Page 57 of Grayson’s Challenge

Monique’s gaze fell onto Thomas and Eddie, before she dropped it, unable to look at anybody. She wasn’t used to public displays of affection. She’d never felt so naked in her life.

“Don’t mind us,” Thomas said with a smirk. “We were taking bets how long it would take for Grayson to finally grow up.”

Eddie chuckled. “Turns out it took a real princess for that to happen.”

“Guys, are you done embarrassing us?” Grayson asked, though he didn’t sound upset.

He squeezed her hand, and she cast him a brief glance, and noticed that his eyes were still shimmering golden. Were hers too? She assumed as much, because what she felt inside her was hard to contain. She had feelings for Grayson. Strong feelings.

Amaury finished his call and shoved his phone back into his pocket. “Hamish and Logan will meet you at the 16th Street portal in twenty minutes.”

“Thanks, Amaury. Oh, and… uhm, doesn’t Wesley know the palace too?” Grayson asked.

Amaury nodded. “Yes, he was part of the team that helped Cain defeat Abel. But I thought you wanted him to stay here and work on the potions.”

“I think we’ll need him with us in New Orleans. We have no idea what happened there, and we might need a spell or two to get them out of whatever trouble they’re in. Charles can continue his work here.”

Monique nodded. “That’s probably a good idea. A witch might be just what we need.” She paused a moment, before continuing, “My brothers would have used the tunnels to enter the palace. We’ll have to assume they’re compromised. Abel knows about the tunnels, though I think he only knew about the entrance from the cells, not the ones to my parents’ rooms. That’s why my father closed off the cell entrance over thirty years ago.”

“I get it,” Grayson said. “We’d better not follow in John and your brothers’ footsteps and land in the same trap. If Abel’s men knew that they were coming, they probably knew that they’d use the tunnels and come in invisibly. Let’s approach the palace from a different way.”

“That’s not our only problem,” Monique said, concerned with something else.

“What do you mean?”

“We can’t assume that everybody at the palace is on Abel’s side. There might be some that are only playing along because if they don’t, Abel will kill them. We can’t simply kill everybody, not knowing whose side they’re on.”

“There’s no way of figuring out who’s still loyal to Cain.”

“Then we have to find a way. I can’t condone killing innocents.”

Grayson looked at her as if he wanted to protest, but then he seemed to change his mind. “Okay, then we’ll find a way. Now let’s get this show on the road.”

26

The Stealth Guardian portal was hidden in a tunnel in the 16th Street MUNI station, which was closed after midnight. However, the Scanguards staff had a way to disable the underground station’s cameras and a key to get in.

Monique was surprised to see Blake wearing a full-body Kevlar suit complete with helmet and gloves.

“It’ll protect me from the sun if this takes longer than expected,” Blake explained, “and I’m caught outside.”

“Where did you get it?” Monique asked as she stepped onto the platform and followed Grayson, who was heading toward the dark tunnel.

“It’s the uniform the guards wear at the vampire prison in Grass Valley. Luther consults there, so we got a few uniforms from them.”

“We should probably get more made,” Grayson suggested. “It’ll make life easier for all the full-blooded vampires.”

“I’m all for it,” Blake said.

“That’s a great idea.” Monique nodded. If she got to run the new Scanguards branch in New Orleans, she would definitely make this her priority.

“Frankly, I don’t know why we don’t have more of them already,” Wesley said from behind them.

The witch was carrying a large bag slung diagonally across his body. Monique hadn’t asked him what was inside it, but she could guess: potions and spells, and most likely a stake, gun, and a silver knife, all weapons that could kill a vampire.

She, Grayson, and Blake were also armed. They had screwed silencers onto the small-caliber weapons which were loaded with silver bullets. But their main weapon would be a stake, because it killed silently. Depending on how many hostiles they encountered and where, they would have to take as many as possible out without alerting anybody.

Inside the train tunnel, Grayson, who was walking ahead of her now, stopped. “We’re here.”