Adam looked imploringly at me now. He didn’t seem the least bit threatening. He just seemed pitiful.
“You said the dream was real,” he started as I nodded. “You said that Luce had been lying to us all along—about our ancestry.”
“Yes.”
“I looked it up myself, online,” he continued, his pallor growing whiter by the minute. “And the story Luce told us about what happened in Gratz, Austria, wasn’t true.”
“Right,” I said.
“So that’s why I came,” he finished.
“Then it worked,” I said as I faced Sinjin.
“Perhaps,” Sinjin responded. “But Bryn, can you not see that this could be nothing more than a clever manipulation on Luce’s part? He could very well have got wind of what we were trying to do, and now he attempts to use that information against us. He may be attempting to implant Adam as a mole.”
“Does he look like a threat to you?”
I looked back at Adam, who was slumped against the wall. He bent over and clutched his stomach, as if in pain. I approached him again.
“What is it, Adam?”
“I think… the breakdown… has begun.”
“How old are you?”
“Twenty.”
“You should be okay for a little while longer,” I said, feeling for him.
“I think the journey … might have been too much for me.”
I thought he might be right.
Daywalkers didn’t live far beyond their twenty-first birthdays. After that, they rapidly went downhill. Their bodily breakdown occurred so quickly, they often died within a couple of weeks. The only thing that could help them survive longer and restore their health was vampire blood.
“I think he’s telling the truth,” I said to Sinjin.
“I remain to be convinced.”
“Okay. But we need to tell Jolie anyway.”
“Agreed.”
“Should we bring him to Jolie now?”
“Absolutely not,” Sinjin said with a pronounced shake of his head. “I will not bring this potential enemy into the heart of my queen’s residence. I would be putting my queen and the baby Emma at risk, and I am not willing to do that. No. I shall bring Jolie here. Jolie and as many… bodyguards as I can summon.”
“Okay,” I said.
“I do not like the idea of leaving you alone with him,” he said as he glanced over at Adam, who had nearly collapsed to the floor by this point.
“I’ll be fine,” I said. “He can barely stand.”
“Even so,” Sinjin responded as he glanced around himself before disappearing. He reappeared seconds later with rope which he tied around Adam’s wrists, binding his arms behind his back. Then he did the same thing to Adam’s feet, after allowing Adam to lean against the wall for support.
“That’s really not necessary,” I said.
“I shall return momentarily.”
Sinjin dematerialized, and I was left alone with Adam. I crouched down beside him again. He was trying to say something.
“What was that?” I lowered my ear down to his mouth.
“I’m sorry, Bryn.”
“For what?”
“For what happened to you.”
“There’s no need for you to apologize, Adam. It wasn’t your fault.”
“But I didn’t do anything to stop it, and I knew it was wrong.” He grew quiet for a few seconds. “I knew it was wrong.”
A sense of jubilation and relief coursed through me. It felt good to know that I was no longer the only one of Luce’s tribe members who recognized the truth.
“Do you think others might follow you, Adam?”
“It’s hard… to know. It’s not like I… could ask any of them. You know that.”
I nodded.
“How did you get out of there?”
“I was sent to get supplies. I just didn’t go back.”
“And you knew how to find us?” I continued.
“Internet.” He smiled before a wave of pain stole the smile away again.
“You were brave,” I said, convinced I could see him fading away right before my eyes. “How did you get here? Did you take an airplane?”
No one had any money in Luce’s compounds. He controlled the purse strings entirely, telling his tribe members that they had no need for money, as he, Luce, looked after their each and every need, like a good and loving father. As for passports, I was convinced the majority of the tribe members had never even heard of a passport, let alone knew what they were for.
Adam seemed puzzled by my question. “I came through the portal.”
I frowned. “What portal?”
“The one at the castle. I walked the rest of the way.”
The castle?
“What castle?” I asked as I shook my head.
Adam looked at me quizzically. “Balmoral, I think it was called?”
