Whoever it really was had a good intelligence system, good enough to discover that Morgead knew something about the Wild Power. And had a lot of money, because it had imported a lot of muscle. And had a sense of strategy, because the kidnappings of Jez and Claire and Hugh and Morgead had been beautifully timed and nicely executed.
It might be some rogue vampire or werewolf chieftain who wanted to grab power. It might be some rival vampire gang in California. For all Jez knew, it might even be some insane faction of Circle Daybreak.
The only thing that was certain was that she was going to have to fight them whenever this van got where it was going, and that she needed all the help she could get.
So it was important to lie to Morgead one last time, and hope that he would fight with her.
She had to get Claire away safely.
That was all that mattered. The world would survive without her and Morgead, and even without Hugh, although it would be a darker place. But it wouldn't survive without Claire.
"Whether it's the Council or not, we're going to have to fight them," she said out loud. "How's your energy-blast trick? The one you demonstrated when we were stick-fighting."
He snorted. "Not good. I used up all my Power fighting the guys who tackled me. It'll be a long time before I recharge."
Jez's heart sank. "Too bad," she said unemotionally. "Because those two aren't going to be able to do much."
"Those humans? Who are they, by the way?" His voice was so carefully careless again.
Jez hesitated. If she said they were unimportant, he might not help her save them. But she couldn't tell the truth, either.
"That's Claire, and this is Hugh. They're-acquaintances. They've helped me in the past."
"Humans?"
"Even humans can be useful sometimes."
'I thought maybe one of them might be the Wild Power."
"You thought if I found the Wild Power I wouldn't tell you?"
'It occurred to me."
"You're so cynical, Morgead."
'I prefer to call it observant," he said. 'For instance, I can tell you something about your friend Hugh, there. I saw him in the city, just once, but I remember his face. He's a damned Daybreaker."
Jez felt a tension in her chest, but she kept her face expressionless. "So maybe I'm using him for something."
"And maybe," Morgead said, simply and pleasantly, "you're using me."
Jez lost her breath. She stared at him. His face was shadowed, but she could see its clean tines, the strong but delicate features, the darkness of his eyebrows and the tension in his jaw. And she knew, as he narrowed his eyes, that they were the color of glacier ice.
"You know," he said, "there's still a connection between us. I can feel it, sort of like a cord between our minds. It pulls. You can't deny it, Jez. It's there whether you like it or not. And-" He considered, as if thinking of the best way to put this. "It tells me things. Things about you."
Oh, hell, Jez thought. It's over. I'm just going to have to protect Hugh and Claire myself. From him and whoever's got us.
Part of her was scared, but part was just furious, the familiar fury of needing to bash Morgead over the head. He was so certain of himself, so ... smug.
"So what's it telling you now?" she said sarcastically before she could stop herself.
"That you're not telling the truth. That there's something you're keeping from me, something you've been keeping from me. And that it has to do with him." He nodded toward Hugh.
He knew. The jerk knew and he was just playing with her. Jez could feel self-control slipping away.
"Something to do with why you want the Wild Power," Morgead went on, a strange smile playing on his lips. "And with where you've been for the past year, and with why you suddenly want to protect humans.
And why you say 'Goddess' when you're surprised. No vampire says that. It's a witch thing."
Goddess, I'm going to kill him, Jez thought, clenching her teeth. "Anything else?" she said evenly.
"And with why you're scared of me reading your thoughts." He smirked. "Told you I was observant."
Jez lost it. "Yeah, Morgead, you're brilliant. So are you smart enough to figure out what it all means? Or just to get suspicious?"
"It means-" He looked uncertain suddenly, as if he hadn't exactly figured out where all this was leading.
He frowned. "It means... that you're ..." He looked at her. "With Circle Daybreak."
It came out as a statement, but a weak one. Almost a question. And he was staring at her with an I-don't-believe-it look.
"Very good," Jez said nastily. "Two points. No, one; it took you long enough."
Morgead stared at her. Then he suddenly erupted out of his side of the van. Jez jumped forward, too, in a crouch that would let her move fluidly and protect Hugh and Claire.
But Morgead didn't attack. He just tried to grab her shoulders and shake her.
"You little idiot!" he yelled.
Jez was startled. "What?"
"You're a Daybreaker?"
"I thought you had it all figured out." What was wrong with him? Instead of looking betrayed and bloodthirsty he looked scared and angry. Like a mother whose kid has just run in front of a bus.
"I did-I guess-but I still can't believe it. Jez, why? Don't you know how stupid that is? Don't you realize what's going to happen to them?"
"Look, Morgead-"
"They're going to lose, Jez. It's not just going to be the Council against them now. Everybody in the Night World is going to be gunning for them.
They're going to get wiped out, and anybody who sides with them will be wiped out, too."