Free Immortal Heat (The Guardians of Dacia Book 1) by Loni Lynne Page B

anything. Holding her hand to her mouth, she gestured.
    "First door on your left—down the hall," Ballue said quickly for her benefit.
    Draylon followed on her heels and burst through the door before she could shut him out of the bathroom. Her stomach rolled, emptying everything she'd just eaten and then some. Holding her hair back from her face, Draylon maneuvered to reach for a washcloth. Soaking it in cold water, he tried to place it on her forehead as another bout of pangs struck her.
    "Anything I can do, Old Man?"
    "Have any ginger on hand? She could do with some ginger tea. Then I think she'll be fine."
    "All right. But I don't think tea will solve her problems."
    #
    Getting Marilyn out of the country wasn't easy. Draylon wouldn't have Ballue expose himself to daylight, but today, the weather was on their side. He needed the help right now, especially with Marilyn passed out from sickness. It was good to have friends in low places. It was rare to find a rogue Vamier, but Ballue was one of the few he could trust.
    Moroii were created by other Vamiers. Most were men dying on battlefields over the millennium, wanting to live and being offered a second chance. Technically, the Vamiers weren't doing anything against the contract written by the gods. As soon as they had the okie-dokie from the fatally wounded, they were fair game.
    What didn't sit well with Draylon or Rick, was Vamier's treatment of his victim-offspring. They would starve them and only then offer the blood they so desperately needed to survive, like cocaine to an addict—for a price, the price being "loyalty" in exchange for nourishment. They never let their victims learn to care for themselves. Blood banks all over the world were bootleg businesses for Vamier and his top goons in order to supply his kind.
    But a few made it through their control, realizing the game for what it was. They would work to fight the addiction, move out under seclusion, always wary of being lured back. Some found their way to the Dacian Compound where they were safe, once investigated. If there was a price on their head from Vamier, then they were usually legitimately in need of sanctuary.
    Rick had his own form of working with them. He would give them a chance for a new start and have them work in some capacity for him—depending on their abilities. Most became an underground railroad of sorts for those wishing to leave the Vamier life-style. Ballue was one of them. He also had connections with government and political allies who could work to get diplomatic situations taken care of.
    Right now, they didn't have to deal with any paperwork. Even though Marilyn still had her passport on her, it didn't matter. He was taking her to his house in Austria, where she didn't need to clear customs.
    "So what's so important about her that has you taking her to Eskardel? You've never taken anyone to Eskardel as long as I've known you," Ballue said.
    "Aiden is after her. He wants to tutor her in Dacian History. She supposedly wrote a paper on Dacian folklore that Aiden found quite fascinating."
    "And that's why he has his army of moroii after her?"
    "I know. It doesn't add up."
    Draylon shuffled that idea around in his head. No, Aiden wouldn't send his troops out on a rampage just because she had an 'A plus' mind on Dacian history…unless she'd come across something that Aiden Vamier didn't want her to, or worse yet, something that Aiden or Rick didn't want anyone to know.
    He remembered Rick's dire need to see Marilyn safe. He'd never seen the man more tortured or frantic. The man had been less concerned when Romania became communist. Was it because of her connection to Diane Reddlin and Livedel? He couldn't see that being a reason. No, Rick still hadn't calmed down, even knowing she was safe with him. There had to be another reason.
    "Is she going to be all right? She doesn't look so good," Ballue asked as he turned in the passenger seat of the BMW he'd let Draylon drive.
    "I don't know.