“Oh!” I said as I realized we must have succeeded in opening the portal at Balmoral after all. I couldn’t wait to tell the others.
“You must be very tired,” I said.
“I am,” he responded, and suddenly, he looked so young. Not even twenty—he looked like he was twelve.
Adam would probably have drifted off there and then had Sinjin and Jolie not materialized right in front of us.
“Are you okay?” Sinjin asked me immediately.
“Of course I’m okay.” He could be so irritating at times.
Jolie addressed Adam. “I am Jolie, Queen of the Underworld.”
“And my sister,” I added as I faced Adam.
“Kindly state your business here,” Jolie continued, giving him a polite but distant smile.
“I seek sanctuary. As was promised.” It was obvious that he had difficulty getting the words out.
“He came through the portal at Balmoral,” I added.
“Then we did open it?” Sinjin asked.
“It seems like it,” I answered.
“Bryn, could I speak with you, alone?” Jolie asked.
I nodded, and the two of us stepped into the other room. “Do you believe him?” she asked. “Or do you think he’s somehow been sent by Luce?”
“I believe him,” I answered. “If Luce had chosen to send a spy, I doubt he would have sent someone who is clearly sick.”
Jolie nodded. “Yes, he did seem unwell.”
“He’s a Daywalker, Jolie, and he’s twenty,” I supplied for her.
Jolie sighed as she shook her head and the expression of sympathy pasted itself across her face. “I need to question him. Do you think he’s up to it? He looks to be in very bad shape.”
“I think he’s dying,” I said frankly. “He’s getting close to that dangerous age for a Daywalker, and I think the journey was too much for him in his fragile state.”
Sinjin walked up to us then. “I do not believe him,” he said.
“You wouldn’t believe your own mother,” I grumbled.
“Quite untrue, Lady Macbeth, quite untrue.”
“Why don’t you believe him, Sinjin?” Jolie asked as she attempted to hide her smile.
“He is a Daywalker.”
“Okay, and?” I asked.
“No and .”
“So, you’re saying the only reason you don’t believe him is because he’s a Daywalker, a condition he can hardly help?” I asked.
“I believe that sufficient reason, yes.”
I shook my head and faced my sister again. “He’s sick, Jolie,” I started.
“I am most assuredly not sick,” Sinjin interrupted.
“I wasn’t talking about you!” I said as I rolled my eyes. “Although it could be debated that you’re sick too.”
Jolie laughed as Sinjin wrapped his arms around his chest.
“So, you think he needs …” Jolie started.
“Vampire blood, yes.”
We both looked automatically at Sinjin.
“Oh no,” he said. “Absolutely not! I would rather die than allow a Daywalker to feed
from me. And not only that, but he is a man !” Sinjin visibly shuddered.
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “He’s only a boy, Sinjin. And he’s going to die if we don’t do something.”
“He is here on Luce’s behalf. I am convinced of it.”
“You’re wrong.”
Jolie sighed. “Maybe we can ask Klassje.”
“Yes, ask Klassje.” The words flew out of Sinjin’s mouth.
“I can’t believe how selfish you’re being,” I said as I faced him, truly angry with him. “Think of all the women who have donated blood to you! That number must be in the thousands by now! Including me. And you won’t …”
“Yes, women . Not men . Do you realize what you are asking me to do?” he insisted. “It is the equivalent of asking a heterosexual man to have sex with another man!”
“Really?” I asked, frowning. I couldn’t help but notice Jolie as she immediately started laughing and then attempted, unsuccessfully, to bury said laugh in a cough.
“Yes, really.”
“Sinjin, someone drinking your blood is decidedly different than someone having sex with you!”
His expression was stony. “There is a female vampire available. I suggest you ask her.”
“It’s fine,” said Jolie. “I will ask Klassje myself. Because even if Adam isn’t telling us the truth, he’s still a lot more useful to us alive than dead.”
“He is a lot more dangerous to us alive than dead,” said Sinjin.
