Blood Bond

by Heather Hildenbrand

  “They didn’t.” Something about Grandma’s tone made me tense. “CHAS had been looking for a way to draw out the hybrids, something that would let us know where they were hiding. They took a vote. It was decided by a 90 percent margin.”

  “What was decided?”

  “They let the Lexingtons go with a tracker device planted inside them. CHAS was hoping they’d lead us to the hideout.”

  “They let them go?” My first reaction was to be surprised at CHAS going so easy on them, but then I realized their true intent. “They could’ve been killed. Olivia’s obviously done something to them. They called her ‘master.’” I shook my head. “I can’t believe CHAS used one of their own as bait.”

  Alex grunted in what I suspected was agreement.

  “It was wrong,” Grandma agreed. “But CHAS doesn’t see them as one of their own anymore. Either way, the plan failed. The tracker was disabled a day into their release. I had no clue where they were until you told me about them finding you.”

  “And CHAS?” I asked. “What are we going to do about them?”

  “CHAS is a little out of our hands right now.” Her voice held a note of defeat that hadn’t been there a moment ago. “Steppe is garnering support, God knows why. I guess there’s more evil than good in our kind anymore. We’ll do what we can, use our contacts to try and sway the undecided. The vote is coming soon, though. All we can do in the meantime is keep you off his radar.”

  “And George,” I added.

  “And George,” she echoed.

  “When will they be home?” I asked.

  “A day or two. They know to come here, so don’t call them. I’ll be getting you and George new phones. Until then, no more using yours. I mean it.”

  I nodded. “Okay. No calls.”

  “I see that look in your eye,” my mom said. She held her palm out.

  “I wasn’t going to—”

  “Hand it over.” It was the same tone she’d used earlier, when I’d first gotten out of the car. My hope of avoiding punishment in the face of my honesty was misplaced. I relinquished the phone. She dropped it and stomped on it.

  “Mom!” I gawked at the pieces, nothing more than little black shards of plastic.

  “I know you. You wouldn’t have been able to resist,” she said. “Now listen, Grandma’s given you the facts, the reality of the situation we’re in. None of that is your fault, so you’re not in trouble … for that,” she added. My shoulders slumped. “For running off instead of asking for our help in the first place, there are consequences, which, I might add, tie in nicely with my goal to keep you safe. Here’s how it’s going to work: each day, you will be driven to Jack’s for training by one of the three of us and then driven back at the conclusion of said training. In addition, you will spend three hours a day training with Alex.”

  “Three hours? I didn’t even train that long at school!”

  She went on as if I hadn’t spoken. “Except for those two activities, you are grounded to the house until I say otherwise.”

  “How long can I expect until you ‘say otherwise’?”

  “Don’t hold your breath.”

  I swallowed and asked the only other question that mattered. “And Wes?”

  She frowned, and my calm cracked. “He can come here to see you when you’re not training. And you’re free to talk to him at Jack’s, but no going out.”

  It was more than I’d hoped for, less than I’d wanted. “Fine,” I said.

  Grandma and Mom went inside after that. It wasn’t so much prison as house arrest; I could do what I wanted, as long as I stayed on the grounds.

  Alex started to follow them, but I grabbed his wrist and pulled him down beside me.

  “I can’t stand not knowing,” I said, “especially if we’re going to be spending all this time together. Just say it.”

  “Say what?” he asked.

  “What you think of me now that you know … what I am.” I looked down at my shoes, kicking them absently against the wooden planks underneath my feet.

  “Tara, I’ve always known what you are,” he said. His voice was gentle, but I suspected that was only because he didn’t want to hurt my feelings.

  “And you’ve always hated it. You can say it, you know. Get it out in the open. I deserve that, at least.”

  “I won’t disagree—telling you that would make for better combat training. But in the interest of protecting my, uh, parts, I’m not going to risk a repeat of our first meeting.”

  My head came up. He was smiling. It made me want to smile too, but I held back. “Stop joking around. I mean it. Just say what you’re thinking. I won’t kick you.”

  His smile faded. The intensity from earlier, the way he’d watched me throughout my story, returned. He looked fierce in the dim moonlight, like a warrior ready for battle. “Listen to me, because I’m only going to say this once.” He took my hand, squeezing it hard in his. “You want to know what I thought listening to your story? What I think every time I look at you? Here it is: you are, without a doubt, the bravest girl I’ve ever known. It doesn’t matter what kind of blood flows in your veins. You are a Hunter, in every sense of the word. Your courage and bravery, your desire to protect everything that’s innocent in the world, proves it. Whatever physical form you take won’t change that.” He released my hand. Some of the fire left his voice. “Sometimes I’m jealous of you.”

  “Jealous? How?”

