Chapter 204
Katelina and Jorick followed Saeed to the dining room where Kale and Alex hunched over a laptop. Oren stood behind them, squinting at the screen.
Kale glanced up as they entered. "We're mapping travel routes."
"To what?" Katelina asked.
"Oren's den for a start." Alex whistled low. "It's a ten hour trip. If you plan to get there tonight, you'll have to leave soon."
"Which brings up a question." Kale glanced from Oren to Jorick. "What exactly is the plan?"
"I spoke to Fabian last night, though the reception was questionable. I don't foresee anyone in my coven refusing to help, though I can't speak for Traven. He refused to commit."
Alex tapped a few keys. "If Traven is correct about Anya's location, then it's only six hours to her den."
Before anyone could answer, Rachel walked in with Joseff on her heels. Snowflakes melted in her coppery hair, and her cheeks were pink. She gave Kale a kiss and asked, "What's he looking at now? Another chat club?"
"It's called a chat room." Alex pushed his glasses up. "But no, I'm looking for maps. The site will plan the whole route out for you." He jabbed a finger at the screen. "See?"
"Takes the wind out of planning, doesn't it?" she asked good-naturedly. "You probably saved a lot of time, but what are you going to do with the rest of the night?"
Alex gave an exaggerated sigh. "Just like a woman, never satisfied."
Kale caught her hand and brought it to his lips. "I don't know. I often leave her satisfied." Her cheeks flushed and she playfully swatted at him. "It's true. Just last night you said-"
Oren coughed loudly. "As I was saying, we'll need the van to haul the boxes from my den, so I'll have to head back tonight. Since the trip is ten hours, the soonest we could return would be the day after tomorrow."
Rachel frowned. "The day after tomorrow is Christmas! You can't wage a war on Christmas!"
Oren choked.
"Of course you can," Alex said. "They won't be expecting it."
Rachel shook her head. "I'm all for surprise attacks, but not on Christmas. I won't have it. We have plans, and I'm sure Oren and his coven do, too. If it's a ten hour trip, then they can leave the day after and we can attack Thomas on the twenty-seventh." She met Kale's eyes and held them. "Right?"
"Rachel-"
"No! I've only just gotten you back in time for Christmas and I'm not about to waste that. Four days won't make that much difference. And if you want to surprise them, then why not attack them first thing in the evening?"
Kale was patient. "By the time Oren drove ten hours to get here, we wouldn't have time to drive another six to Thomas. We'd have to travel the following night and then find somewhere to sleep the next day so we could attack them first thing."
Jorick cleared his throat. "Unless Katelina drove."
Everyone gaped at Jorick as though he'd sprouted antennae. He blinked back, unruffled. As if to back him up, Rachel asked, "Why not?"
Joseff snorted. "Maybe you've forgotten, but there was a question about whether or not Jorick told her to murder Kateesha."
Katelina's hands went to her hips. "Why is it murder if you think I did it, but a war if you guys do?"
Instead of answering, Oren snapped, "That was settled!"
Joseff crossed his arms over his chest. "By you. I don't believe it was as innocent as Jorick claimed."
Before Jorick could stop her, Katelina snapped, "And if I recall all of you were on the other side during that battle and tried to kill us, so what's your point?"
Jorick squeezed Katelina's hand. "Whether you believe it or not, the charge was that I ordered her to do so, so I'm the one you should be concerned about."
"And who said I'm not?" Joseff glared at Jorick with open hostility. "Some of us may want to play forgive and forget, but you're responsible for killing quite a few of my friends, including my Master!"
"And look what Claudius did to him," Rachel argued. "If Oren's coven had kidnapped me, wouldn't you have helped get me back? Wouldn't Kale have demanded his blood?"
"That's different!" Joseff snapped furiously, though defeat was in his eyes.
Rachel saw it and countered quickly, "How? Because she's a human? Or because she was on the other side at the time?"
"They stole Arowenia! And they killed her."
Jorick said coldly, "Michael and his brother took her, and Kateesha killed her."
"That isn't what Michael said! He said you and your friends took her and that he only showed you the way in!"
"Enough!" Kale cried. "We're not here to argue what happened in the past."
"In the past? It just happened! His blood's barely cooled!"
"It was cold enough for you to join Kateesha," Alex murmured. "I don't remember you making a fuss to her."
A dangerous growl sounded in Joseff's throat. "There are laws, and we follow them."
"Then try doing it now," Alex suggested neutrally. "We swore loyalty to Kale and it's his decision. He trusts them enough to let the human sleep with us, so what right do you have to question it?"
"I won't put my life in her hands!"
"But you already do," Alex said. "She could kill you anytime during the day."
Joseff made a wordless sound of frustration, then spun around and stormed away.
Alex turned to Jorick. "You'll have to excuse him. He's overly passionate about a few things."
Jorick nodded stiffly, then looked to Kale. "As he said, the choice is yours. If you'll excuse us, we need to feed." He tugged on Katelina's arm and they left, Oren on their heels.
They were barely outside when Katelina exploded, "You should have left him there and let The Guild have him!"
"Kale is no more responsible for Joseff's words than I am for yours."
"You should have left her behind," Oren muttered. "Or just turn her and be done with this nonsense!"
"Other vampires have humans," Jorick remarked indifferently.
Oren stopped at the foot of the steps. "Not that they drag everywhere! They have humans that live human lives and occasionally they take them places! For the love of all that's holy, you take her to war with you! Have you thought about how insane that is? And you don't even feed off of her! I could understand if she were a servant or if she served some practical use besides sharing your bed now and then!"
Jorick's face grew hard. "What I choose to do with her is none of your affair."
"It is when she's always in my way! So many things could have been easier without her in the background! This needs to stop! It's time you left her at your den and-"
The front door opened and Rachel stepped out. "Kale would like to apologize for Joseff's behavior. He was at the trial and agreed with the verdict."
"Yes, I remember," Jorick answered coolly.
"If he agreed, that's good enough for me," Rachel continued. "And I wondered if Katelina would like to stay here while you feed? It can't be fun listening to you bicker." Her eyes twinkled.
Jorick's objection came swiftly. "No, she stays with me."
Rachel shrugged. "If that's best. You might ask her what she wants."
Jorick's jaw tightened and his eyes skipped to Katelina. Truthfully, she didn't know what she wanted. Both options were equally unpleasant.
"Oh, leave her and let's go!" Oren cried. "It will be easier to hunt without her tagging along!"
That did it. "Yes, leave me here," Katelina sneered sarcastically. "I'd hate to think I'm complicating precious Oren's little plans!"
Rachel cut in, "I won't harm her. You have my blood oath."
