Slim exhaled. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Okay.’ He licked his lips nervously. ‘I don’t suppose there’s any point asking why you’ve lost your shoes and clothes?’
‘Not really.’ I’d already retrieved the bag I’d taken to King’s Lynn and was searching for the cleanest set of clothes I could find. I couldn’t face Athair dressed as I was, but there was no time to stop off at home first. I had to make do with what I had – although I kept on Hugo’s T-shirt.
When he raised an eyebrow, I told him the truth. ‘It smells of you.’
His lips curled up with a hint of possessive delight. ‘Good.’
I dropped my head onto his shoulder. ‘Don’t die tonight.’
‘I’ll do my best. Don’t you die, either.’
I smiled softly but I didn’t say anything. Slim put his foot down and we sped towards the city – and whatever fate awaited us.
It didn’t matterhow fast Slim drove, we were playing catch up with Athair and he had a good head start. I spent most of the journey staring at the clock on the dashboard. Any traffic problems and we would be late. I dreaded to think how Athair would react if that happened.
We were approaching the Queensferry Crossing, with the Forth Road Bridge to the left, when the phone calls and text messages started. I checked the time again. It was 11.31pm. We could still make the midnight deadline.
Sir Nigel was first. ‘Good evening, Daisy.’ Even under the most extreme circumstances, he remained perfectly polite.
‘Good evening,’ I said. I didn’t bother with any preamble. ‘Is there a problem?’
‘I thought it would be prudent to inform you that there are a number of vampires descending on Charlotte Square.’ Hecoughed delicately. ‘In fact, there are more than I’ve ever seen before in any one place.’
My mouth dried. The Royal Elvish Institute was on Charlotte Square. ‘Are they attacking anyone?’
‘Thus far, they are remarkably well behaved.’
Truthfully, I would have preferred the reverse. The Royal Institute was more than capable of battling vampires. Bloodsuckers weren’t smart and they were almost exclusively driven by bloodlust; the only thing that could hold them back from an attack was the control of a fiend. Athair had told Horace the vamps were gathering, so it appeared that he was in control and he had a plan. I just had to pray that my plan was better.
‘Are they entering the square itself?’ I asked.
‘No, but they appear to be encircling the area. They have left the George Street entrance clear, but the remainder of Charlotte Square is blocked off.’
I swallowed. ‘Okay.’
‘Are you in the vicinity?’ he asked hopefully.
‘We’re twenty-five minutes away.’
There was a beat of silence. ‘Tell that dear chap to put his foot down, will you?’
I looked at Slim’s grim expression. ‘I heard,’ he said. ‘I’m going as fast as I can.’
‘We’ll be there, Sir Nigel,’ I told him. ‘We’ll make it.’
Two minutes after I hung up on him, Miriam called. ‘We’re all here, dear, waiting for you.’
‘We’re not far out.’
‘I’m pleased to hear it. Everything is in place.’
I exhaled. ‘Good. That’s good.’
The next phone call was unexpected. ‘Are you fucking coming or not?’
My brow furrowed, then I realised who was calling. That growl was unmistakable; it was one of the doormen from the Royal Elvish Institute. ‘Huey?’ I asked.
‘My name is Lewis.’