  “The way you can cut right through all the complicating details and simply know what’s right. The way you always know exactly what you believe. And you fight for it. Unswervingly. But also without hate. I could never do that.”

  “Thanks.” I swallowed against the lump in my throat. “I’m glad you’re here,” I whispered.

  He smirked, the old Alex coming through. “Are you sure it won’t complicate things for you?”

  I felt the corners of my mouth twisting. “Only a little. I’m sure you don’t mind terribly, though.”

  He laughed, and a part of the tension inside me eased. “If it gets too crowded, there’s always running,” he said. “Speaking of, I hope you’ve kept in shape. I was thinking five miles tomorrow, to start light.”

  I punched him in the arm. He grinned.

  “Well, well, I see I’ve arrived just in time.” Cambria materialized in the darkness, her sandals clunking against the bottom step of the gazebo.

  “There you are,” I said. “I was beginning to wonder. You missed all the good parts.”

  “Not all,” she said. Even in the darkness, I could see her brow lift.

  I smiled. I was too busy enjoying having Alex back in my life to let Cambria’s insinuations bother me. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed his friendship—or punching him. “Did you have fun with Derek?” I asked giving her the same look she’d just given me.

  She lowered herself onto the bench across from us and leaned her head against the wooden support beam, her hand draped over her forehead in a dramatic swoon. “Gawd, that boy is hot. I mean, sweat in secret places kind of hot.”

  “Just what I wanted to hear,” Alex said. I laughed.

  “What about you?” she asked, sitting up straighter. “How did it go with Thing One and Thing Two?”

  I could only assume she meant my mom and Grandma. “Is that what you call them?” I asked.

  “Have you seen them in action? They can finish each other’s sentences. Which is pretty scary in an interrogation, let me tell you.” She shuddered, though I couldn’t tell if it was real or for effect. Whatever put that expression on her face was best left unexplained.

  “I told them everything,” I said.

  “Everything? As in … everything?” she asked. “How’d they take it? Should I sleep somewhere else tonight?”

  “They took it well,” I said. “Better than expected, but then you’d already filled them in on the jaw-dropping parts.”

  “Sorry about that,” she mumbled. “But seriously, you weren’t there. There is no go
od cop, bad cop. There’s only scary and scarier.” I couldn’t help but laugh. It earned me a glare. “Considering I missed all the action, I’d say we’re even.”

  “It’s not over yet,” I said.

  “What do you mean?” She looked back and forth between Alex and me.

  “Long story,” I said.

  “One I’ve already heard.” Alex rose. “I’m going to crash. Big day tomorrow. Get some rest, chief.” He patted my knee as he left.

  Cambria waited until the back door clicked shut. She eyed me in the darkness. “What in the hello-hottie is going on? What’s he doing here, besides making you sweat?”

  “Ugh.” I leaned back against the wooden pillar, knocking my head against it a couple of times for good measure. “Like I said, long story.”

  She folded her arms and propped her legs in front of her. “I’ve got time. Besides, whenever you say ‘long story,’ it’s the popcorn-and-vodka kind.”

  “Popcorn and vodka?” I echoed.

  “Yeah, you know, popcorn for the show and vodka because the only way any of it’s going to make sense is if you’re halfway sauced. Especially with your stellar decision-making skills.”

  “Hey.”

  “I’m just sayin’…”

  “Do you want to know the story or not?”

  “Proceed.” She made the motion of zipping her lips closed and throwing away the key.

  Her silence lasted all of five minutes. Right around the time where I told her about seeing Victoria’s parents. “No way. Were they all glowy-eyed and evil? Did they foam at the mouth?”

  “The hybrids don’t foam at the mouth, Cam.”

  “But the other stuff, were they weird-looking?”

  “No, they looked like … people. They were in human form at first.”

  She frowned. “I thought the hybrids couldn’t shift back and forth.”

  I thought back to the night Alex had been attacked by the Werewolf Miles sent. How the man returned to human form in death. “I think some can. The ones who cling more to their human side. But it seemed to take a lot for them to pull it off.”

  “And they’re after you?” she asked. “Why?”

  “Let me tell the story. No more interruptions.” It was bad enough having to retell it.

  “Really wishing I had some vodka right about now.”

  I rolled my eyes and continued. I managed to make it as far as the metal immunity test before she spoke again. “Logan would love this guy. I don’t care how crazy he is—maybe because of the crazy.”

  “Yeah, he took to Logan right away.”

  “Wait, Logan’s there?”

  “Let me finish!”

  “Okay, okay …”

  I managed to get through the rest of it without her interrupting again. It wasn’t like her reactions weren’t written all over her face, anyway. The “oh” and “what the heck?” expressions she alternated between said it all.