“He’s telling the truth,” I ground out.
“I’m beginning to think you have a soft spot for this Adam,” Sinjin said as he peered down at me.
“Oh, for God’s sake!”
“And now I must check on our Daywalker ward to ensure he has not escaped to wreak havoc among our people,” Sinjin said, and dematerialized.
That was the end of that.
Klaasje came bustling in, all business-like. She was accompanied by Jolie.
“Where is this guy?” she asked.
I gestured to Adam, who was now on the floor in a crumpled heap. I’d put a cushion under his head, but he didn’t look comfortable.
“Poor thing looks close to death,” Klaasje said.
I agreed with her.
“Will you let him feed from you?” I asked her.
She shrugged. “Well, if I don’t, he aint gonna last long. Look at him, he’s half-gone already. He might not even be strong enough to feed. He looks to me like he’s weak as a kitten.”
“He is,” I concurred as Jolie nodded.
“By the way, what’s up with Sinjin?” Klaasje asked. “He just passed by, looking like he’d found a penny and lost a pound.”
“He’s just being Sinjin. The annoying Sinjin, that is.” It was the only explanation I could think of.
“Gotcha,” Klaasje said, although she did look at me curiously. “Now, is someone going to wake this guy up or what?”
I knelt down beside Adam and shook him gently by the shoulder. “Adam, I need you to wake up for me,” I said in a soft voice. There was no response. I shook him again. “Wake up, Adam.”
“He’s not dead already, is he?” Klassje asked in a matter-of-fact way.
“No,” said Jolie, who was now kneeling on the other side of Adam. “He’s stirring. Look.”
Sure enough, Adam’s eyes began to flutter open. He looked from one to the other of us, as if trying to comprehend where he was. His eyes rested on me, because I was the most recognizable, I guessed.
“Adam, this is Klassje,” I said as I motioned to the pretty woman. “She’s a vampire. She’s going to let you feed from her.”
He shook his head and looked as if he was about to drift off again. I patted his cheek and noticed how clammy and cold he felt. “Adam! You have to stay awake.”
“I feel… so weak,” he muttered.
I shook his shoulder. “Stay with me, Adam.” I turned to Klaasje. “You need to do something. He’s slipping away.”
She nodded and held her wrist up to Adam’s mouth. Nothing. When that didn’t work, she brought her wrist to her own mouth. I watched in fascination as her fangs descended and she carefully punctured her vein. She then held her wrist under Adam’s nose.
The difference in his reaction was like night and day. It was as if Adam had suddenly been plugged into an energy outlet. His eyes flew open and appeared instantly brighter. His strength seemed to magically return as he instinctively grabbed Klassje’s wrist and plunged his own fangs into it.
It was fascinating to watch, the hunger and the pleasure in both of them. It was most definitely erotic. Good thing Dureau hadn’t decided to accompany Klaasje—I didn’t think he’d like this much.
Adam had his eyes fixed on Klassje with powerful intensity. Klassje’s own eyes were rolled in the back of her head, as if she was in orgasmic ecstasy. I exchanged a look with Jolie, and she raised an eyebrow. I could tell she felt exactly as I did, that it was almost embarrassingly intimate to watch.
“Imagine if it had been Sinjin,” Jolie whispered with a grin.
I immediately started laughing—so hard I had to excuse myself. After a few seconds of getting myself under control, I walked back into the room.
Klaasje and Adam both lay panting. But the difference in Adam’s appearance was remarkable. He was a changed man. His skin had lost its deathly pallor, and he was sitting up, looking entirely alert. I had a moment of misgiving. If I was wrong about Adam and he wasn’t genuine, we’d just succeeded in making our enemy far more formidable. Good thing he was still tied up.
He smiled at all three of us, but especially at Klaasje.
“Thank you,” he whispered to her. She winked at him, and his face colored. It seemed somebody had just developed a crush.
The lady of the hour had recovered herself, too.
