council since before you joined us.”
“How soon before he can get here? I want to get this search under way. Time is of the essence.”
“He ’ll be here as soon as I send for him. There are things you need to know about Zane before, I summons him. He’s methodical, logical, and thorough. Lauren, he is your total opposite which in this case is a good thing. You cannot afford to rush into this. These vampire courts are deadly, and you are entering their domains or trying to. No one has ever come out alive from those islands, except Zane.”
My head almost spun around in a circle, a real Exorcist moment. “What did you say? Zane has been there. What are we waiting for? I ’d follow him into the depths of hell to find Traygen.”
“It isn ’t that simple. Zane lost his family to the Red Court vampires of those islands. It nearly killed him and he hasn’t been the same since. You need to tread lightly. Can you do that?”
“I ’m sorry for his loss, but I’ll do whatever it takes. You have my word, I’ll do it. Now will you call him?”
“I ’ll call him, but you let me speak to him first. Alone. I’ll send Tokem for you when we’re ready. Lauren, don’t even think of arguing, or I won’t call him at all. Do I have your word?”
I glared at Jason. Then I turn ed and stomped from the room, slamming the door behind me.
Tokem glided over and landed lightly on Jason ’s shoulder. “That went well. Don’t you think?”
“Tokem, I ’m going to need you to keep these two from tearing one another apart. They’re going to clash hard on almost everything. Still, I believe if they can put their differences aside they’ll make a great team.”
“No worries , I’ve handled worse. Truthfully Traygen and Lauren didn’t exactly hit it off the first time or two as I recall.”
“Right you are. I ’d almost forgotten. Now I’d better call Zane and explain the assignment. He isn’t going to like this.” Jason said as he summonsed Zane.
“Jason, what do you believe our chances are of finding Traygen alive? I love life too much to ask Lauren. She won ’t even consider that he could already be dead.”
“Not good, but I also respect Lauren ’s intuition. If she says she feels a connection, I believe her.”
I started to respond to Jason, but a popping sound announced Zane ’s arrival. He was an average sized man, with dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He moved forward to greet Jason with an agile, confident air. He reminded me of a panther, alert and ready to strike.
“Jason, how are you?”
“Zane, I ’m well thank you. How are you?”
“Surviving. Why did you send for me?”
“I need your help on an assignment to the Paradise Islands.”
The color drained from Zane ’s face and he clenched and unclenched his fists. He waited several minutes before responding. “You know that I cannot refuse an assignment. Yet, you know the Paradise Islands are the last place on earth that I’d willingly travel to.”
“You also know I wouldn ’t ask if it wasn’t of the up most importance. One of the council’s most trusted allies is missing and the last ones to have him were vampires. We don’t know which court, but we are ruling out the White Court. He is a changeling and they couldn’t handle him.”
“The Whites are into seduction not abduction. What changeling are you referring to?”
“His name is Traygen and he is a dragon when he isn’t in his human form. He is the Prince of Carndonagh. You may have heard of him. He works with Lauren Simon. She is the person you will escort to the islands.”
“Hey, what about me? I ’m not chopped liver you know. I’m the most well-known of the trio. I’m d’Artagnan to their Athos and Porthos. He can be Aramis if I accept him.”
“ Tokem that is enough. Zane, this is Tokem. He is the third member of your party.”
“I hope he can fight as well as he reads and that he can provide some useful service.”
Tokem flew at Zane. “I
“How soon before he can get here? I want to get this search under way. Time is of the essence.”
“He ’ll be here as soon as I send for him. There are things you need to know about Zane before, I summons him. He’s methodical, logical, and thorough. Lauren, he is your total opposite which in this case is a good thing. You cannot afford to rush into this. These vampire courts are deadly, and you are entering their domains or trying to. No one has ever come out alive from those islands, except Zane.”
My head almost spun around in a circle, a real Exorcist moment. “What did you say? Zane has been there. What are we waiting for? I ’d follow him into the depths of hell to find Traygen.”
“It isn ’t that simple. Zane lost his family to the Red Court vampires of those islands. It nearly killed him and he hasn’t been the same since. You need to tread lightly. Can you do that?”
“I ’m sorry for his loss, but I’ll do whatever it takes. You have my word, I’ll do it. Now will you call him?”
“I ’ll call him, but you let me speak to him first. Alone. I’ll send Tokem for you when we’re ready. Lauren, don’t even think of arguing, or I won’t call him at all. Do I have your word?”
I glared at Jason. Then I turn ed and stomped from the room, slamming the door behind me.
Tokem glided over and landed lightly on Jason ’s shoulder. “That went well. Don’t you think?”
“Tokem, I ’m going to need you to keep these two from tearing one another apart. They’re going to clash hard on almost everything. Still, I believe if they can put their differences aside they’ll make a great team.”
“No worries , I’ve handled worse. Truthfully Traygen and Lauren didn’t exactly hit it off the first time or two as I recall.”
“Right you are. I ’d almost forgotten. Now I’d better call Zane and explain the assignment. He isn’t going to like this.” Jason said as he summonsed Zane.
“Jason, what do you believe our chances are of finding Traygen alive? I love life too much to ask Lauren. She won ’t even consider that he could already be dead.”
“Not good, but I also respect Lauren ’s intuition. If she says she feels a connection, I believe her.”
I started to respond to Jason, but a popping sound announced Zane ’s arrival. He was an average sized man, with dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. He moved forward to greet Jason with an agile, confident air. He reminded me of a panther, alert and ready to strike.
“Jason, how are you?”
“Zane, I ’m well thank you. How are you?”
“Surviving. Why did you send for me?”
“I need your help on an assignment to the Paradise Islands.”
The color drained from Zane ’s face and he clenched and unclenched his fists. He waited several minutes before responding. “You know that I cannot refuse an assignment. Yet, you know the Paradise Islands are the last place on earth that I’d willingly travel to.”
“You also know I wouldn ’t ask if it wasn’t of the up most importance. One of the council’s most trusted allies is missing and the last ones to have him were vampires. We don’t know which court, but we are ruling out the White Court. He is a changeling and they couldn’t handle him.”
“The Whites are into seduction not abduction. What changeling are you referring to?”
“His name is Traygen and he is a dragon when he isn’t in his human form. He is the Prince of Carndonagh. You may have heard of him. He works with Lauren Simon. She is the person you will escort to the islands.”
“Hey, what about me? I ’m not chopped liver you know. I’m the most well-known of the trio. I’m d’Artagnan to their Athos and Porthos. He can be Aramis if I accept him.”
“ Tokem that is enough. Zane, this is Tokem. He is the third member of your party.”
“I hope he can fight as well as he reads and that he can provide some useful service.”
Tokem flew at Zane. “I
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