[Dark 09] Much Ado About Vampires 2011 by Katie MacAlister

Author:Katie MacAlister [MacAlister, Katie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2011-10-04T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Cora was uncharacteristically calm about the idea of taking a portal to Avignon, surprising Alec when, as she landed on the foam padding set up on the receiving end, she whooped and said she wanted to do it again.

“You are the strangest woman I have ever met,” he said as he helped her to her feet, guiding her out of the way as the air sparked a few times, indicating another body was about to emerge through the permanent tear in the fabric of space that the portalling company maintained for the use of its customers.

“You told me that already,” she answered, applauding when Pia appeared out of nothing and hit the padding with a whomp. “And the judges go wild!”

“Thank you. I think,” Pia said, accepting the hand he held out to her. “I did try for a reverse gainer, but I’m not sure if I pulled it off or not.”

“Seriously, tens across the judges,” Cora assured her before turning to him. “Screw private jets—I want to portal everywhere from now on.”

“Most people only use portals when they have no other choice,” he warned her.

Eleanor appeared, screaming as she hit the padding. “Goddess above, I never want to do that again. Urgh.”

He helped her to her feet, as well.

“Why don’t they use portals?” Cora asked him.

He gave a little shrug. “Some beings don’t like it. Dragons and elemental beings will do just about anything to avoid using a portal. Some of the Fae are opposed to it on the grounds that it desecrates their beyond. Others, like some spirits, cannot use it unless they are in corporeal form.”

“I completely understand their feelings,” Eleanor muttered, brushing off her pants.

Cora stared at him for a moment before turning to Pia just as Kristoff materialized and hit the padding. “One in ten words, maybe.”

Pia laughed. “Believe it or not, I understood all of it. Give it time, and you will, as well.”

“Uh-huh.” Cora’s mysteriously dark eyes considered him. “You’re not any of those things that you mentioned, though. Are you?”

“No, I’m not, and I don’t have an issue with using a portal per se, but it is also expensive.”

“Really?” She moved aside as Terrin appeared about ten feet off the ground, arms and legs flailing as he dropped to the pad. “How expensive?”

He told her the price for all six of them to be transported from Florence to Avignon.

“Jesus wept! I could buy a house for that! A nice house!” she gasped.

“Am I here? All of me?” Terrin asked.

Alec hauled him to his feet, brushing him off, since the seneschal appeared to be somewhat disoriented by the portal. “You’re here. Where to, Kris?”

“The lichmaster said she’d be waiting for us at the Chauvet caves.”

“Caves? I love caves!” Cora said, her eyes bright with excitement as she took his hand. The fact that she did so automatically warmed him like nothing else had in . . . well, since his beloved mother had died. She had been the only person who touched him with genuine love .

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