Mary.
Antoinette hid her smile in the dog’s coat as she gave him another hug. Cerberus sat up and leaned his weight against her, lapping up the attention, his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth.
“Mr. Laroque, the pilot has clearance. We’re ready to depart,” the flight attendant announced.
“Good,” Christian said. “Then we should still make New York before dawn.”
The engines whined and the aircraft moved slowly out of the hangar and toward the runway. Antoinette took her seat and fought the unsettling churn of her stomach. She closed her eyes, silently reciting a calming mantra. It didn’t help. She gripped the arms of her seat, and then sensing someone watching her, opened her eyes. Christian.
Her cheeks flamed. “I hate flying.”
For a moment he looked at her with disbelief, then nodded.
“Mary,” he said. “Bring a double brandy for Ms Petrescu before we take off.”
“There’s no need—” Antoinette started to say.
Sergei cut her off. “Nonsense, Christian is right; it’s just what you need.” He shrugged sheepishly. “We’re land people, we don’t fly much.”
“Mary, make it brandies all round.” Christian smiled.
Antoinette reluctantly took a glass from the tray when it came. Usually she avoided spirits, but she needed something to fortify her nerves. Flying—her one great fear. Sergei was right—they were land people. On land, she had control and in the air she had none.
It wasn’t just the thought of flying that had her in a spin. The extravagance of the plane overwhelmed her—fitted out with plush leather lounges and expensive furnishings, it was more lavish than any hotel she’d ever stayed in. And it all belonged to Christian. With this kind of money came power. But what kind of power?
Viktor led Cerberus to a sky kennel fixed for safety during takeoff. Then he took a brandy from the tray and gave Mary a peck on the cheek before returning to his seat.
Just the smell of the strong spirit stole her breath. As she downed a large gulp, tears sprang to her eyes and the liquor scorched a fiery trail down her throat, sucking the rest of the air from her lungs. She choked back a coughing fit, at the same time trying to drag oxygen back into her burning chest.
Viktor chuckled. “Good to see a woman who can hold her liquor.”
She glared at the smug piece of shit and he winked as she brought the glass to her lips for a second go. The next mouthful went down much more smoothly. The buzz soon made it worthwhile and by the time the plane reached the runway she’d finished the rest and felt lightheaded, the biting sting in her throat subsiding to a warming glow.
Surreptitiously she glanced at the two Aeternus. The only vampires she’d ever really dealt with before were dreniacs—half insane, vicious killers addicted to death-highs. With them, it was easy—destroy them quickly before they destroyed you or anyone else. But this was something new. Two living, breathing Aeternus, and PID agents to boot. She should feel safe with guys. So why did her gut roll over every time Christian’s deep blue eyes turned her way?
6
Night Sweats
The engine whine grew louder. Antoinette tightened the belt and clutched the arms of the seat as the plane began to pick up speed. She hated this part even more than landing. There was no turning back now.
The plane hurtled down the runway, committed to taking off, the front lifted and the movement smoothed out as the wheels left the tarmac, climbing steadily. She had a moment of near panic as the retracting landing gear thumped loudly beneath the plane.
“I expect there will be quite a stir at the conference this year,” Viktor said a little more loudly than necessary.
Was he trying to distract her?
“Really?” Sergei said. “Do tell.”
The conference was an annual event attended by representatives of the human and parahuman people. Her uncle had refused to participate since…since she couldn’t remember when. To be going
Antoinette hid her smile in the dog’s coat as she gave him another hug. Cerberus sat up and leaned his weight against her, lapping up the attention, his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth.
“Mr. Laroque, the pilot has clearance. We’re ready to depart,” the flight attendant announced.
“Good,” Christian said. “Then we should still make New York before dawn.”
The engines whined and the aircraft moved slowly out of the hangar and toward the runway. Antoinette took her seat and fought the unsettling churn of her stomach. She closed her eyes, silently reciting a calming mantra. It didn’t help. She gripped the arms of her seat, and then sensing someone watching her, opened her eyes. Christian.
Her cheeks flamed. “I hate flying.”
For a moment he looked at her with disbelief, then nodded.
“Mary,” he said. “Bring a double brandy for Ms Petrescu before we take off.”
“There’s no need—” Antoinette started to say.
Sergei cut her off. “Nonsense, Christian is right; it’s just what you need.” He shrugged sheepishly. “We’re land people, we don’t fly much.”
“Mary, make it brandies all round.” Christian smiled.
Antoinette reluctantly took a glass from the tray when it came. Usually she avoided spirits, but she needed something to fortify her nerves. Flying—her one great fear. Sergei was right—they were land people. On land, she had control and in the air she had none.
It wasn’t just the thought of flying that had her in a spin. The extravagance of the plane overwhelmed her—fitted out with plush leather lounges and expensive furnishings, it was more lavish than any hotel she’d ever stayed in. And it all belonged to Christian. With this kind of money came power. But what kind of power?
Viktor led Cerberus to a sky kennel fixed for safety during takeoff. Then he took a brandy from the tray and gave Mary a peck on the cheek before returning to his seat.
Just the smell of the strong spirit stole her breath. As she downed a large gulp, tears sprang to her eyes and the liquor scorched a fiery trail down her throat, sucking the rest of the air from her lungs. She choked back a coughing fit, at the same time trying to drag oxygen back into her burning chest.
Viktor chuckled. “Good to see a woman who can hold her liquor.”
She glared at the smug piece of shit and he winked as she brought the glass to her lips for a second go. The next mouthful went down much more smoothly. The buzz soon made it worthwhile and by the time the plane reached the runway she’d finished the rest and felt lightheaded, the biting sting in her throat subsiding to a warming glow.
Surreptitiously she glanced at the two Aeternus. The only vampires she’d ever really dealt with before were dreniacs—half insane, vicious killers addicted to death-highs. With them, it was easy—destroy them quickly before they destroyed you or anyone else. But this was something new. Two living, breathing Aeternus, and PID agents to boot. She should feel safe with guys. So why did her gut roll over every time Christian’s deep blue eyes turned her way?
6
Night Sweats
The engine whine grew louder. Antoinette tightened the belt and clutched the arms of the seat as the plane began to pick up speed. She hated this part even more than landing. There was no turning back now.
The plane hurtled down the runway, committed to taking off, the front lifted and the movement smoothed out as the wheels left the tarmac, climbing steadily. She had a moment of near panic as the retracting landing gear thumped loudly beneath the plane.
“I expect there will be quite a stir at the conference this year,” Viktor said a little more loudly than necessary.
Was he trying to distract her?
“Really?” Sergei said. “Do tell.”
The conference was an annual event attended by representatives of the human and parahuman people. Her uncle had refused to participate since…since she couldn’t remember when. To be going
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