by Amy Patrick
“I’m in house—on my way to the clinic,” he said. “If anyone’s near there, let Dr. Coppa know we’re gonna need a lot of O-neg blood. I’ve got a gunshot victim here who’s about to bleed out.”
A sword of icy fear gutted my mid-section. The physical one I was holding dropped to the floor with a clatter, and I took off in a full sprint down the west corridor toward the cavern that housed the medical center.
I made it to the clinic before Kannon did. Where was he?
If Abbi was that badly in need of blood, why wasn’t he moving faster? I was about to go searching for him when I spotted him coming down the dark corridor. In his arms, he carried a limp figure.
Oh God. No. Please no.
The body in his arms looked lifeless. The sword in my gut twisted and sank in deeper. But no, Abbi had to be still alive—she wouldn’t need blood if she were dead.
And I could feel her somehow.
I stepped into the center of the corridor, intending to take her from Kannon and carry her into the clinic myself. If she really was dying, if these were her last moments, I wanted to be the one holding her.
And I needed to finally tell her the truth.
She might not be able to hear me. Maybe she wouldn’t even care about hearing it anymore—she’d moved on with her life. But for my own sanity, I couldn’t let her leave this world without ever saying it out loud.
Someone stepped out from behind Kannon, and my heart nearly sprang from my chest.
Abbi.
Confusion battled with elation inside me as I realized the person in Kannon’s arms was not her but someone else.
And then I smelled him. A male. A human male. What the...
At the moment I couldn’t be bothered to wonder about his identity because Abbi had stopped in place, returning my stare. She was disheveled, covered in blood, and... stunning.
The night we’d met, I had thought she was the greatest natural beauty I’d ever seen. The lustrous, dark hair, the huge, innocent eyes, and tempting full lips that seemed more fitting for a model than an Amish farmgirl. She’d been completely unaware of her appeal, which had only made her more appealing.
Seeing her now after making do with my memories and imagination for so long was almost overwhelming.
My heart, which hadn’t moved since the day she’d left, gave a hard thump. My eyes drank in the sight of her, scanning from the top of her bonnet-covered head to the familiar plain black boots. There was blood on her long skirt.
From the scent of it, it was a mixture of hers and the human’s. I couldn’t care less about his condition, but at least hers didn’t seem to be serious. She was walking on her own and didn’t appear to be in pain.
“Hello Reece.” She sounded out of breath—from the walk through the caverns? From her injury? From the shock of seeing me?
I was battling a bout of breathlessness myself. But I didn’t want her to see that. If she wasn’t dying, there was no need for a deathbed confession from me. I worked to master my expression and hide my reaction to seeing her again.
Lifting my chin, I gave her a smirk. “I see reports of your demise were somewhat premature. Heather and Kelly said you’d been shot. They said it was an exploding round.”
“Yes. I... I guess it was only a flesh wound. A close call.”
My pulse settled then skyrocketed again as my gaze fell on her necklace—the pendant I’d given her the day she’d left.
She was still wearing it. It was broken. And empty. Was that how she’d survived the bullet?
My gaze flew up to meet hers again. The confirmation was there in her eyes—or at least I thought it was.
If it was my blood that had saved her life, I was glad. I was also screwed.
3
Million-dollar Question
Reece
Imogen would kill me if she knew I’d given my blood to Abbi. She’d probably kill her too.
In fact, Abbi’s life was in danger just for coming here. Why the hell had she returned? Did she not value her own life at all?
She’d said there was nothing here for her and made it quite clear I wasn’t enough reason to stick around.
If it weren’t for Kannon standing there, I would have ordered her to turn around and leave the Bastion. As it was, he—and probably all the members of his team—had seen her already. Imogen wouldn’t be satisfied until she’d seen Abbi herself.
And dealt with her.
“What can you be thinking coming back here?” I growled at her.
The question came out more harshly than I’d intended, and the look on Abbi’s face told me it had stung her. But her expression morphed quickly into fiery defiance.
“Well, it’s nice to see you, too. The Bastion is a refuge for vampires in trouble, is it not? I’m in trouble. I didn’t know where else to go.”
Not what I’d been expecting, but I supposed it made sense. Abbi wasn’t stupid. And of course she wouldn’t risk coming back here unless she’d literally had no other choice.
The spark of idiotic hope that had sprung to life inside me died in a pile of black, smoldering ash.
“What kind of trouble?” I demanded.
“My friends and I are wanted by the authorities.”
What could a peace-loving former Amish girl possibly have done to run afoul of the human police? I glanced over at the unconscious human male. He was young, about our age. This had to be about him somehow.
“Friends?” I scoffed. “All I see is a half-dead human.”
Abbi’s voice turned acidic. “I meant Kelly and Heather. And yes, Shane is my friend. And yes, he’s a human—who’s hurt as you can see. He needs immediate medical attention, so if you’ll please let us pass...”
She looked at me, brows raised expectantly.
Shane. Her friend.
Who was this guy? Had she found him on the road somewhere? Or had he come with her from California?
Was he more than a friend, as in a... a boyfriend?
