“Then we need the names of all the humans, and any other beings you know of, who are working for these true immortals,” Abel returned.

The vampire listed five names.

“Did those cameras have feeds or were they static?” Abel asked.

“The tapes were to be collected by the humans who were on our payroll after the meeting was over. There were too many of the detail not on payroll to have time to establish a feed.”

“Well, at least there’s that,” I muttered.

“Lilah, would you please go and get Gregor?” Lucien asked, and my eyes went to him to see him looking at me. “Tell Gregor we need to gather immediately.”

“Abel is hungry,” I told him.

Lucien nodded and looked to Abel. “Put him in a trance. I’ll have him watched and gather the others. Half an hour?”

“That’ll work,” Abel murmured, looked to the vampire in the seat and I did too.

His face went slack.

Yeesh, my man so rocked.

“There’s another,” I shared with Lucien.

“We’ll handle him until Abel gets back,” Lucien replied.

I nodded and Abel moved to me, saying to Lucien as he did, “Half an hour.”

“Half an hour,” Lucien agreed.

Abel got close and slid an arm around my waist. “Hang on, bao bei.”

I curved my arms around his shoulders and then…whoosh…we were out of the room, up the stairs, and behind the closed door in our bedroom.

I caught my breath as Abel set me down and held me steady with both hands at my hips. When I had it together, I tipped my head back to catch his eyes.

“Word with your father, be smart about what he says to who and where,” Abel said gently.

I nodded, whispering, “He’s gonna feel shit he screwed the pooch.”

Abel shook his head. “He didn’t do wrong. He couldn’t know. None of us knew. And his vampire is true to the cause. He’s not responsible for the actions of assholes.”

This was true.

I thought this as I caught the look on Abel’s face. A look I couldn’t get a lock on, but it was a look I felt like a shot to the heart.

“What?” I asked.

“I got skills,” he answered confusingly.

“Well…yeah,” I confirmed unnecessarily.

“No, Lilah.” His fingers dug into my hips. “I…got…skills. Skills that can help. Skills that are vital. Skills that help make you safe. Sonia, Leah, all of us.”

“Well…” I started. “Yeah,” I repeated to finish, still confused.

“I’m not a soldier.”

I shook my head. “Abel, I’m not following.”

“I’m powerful. I’m necessary.”

My heart clutched as what he was saying finally dawned on me.

I got close and shifted my hands to the sides of his neck. “Of course you are.”