"Yeah. Can you imagine how terrified you'd have to be to do that?"
"No." Laird sounded completely honest. "Knowing how hard she fought us out in Irving? No, I can't even imagine."
Thane's eyes were locked on the road. Against the wheel, his fingers were clammy. "If they accused me of blasphemy, would you stake me?"
"Never." The answer came without hesitation. "I'd rather take the spike in my own heart. Why?"
"There is no Hell, and my truck isn't in the shop."
"What did you do?" His brother's face was deathly pale.
Thane just shrugged. "You remember that sign I was asking for from God? I kinda got it, and I think I might need your help, but it's probably going to get me killed."
Laird didn't hesitate. "What do you need?"
"Answers, and a whole lot of honest ones."
"That," his brother promised, "I can do."
Chapter Thirty-Eight
THANE
Two cups of coffee, two greasy egg-based breakfasts, and an awkward silence were on the table. The only people in the restaurant were too far away to eavesdrop and the waitress wasn't exactly subtle enough to sneak up on them, but Thane still couldn't quite lay it all out there.
What if he was wrong? What if his brother's aspirations were so strong that he'd risk his family to get there? What if all this time that Thane had thought Laird was on his side, his brother had been simply saying what was easiest to keep things civil between them?
"Still warming?" Laird asked.
He decided to start with a few easy questions. "What do you think she is?" His brother would know who he meant. "I mean, she's not a vampire, but drinks blood. The Bishop says she's not a succubus, so how do you explain her?"
Laird shoveled his hashbrowns over the runny eggs, letting the fork clink against the plate. "Bishop Daniel says she's a new construct. Satan's next best weapon."
Thane chuckled. New? Yeah, they had that all backwards, but his brother had also just tried to dodge the question. "What do you think she is, Laird? Not them. You."
"I honestly have no idea. I think the demon line is bullshit. I think she's the most powerful thing I've ever seen. I think she's as evil as you or me, but she is something different from us. She's not alive like I know the term. She's also not truly dead." Laird took a bite, then pointed at Thane's plate with his fork. "If you're going to act like some angsty teen, at least eat like one. You look like shit, man."
"That's a Hail Mary." For the language.
Laird smirked, then took another bite. "We both know I never wanted to be a priest. I also didn't get an option. I wanna tell you to just lay it out there, but I'm getting the impression you're feeling me out for something."
"Pretty much."
"Right." Laird pointed at Thane's plate again, waiting until his brother took a bite before continuing. "So, the elders are convinced she's this newborn demon, crafted out of the strength of all the atheists in the world, or something. That's how they're explaining her ability to touch the cross. It's the line they're feeding the rest of the priesthood."
The food was actually pretty good, and the first bite reminded Thane that he hadn't eaten in a while. He nodded to show he was listening, but focused on getting as much in as possible. Maybe Dahlia - no, Val - had taken more than he thought.
Laird took a noisy sip of coffee. "You going to freak out if I don't ignore that you fucked her?"
"Nope."
"Ok. Well, the inquisitors found that rather amusing. While you were doing your thing in there, they were making bets about whether or not you'd live. Said it was the Bishop's way of removing Mom's taint from our lines."
"Assholes."
"Yeah. When you said she was locked up, we were all a little shocked. I have to admit, we didn't think it'd be that easy to get her name." Laird leaned closer. "But it seems no one else can call her. I'm guessing you know why."
"Still warming," Thane reminded him.