How dare she bring him here. How dare she risk her own life for a human. She was too nice. He’d never do the same for her.
I did not move to let them pass. “Still a human-loving do-gooder, I see. That doesn’t explain why you brought him here. If his injuries don’t kill him, which based on the smell of things they will, then some thirsty Bastion citizen will do the job. Probably the good doctor himself. Either way, I seriously doubt Shawn will make it through the night.”
“His name is Shane—and I’m going to at least try to save him. Unlike you, I don’t give up on the people I care about.”
Abbi hadn’t raised a hand to me, but I felt as if I’d been slapped. It was hard to say which hurt more—her admission that she cared for him—or her accusation that I hadn’t cared enough about her.
Everything I’d done had been about her. She was the reason I’d sacrificed everything.
Fury and jealousy whirled together in an emotional tornado, dislodging my self-control and sending my rational thought spinning. My hands moved without my permission, gripping her small shoulders, pulling her close. I glared down into her upturned face.
“If you’ve fallen in love with this weak human, you’re even more foolish than I thought you were. Whether he lives or dies, it won’t last, you know.”
Not the least bit intimidated, Abbi jutted out her stubborn little chin. “My feelings for him are none of your business. You made sure of that when you took the Bloodbound vows. Now please let us by.”
My feelings for him. My feelings for him. My feelings for him.
The phrase ricocheted through my brain, echoing to its borders, leaving a wake of pain.
Kannon’s voice broke through the tumult. “Yeah dude—this kid’s skinny, but he’s got heavy bones or something.”
Nodding numbly, I let out my pent-up breath and stepped out of the way. Before the three of them disappeared into the clinic, I gathered myself enough to issue a clipped order.
“Get him settled and come right back out. I’m supposed
to take you to Imogen.”
It wasn’t strictly true. Imogen hadn’t ordered me to bring Abbi to her, but she’d definitely summon her at some point, and I wanted to be there when the two of them stood face-to-face again.
Hopefully Imogen would simply remind her she wasn’t welcome and tell her to get lost. I’d escort Abbi to the exit and once again, let her go for her own good. And for mine.
That was the best case scenario. What was I going to do if the worst case happened? I was still stewing over it when Abbi re-emerged from the clinic. We walked toward the throne room together in tense silence.
My mind crackled with all the things I wanted to say, wanted to ask—about the human and her life since we’d last seen each other, and what had happened to her at the checkpoint. But if I asked, it might seem like I cared, and I couldn’t let myself care.
Not when she’d only be leaving again.
She didn’t come back for you. Remember that.
She was the one who ended the silent standoff. “You haven’t said anything about the fact I broke the pendant and drank your blood.”
So my blood had saved her. And I had indeed broken my vows to Imogen.
The fact I’d committed a deadly offense did nothing to quell the ridiculous joy surging inside me. Ridiculous because it wasn’t like Abbi and I had mated or something.
But we had shared blood. Maybe that was how I’d known Abbi was still alive.
I kept my response as nonchalant as possible. “Your leg is covered in blood. Your blood. So I’m assuming the gunshot didn’t graze you but penetrated your leg. Which means you did what you had to do.” I shrugged. “It was an emergency. That’s why I gave it to you—in case of emergency.”
Total lie, but if I’d anticipated the possibility of her ever being shot, I would have given it to her for that reason.
“Is that the only reason?”
Damn, the girl was a mind reader. I shot her a panicked side glance. Wait—was she? No, she looked like she was genuinely wondering, not calling me on my bullshit.
“What other reason would there be?”
Abbi waited a beat before responding, and she didn’t answer my question. Thank God.
“Why are you angry I’ve come back?”
Ah. The million-dollar question. One with too many answers. They banged around in my brain like sneakers in a dryer.
Because I hate you for leaving.
Because I still love you.
Because you love someone else.
Because I’m afraid you’re going to die for it.
I ended up giving her none of them. Instead, I said, “I’m not angry. I have no particular feelings about it whatsoever.”
How many lies could I tell in a single conversation? Apparently, I was going for a record. The truth would get us both executed, so I kept going.
“I’m merely curious... as to what could have made you think this place is safer for you than the outside world. Than anywhere else in the world.”
The pain in her eyes surprised me. Did she want me to be happy she was back here, putting her life in danger?
“Believe me, I never intended to come back,” she said. “I’m well aware no one wants me here. What can I say? I was desperate.”
Right. She hadn’t come back for me. She was here for Imogen’s protection and help. Poor kid.
She shouldn’t get her hopes up for that.
4
Wrong Answer
Reece
“You should know, things have changed since you left,” I said.
“Oh really? So you’re not Imogen’s whipping boy, indulging her every whim these days?”
Oh, that sassy little mouth. How I wanted to shut it up. A vivid memory seized my brain—the two of us locked in a desperate kiss in that dark alcove at the Inception Ball.
No. Stop. Never ever ever happening again so don’t even think it.
I shook my head and bit the inside of my cheek to dispel the dangerous image. “Our population has exploded since President Parker took office. More and more vampires are losing their jobs, their homes. Many are being imprisoned on false charges.”
