Free Blue-Blooded Vamp by Jaye Wells Page B

and raised his brows. I shook my head slightly. We’d discuss it later. In the meantime, I needed some answers from the expat. “When did he give this to you?”
    He frowned and pursed his lips, thinking back. “I told ya, two weeks ago.”
    “What?” I said, my voice rising in shock. “That’s impossible.”
    “Why?” Erron asked.
    “Tristan told Dicky that one of his daughters would show up with two birthmarks.” Adam jerked a thumb toward my back. “She got the second one only forty-eight hours ago. How in the hell would he know that was coming?”
    Giguhl shrugged. “Maybe he’s got prophetic skills? After all, Maisie was an Oracle. She could have gotten the skills from him.”
    I shook my head. “Nope. Maisie got those skills from Tristan’s mother, Ameritat. She was the Oracle before Maisie. Plus, Rhea told me explicitly that Tristan was a Chthonic mage like me.”
    Adam blew out a breath. “Look, the only one who can answer your questions now is Tristan Graecus. We need to follow that clue and find him.”
    “That’s what worries me. This secretive shit he’s pulling right now? The fact he’s hidden his existence for more than fifty years? Reminds me of some of the Caste of Nod’s tricks.”
    Adam put his hand on my arm. “I know it’s suspicious but think about what you’re saying. According to Erron, Abel—or Tristan, rather—is the one who imprisoned Cain. If Dicky’s telling the truth and Abel is your dad, then I think it’s safe to assume he’s on our side.”
    I shook my head. “I think it’s dangerous to assume anything.”
    “That may be a nonissue,” Erron said. “After all, we’re not even sure he’s still alive.”
    A hush fell over the room as this sank in. Other than putting a major crimp in my plans, I wasn’t sure exactly how to feel about the possibility that the father I thought was dead was… dead again.
    “This is all making my head hurt,” I said.
    “Word,” said the cat.
    “What do you want to do, Sabina?” Adam asked.
    “I want to get the hell out of here. The longer we’re in public, the better the chance Cain will discover we’re here and set a trap. Let’s get to the hotel and then we can figure out our next step.”
    Adam nodded resolutely. “Let’s go.”
    Erron turned to the Brit. “Thanks for your help, Dicky.”
    He waved away the thanks. “Abel was a difficult man to be friends with, but he did me favors more than once. This was the least I could do for his daughter.” The word “daughter” made my eye twitch. But Dicky wasn’t done. “If you find him, tell him we’re square.”
    “If we find him, we’ll tell him,” Adam said.
    After I punch him for putting me through this bullshit, I silently amended.

W
e made it back to the street and walked in silence for about two minutes before Giguhl broke the tension.
    “So,” the cat said with exaggerated slowness, “your dad’s alive.” He sat on my shoulder and his hot cat breath added insult to the injury of his words.
    “Not now, G,” I snapped.
    “Sabina, we’re going to have to talk about it,” Adam said.
    “I know that,” I said, picking up my pace. “Eventually. But first I need everyone to lay off so I can wrap my head around what the hell just happened.”
    Adam put his arm around my shoulders and kissed the top of my head. “Okay.”
    “How about you tell us what was on that paper instead?” Erron said.
    With a sigh, I switched from avoidance mode into business mode. “Okay,” I said, waving them in closer. We were huddled on a street corner. “Pasquino.”
    Adam pulled back with a frown. “That’s it?”
    I nodded. “That one word and a note not to trust anyone.” I glanced at Erron. “Any idea what it means?”
    “No clue,” he said. “Could be anything, really.”
    “Maybe we should have asked Dicky,” Adam said.
    “No offense, but I don’t entirely trust that guy,” I said.
    Erron waved away my apologetic tone. “Me neither. You were smart