Free Burning (Brotherhood of the Blade Trilogy #1) by Eve Paludan Page B

sort of thing.”
    A couple of thoughts struck me. “Oh no.”
    “What?”
    “ I got caught up in the vampire’s attack and I forgot to have you stop at the bank.”
    “ It was night.”
    “ My passport. I don’t have it. It’s in my safety deposit box at the bank, along with my will and stuff like that.”
    “ You can use Rudolph’s passport. In fact, you have now done that.”
    “ I have almost no money. Will my ATM cards and credit cards work in Switzerland?”
    “ You shouldn’t use them until we make sure that nobody is looking for you.”
    “ Right.”
    “ Don’t worry. You’ll get a paycheck and documents.”
    “ Thank you. I am just realizing that I lost my life’s work that burned up in my home. Not just my wife dead and my daughter missing, but my research and everything connected to it.”
    “ What was it?”
    “ I invented things for astronomers to earn my living, and as a vampire hunter, I used those skills to do experiments with light and the speed of light, concave mirrors and especially, solar power. I even tried my hand at invisibility through bending light. It semi-worked. Now, it’s all gone.”
    She looked at me long and hard, then placed a warm hand on mine. “No wonder Lucas wants you so badly.”
     
     
     
    Chapter Seventeen
     
     
    By the time we reached cruising altitude, steaks, baked potatoes, salads, and more were served to us—what a way to travel. We both packed away the chow.
    Before the steward picked up our meal trays, I promptly passed out for what was apparently at least eight hours of a 12-hour flight. Ambra let me sleep. I think it was my first sleep in several days and it replenished me, as did the protein in that piece of meat.
    When I woke up, the jet was just beginning the descent over Zürich. I had slept away so much time, but felt incredibly rested, despite the circumstances. Ambra was awake in the seat across the aisle, her stuff packed up neatly, except for a paperback book.
    I noticed that someone had covered me with a blanket and had tucked a pillow under my head.
    Ambra looked over at me and smiled. “It’s snowing in the Alps.” She was now dressed in winter clothing. “I can’t wait to get my skis back on.”
    I looked out the window. “It’s beautiful. What are those dark dots moving on the mountainside?”
    “Herds of animals. Perhaps reindeer. Wait until you see the Alps up close and personal. I hope Switzerland will grow on you. I was born here and I love it so.”
    “ I hope I will, too.” I shivered a bit in my clothes that I was still wearing from Hawaii.
    “ We’re about thirty minutes from Zürich.” She nodded at a pile of skiwear, a winter coat, gloves and ski hat on the seat in front of me. “You should change.”
    “ Thanks. The steward’s in the restroom.”
    “ You Americans. Change clothes right there. I won’t look.” She turned her face to the window. “We have a co-ed sauna and Jacuzzi at the castle. You will perhaps not be so shy.”
    “ You wear swimsuits, though, right?”
    She laughed.
    “When in Rome, I guess...” My pain was still too fresh to even think of taking a naked sauna in a group. I didn’t want to feel all of this pain and I sure as hell didn’t want to be naked with this Swiss beauty and the other vampire hunters.
    I loved my wife with such fierceness. I wondered when Megan would fade into the past. Probably never. But maybe I never wanted her to.
    I stripped down to my snug Champion boxer-briefs. I dressed quickly in the warm, stretchy ski wear.
    “This is great. Look.”
    She turned her head and looked at me. “They fit wonderfully.” She said her “w” letters like “v” letters. The Swiss-French cadence and accent was very distinctive and memorable.
    “Whose ski clothes?” I asked.
    “ Mine.”
    I was startled. “Thank you. You’re very tall.”
    “Even taller than my father.”
    “ Really?” I said.
    “ I ate my muesli growing up.”
    “ What’s that?”
    “