“Wow,” she said. “I’d forgotten what that felt like.”
“Me too.” Adam grinned at her.
“Now don’t you be getting any ideas,” Klaasje continued with a smile on her face. “That was for medicinal purposes only. It won’t be happening again anytime soon.”
Adam nodded, continuing to look happy.
“And you can take that smile off your face, boy, because I’m taking you into custody until we can verify your story.”
“You can handcuff me if you want.”
Klassje gave him a wry look as she looked up at us and shook her head. “Handcuffs won’t be necessary.”
“Adam,” Jolie said, sternly for her. “Until we can be sure that you pose no threat to us, you’ll be considered a prisoner.”
“I understand,” he said with a nod. “I’m not a threat.”
“We gotta figure that part out for ourselves,” Klaasje said.
He smiled at her. “Will you come to visit me again?”
“Oh, Lord!” said Klassje as she pulled Adam to his feet. Then she faced me. “Can we keep him in your old bedroom, Bryn?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll stay and guard him.”
“Really?” Adam smiled happily.
“It’s not meant to be a treat!” Klassje did her best to sound gruff, but her smile was sweet.
“How will you judge whether or not I’m telling the truth?” Adam asked as he faced Klaasje and then Jolie.
“Hmm, that’s a good question,” I said as I faced my sister.
She nodded. “We will give him a trial,” she offered.
“Trial?” I repeated.
“Well, when I say trial, I mean an impromptu council meeting this evening so that everyone can hear what Adam has to say and we can decide whether or not we believe him.”
I nodded as Klaasje led Adam outside and the four of us walked to my old bedroom. Klaasje pushed Adam into the room whileJolie and I waited in the hallway.
“How are you getting on in your new house?” Jolie asked, facing me with excitement. “I’d been meaning to ask.”
“Um, it’s lovely, Jolie. Thank you.”
“Did you
like the wallpaper in your room?” she continued.
“I love it, but I’m not sure about Sinjin.”
She nodded. “I thought it could be a risk where he was concerned, but it was just so pretty, I couldn’t say no.”
“I agree,” I said with a big smile. “Thank you, again. You are so good to me.”
“Well, you are my only sister, Bryn,” she said with a big grin.
Klaasje opened the door and slapped her hands together as if to indicate a job well done.
“Now,” she said. “We won’t be hearing from young Adam for a while.”
“Why? What have you done with him?” I asked, my eyes going wide.
“I haven’t done anything with him!” she answered with a laugh. “He’s fast asleep. That’s all I meant.”
“You think he’ll be good by himself for a while?” I asked.
Klaasje nodded. “He’s gonna be knocked out for a long time. Plenty of time for me to get a few others to sign up for babysitting duty.”
“Good thinking,” Jolie said.
“Did you give him a kiss goodnight?” I asked with a laugh.
“Very funny, Bryn.”
“Dureau has got himself some stiff competition,” Jolie said.
Klassje looked at me sharply. “About Dureau,” she said. “I hope you’re okay with all that?”
“Of course,” I said with a quick nod. “I can hardly be jealous when Sinjin’s baby is growing inside me,” I finished with a smile.
“Just wanted to make sure,” Klaasje said.
“I think the two of you are a really good match,” I said.
“Really?” Klassje looked delighted. “Because I really like him, especially the way he speaks French to me while we’re foolin’ around.”
“TMI, Klaasje!” I said with a laugh.
“Yeah, TMI,” Jolie added as the three of us headed back to Kinloch Kirk, smiling and laughing all the while.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Sinjin
I did not mind admitting that I was furious, having been put on the spot like that. Imagine anyone expecting me to allow a filthy Daywalker to drink my blood! Bryn was too young and inexperienced, and insensitive, to realize what she asked of me. I supposed I could forgive her, in time. But for now, I was most offended.
I sighed deeply. Of course, I would forgive her. I would forgive that woman anything. I just hoped she did not realize the power she had over me.
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