“Tell me about it,” Abbi muttered.
Sounded like the voice of experience. What had happened to drive her back to this place when, as she’d said, she’d never intended to return?
“You said you were in trouble. What happened?”
“I’ll explain it all to your queen when we see her. No point in telling the story twice.”
Okay then. She didn’t want my concern. She needed my warning though, whether she realized it or not.
“Most of all, Imogen has changed,” I told her. “She’s less patient than she used to be with the way things are going in the outside world.”
Abbi gasped. “Less patient? Is that even possible?”
“You’ll see. She’s no longer content to sit idly by in the safety of our stronghold while, out in the world, the injustices against our species multiply.”
“I can hardly believe I’m saying this, but I sort of agree with her,” Abbi said. “Maybe peace at any cost isn’t the answer. But I’m not sure what the answer is. What is she planning to do?”
“I’m not at liberty to talk about it. She’ll share that with you if she chooses to,” I said as we reached the throne room chamber.
Standing before the heavy iron doors, I was suddenly gripped with a fierce impulse to snatch Abbi up and whisk her to the surface, to get her as far away from this place—and from Imogen—as possible before it was too late.
But then, it was already too late.
“You remember your court etiquette, don’t you?” I asked.
“Of course. Bow, address her as ‘my queen,’ don’t piss her off and get myself beheaded. It hasn’t been that long since I was here.”
I stared down into Abbi’s far-too-innocent eyes, anxiety twisting in my mid-section.
“You don’t think so? Feels like an eternity to me.”
The doors to the throne room opened, and the guards stood back to let us pass. As we made our way toward the front of the room where Imogen sat, the other queensguard gave me nods of respectful acknowledgment.
In the past year, I’d risen to the position of captain. My duties kept me here most of the time instead of out on patrols. The guys in this unit were good men, and I did my best to keep them out of Imogen’s crosshairs and in her good graces.
Working this closely with her every day, there was the constant threat of tripping her wires and setting off her mercurial temper. Her queensguard took the brunt of it.
There was a decent crowd in the room. Supplicants were lined up to seek Imogen’s intervention in some matter or another—or to plead for her mercy if they’d run afoul of Bastion rules.
She wore her usual bored expression as she listened to the couple at the front of the line. Observing her from across the room, I supposed she might have appeared beautiful to a casual onlooker. The outer hallmarks of great beauty were all there.
But I knew her insides. No matter what she wore or how she styled her hair and makeup, Imogen’s looks did nothing for me.
She ignored our entrance, but naturally she was aware of it. Finally, she glanced in our direction, and I bowed deeply.
“My queen.”
Beside me, Abbi’s heart rate and breathing quickened. She was scared. In spite of my best efforts to contain it, sympathy for her surged in my chest and made me want to step in between the two women.
Imogen stood and dismissed her waiting subjects. No doubt they were disappointed, but no one said a word as the queensguard escorted them from the room.
Two of the guards stayed with Imogen as she approached us. I didn’t like the look on her face. Not sure what I’d expected, but this wasn’t it.
She looked pleased to see Abbi—a little too pleased.
“I knew you’d be back,” Imogen said. “You have a lot of nerve showing your face here again after such betrayal, little one.”
Sensi
tive to their queen’s tone, the guards flanking her gripped their daggers and prepared to strike at her command. My own hands shook with the effort to keep from reaching for my weapon.
I should never have brought Abbi here. Any moment now Imogen would order one of them—or maybe even me—to execute her.
And I’d be faced with an impossible decision—keep my Bloodbound vows and let it happen, or...
“I never meant to betray you. I was simply following my conscience,” Abbi said. Her voice was remarkably composed. “I know you didn’t want me to return, but I didn’t see another choice.”
She continued to calmly explain what had happened to her and her friends, how they were falsely arrested and imprisoned in one of those so-called Safety Centers.
Hmmph. More like concentration camps. We’d heard about some of the things being done to vampires in those places. It was one of the reasons for the increase in our Bloodbound recruiting efforts.
My blood boiled at the thought of Abbi in prison. Imogen didn’t seem surprised though. Had she been aware all along her daughter was incarcerated and had done nothing?
It seemed likely, considering her mocking tone. “Did your dear Sadie do nothing to help free you?”
“I’m sure she would have if she’d known where we were or what had happened to us,” Abbi said. “When we escaped, I was unable to reach her. There was an attack on the Vampire-Human Coalition headquarters. It’s been destroyed.”
What? When had that happened?
Was this why Imogen had delayed approving my mission to go to Sadie and convince her to join the vampire resistance?
“I heard about that. Pity,” the queen said.
So it wasn’t a surprise to her, as it was to me. Why hadn’t I been told? Maybe Imogen didn’t consider it need-to-know information for the captain of her personal guard.
Or maybe she’d suspected that if I’d heard about the attack on the VHC headquarters, I’d have left for LA with or without her permission.
Seething, I tried to focus on the rest of their conversation. I needed to remain alert to Imogen’s signals, to determine her intentions toward Abbi.