They’ll probably beat you there.”
He heard Bodie teasing Astrid. “Sounds like you’re finally getting that fancy European vacation.”
“Ha,” she snorted. “When I asked for culture and beaches, I didn’t mean overlying the original vampire sire.”
“Be careful what you wish for,” Bennett teased. “I wanted my own prophecy, and look where that got me.”
“Don’t pass judgment too soon.”
He tried to object, but she talked over him.
“Nope. Don’t think on it yet.”
“K. Shit, I’ve got another call. Talk to you soon.” He checked the number. 206 area code. Seattle. He knew exactly who it was. He clicked over.
“It’s so good to talk with you at last, my progeny.”
Bennett snorted and turned onto a side road, taking an indirect path. “This must be Calloway. I suppose I should be thanking you for making me stronger and faster. It will be much easier to hunt you down now.”
Calloway laughed derisively. “You are a delight. I can see why Adair fancies you.”
“And I can see that you are one of those long-winded assholes that thinks he’s in charge. And I have no doubt you have a truly awe-inspiring plan. Let’s make it simple. You release my father and Adair. And then I’ll kill you after I take care of Tromos.”
“Feisty too. Even you will be no match for our great founder, and certainly won’t have access to me.”
“Of course,” he muttered as he took the next turn. “Your droves of fools will protect you, as usual. You know, if you were hoping for a thrall, you might have considered changing me yourself. And I’m sure this demon will bow before you for finding someone else to free him.”
More derisive laughter. What did Adair ever see in this guy? “You haven’t read the prophecy yet? I presumed you were smarter than that, having taken out Cambria so efficiently for me.”
“I haven’t had time to finish the assigned reading yet. I was a little busy fucking your ex-girlfriend. Great job with your vengeance plan. I have been thoroughly enjoying the time to reconnect with her.”
Calloway’s tone soured, his laugh even phonier. “Did I say feisty? I meant foolish. She and your father will be far from the fight. Blayk will see that they are unharmed, so far, but on my command, he won’t hesitate to run them both through. If you don’t cooperate.”
Whoever sent the mysterious text was no friend to Calloway.
“I confess, I don’t have much experience with hostage situations. At some point, are you going to tell me we’ll meet in Santorini at the entrance, and be quick or you’ll start cutting off fingers?”
“Oh my. No, I don’t think we’ll need to resort to that. I suspect your father will be easier to change than you were, and less righteous. And Adair? A few tastes of human blood, and I can bring her right back to the bloodsucker she was. Before her brother saw to her detox, she was more devious than I am.”
Lizzy gripped her hands on the seat, about to give Calloway the lecture of a lifetime. Half the demons she hunted probably dropped at her feet when she gave them that look. His future sibling was in for it.
He stilled her hand. The address from the text was approaching, another abandoned warehouse. These guys were awfully creative. “Sorry, but I’ve got a flight to catch. See you soon.”
Bennett clicked off the call and scanned the area. Parking out of sight, he stepped out of the car and scanned the area, sniffing, listening, as Adair had taught him.
He popped open the trunk and strapped on his replacement shield, gripping the sword that was actually pretty well balanced.
Lizzy met him at the trunk and grabbed her war axe. She strapped a pair of daggers into her boots and let out a heavy exhale. “We wait until sunrise, then come blazing in. As you said, Adair is a survivor. She’ll know to stay out of sight.”
Glancing to the sky, a pale blue on the horizon, Bennett nodded. Without a sound, he paced down the sidewalk.
