Page 82 of Immortal Unveiled

“When are you gonna talk to them?”

“Tomorrow morning. I can’t really drag it out any longer, or they’ll fry my ass for circumventing their rules, yada yada yada. You know the drill.”

Samson’s lips quirked, and he motioned in the direction of the dance floor. “She one of the rules you’re breaking?”

Manus shrugged. Seeing her dance with Grayson made him realize instinctively that she was more than just a rule he was breaking. “She’s got the best chance of all of us figuring out where her mother hid the book. If anybody can find it, it’s Kim.”

“Zoltan will be watching her,” Samson mused. “Are you using her as bait?”

At the last word, Manus jolted involuntarily. “Bait? God no, I’m keeping her invisible as much as I can.”

“You know that by hiding her, you’re tipping Zoltan off to the fact that you’re onto him, don’t you?”

That boat had already sailed. Zoltan already knew that the Stealth Guardians were closing in; otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent a demon to kill the translator. But to Samson he said, “I know, but it’s gotten too dangerous.”

“Or you’ve gotten too attached to her,” Samson suggested.

“I’ve not—”

Samson lifted his hand. “I’m not judging. I’m not the Council.”

Manus gulped down his whiskey. He wasn’t looking forward to speaking to the Council, but he knew it was time. Now that he was aware of what Zoltan was after, and how this could put their entire race in danger, it was time to notify the Council and accept their wrath for keeping them in the dark for so long.

“Depending on what the Council decides tomorrow, there’s a chance they’ll ask for more vampires to support us until this crisis is over.”

“I appreciate the heads-up. Considering the severity of the situation, I’m sure I can spare a few men to help you sniff out the demons. Have you had any recent demon sightings in Baltimore?”

“Nope. It’s been a little too quiet. Basically nothing since Nancy Britton was killed. Almost as if Zoltan is curbing his underlings. He doesn’t wanna rock the boat while he’s looking for the book.”

“And you’re absolutely sure Zoltan knows what he’s looking for?”

Manus nodded. “He knows. He’s a very unusual demon. Smarter than the others.”

“That may well be, but he’s still a demon, and they have a fatal flaw: they are impulsive. They don’t think ahead.”

“Zoltan is different.” Manus sighed. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he knew that Zoltan was already planning his next move. “We have to beat him.”

“Then you have to start thinking like him.”

Manus stared into the crowd. “Yes.” He sighed. “But not tonight. There are too many people I haven’t seen in a while.”

Samson slapped him on the shoulder. “Then stay a while longer. Gives me a chance to spend some more time with my son.”

“Then I’d better cut into that dance.”

“You’d better, or he’ll get some ideas. You know how he is.”

“Like father, like son,” Manus said.

“I’m a one-woman man these days. I’m afraid my son is still sowing his oats.”

“Not with Kim.” Manus would make sure of that. He’d already let them dance long enough. Time to intervene.