The Black God - Page 82/187

"This." She reached into the pocket at the small of her back and wrenched free a phone, throwing it at him.

Jonny caught it, bristling with agitated energy, and glanced at the screen.

"My brother disappears and you're going to pretend you didn't do it when your location is on his phone?" she snapped. She was breathing hard, her emotions as fiercely displayed as her fighting talent.

Jonny didn't know what was going on. Brandon had checked in with the locations of Valon's vamps and Jonny had gone to bed. "Charles," he said over his shoulder.

His second motioned to the vamps nearest Ashley.

Ashley glared at him and lowered herself into a fighting stance. Realizing no vamp was going to get near her when she was this pissed and ready, he moved towards her. He Traveled twice, one to throw her off and the second time to shift close enough to lay a hand on her.

She tried to whirl, but his magic kept her in place. He knocked her out with his power and caught her as she fell, not about to take any chances she hurt herself or one of his vamps.

"Take her to a cell," he ordered, handing her off to the two vamps. He returned to the stairs. He joined Charles and spoke quietly enough for only his most trusted vamp to hear. "Charles, you know why nothing can happen to her. Go with them."

Charles grimaced and nodded.

Jonny returned to his room, too angry to face Ashley and sensing she wasn't going to cooperate until she, too, had a chance to cool down. He sat on his bed and flicked open Brandon's phone. It was unlocked, and the strange message and address were locked in place on his screen.

As he sat, his anger slid into interest, and he considered who would know where to find Brandon and why he'd been taken. Someone who could Travel, and he knew where all his vamps with such a skill were last night. The Guardians weren't going to kidnap their own. That left Valon, the rogue vamp leader.

Why would Valon want Brandon or Ash? Did the rogue vamp suspect Jonny had been in contact with them? Was he trying to draw Xander's attention - or Jonny's?

He ran a hand through his hair and studied the wall. He was far from calmed down, but if Brandon were in trouble, and a vamp were involved, he was going to get the unwanted visit from Xander, if not Damian. At least, he told himself this was why he wanted to talk to Ashley. His interest extended beyond the situation to the woman who had brazenly attacked his headquarters.