  “So, the ice queen’s parents are after you—as are all the other hybrids—to turn you over to this Olivia chick, or else she’ll kill people.”

  Bailey’s face floated in my mind. “Yes,” I said.

  “But no one knows who Olivia is or what she wants with you.” I nodded. “And in the meantime, you’re immune to metal like I’m immune to ugly guys with bad pickup lines. No effect. And now that you’ve shared blood with Georgie-boy, he’s back to his old self. Humanity, normal eyes, no desire to kill for fun. Unless you count Wes. Who’s got his hands full with Alex. Who’s here, why, again?”

  “Training.” I gave her the short version of the situation with CHAS, and Steppe’s intention to vote The Cause out of the amnesty treaty. Cambria didn’t say anything, even when I’d finished. She sat chewing her lip and tugging on the ends of her hair.

  “Cam? Are you thinking about your mom?”

  “He’s going to lock her up and throw away the key, I just know it,” she said. Her tone changed. No more sarcasm. No more flippant humor.

  “You don’t know. Maybe Grandma can do something—”

  “No one can. Steppe has the final word on this stuff. And why do you think your grandma’s here and not there? There’s nothing else she can do anymore. For you. For my mom. For anyone.”

  “Then I will.”

  “Right.” She snorted. “You going to charm Steppe into your love triangle—? Or are you up to more of a pentagon now?”

  “I’m serious, Cam. For months, everyone’s been watching me, waiting, like they’re holding their breath. I know I have a decision to make. I’ve known it since the night Wes told me about Vera’s visions, even though I couldn’t admit it then. Until now, I haven’t wanted to choose, but what good is this sort of power if I don’t use it to do something good, something to help people?”

  “Okay, I just have to say this. No offense, because immunity to metal is awesome, but it’s not really power. You’re just a kid. Harder to kill, but still, just a kid. How are you going to help people?”

  “I don’t know yet,” I admitted. “But I’m going to figure it out. And it’s not just immunity to metal. There’s one other thing.”

  “Isn’t there always, with you?”

  I told her about my shifting and the night at school, where I’d killed all the hybrids.

  She shrugged. “So, you’re becoming a wolf, finally?”

  “What do you mean ‘finally’?”

  “It’s been coming for a while now. You don’t remember those crazy mood swings you had back before Miles came around? That night at the bonfire?”

  “Well, yeah …”

  “PMS is one thing, but those mood swings were something else.”

  I shook my head. “You’re way too calm about this stuff.”

  She shrugged. “I roll with it.”

  “I killed an entire pack of hybrids.”

  “Evil hybrids,” she corrected.

  “Still …”

  “Let’s make a deal. You don’t morph into a Werewolf and try to kill me, and I’ll be cool with the new, furry you.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Deal.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The thing about mornings—they always came way too early. Then again, I hadn’t had a decent night’s sleep in over a week, so I was grateful for the uninterrupted rest, the comfort of my own bed—even if the alarm did begin to buzz long before I would’ve liked.

  “Shut oommphhh,” Cambria said from her air mattress. She said some more words I didn’t catch. They didn’t sound morning-friendly.

  I rolled over and hit the snooze button, already grumpy.

  My mood didn’t improve as I dressed in running shorts and a sports bra and headed downstairs. It wasn’t until I walked into the kitchen—and saw the way Alex’s eyes took me in—that I realized I probably should’ve worn something with a little more fabric.

  “Morning, chief,” he said.

  “Whatever,” I grumbled and went for the coffee. My mom stood at the stove, moving eggs around in a pan.

  “You hungry?” she asked.

  “Uh-uh.” I gulped from my mug, working through the burn that met my lips and tongue.

  “You should eat some of these, anyway. It’ll keep your energy up during your workout,” she said.

  “She’s right,” Alex agreed. “You look a little … never mind,” he said at my murderous expression.

  I took the offered plate and fork and sat at the bar with Alex. His eyes lingered on my bare arms before he went back to his newspaper. I scarfed a bite of eggs. “Where’s Grandma?” I asked.

  “She went to see Vera. She’s trying to pin down the identity of this Olivia person,” my mom said. She swiveled from the stove to the counter, wiping every open surface with a wet rag. She looked distracted, her mouth turned downward. She’d wiped the same spot three times already.

  “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Did something happen with Wes and—?”

  “No, no, everyone’s fine,” she said. “They’re still on the road. Should be home tonight.” I s
ighed with relief.

  I didn’t have to ask about George. The bond between us had grown more distinct, and I could feel him getting closer. I could also read his mood a little better than I could yesterday. Calm and content. He was enjoying Wes’s and Cord’s company, which was a little weird. Some anxiety came through, probably due to the situation and our abrupt separation, but nothing major. Most importantly, he was all right.

  “What is it, then?” I pressed. I had a moment’s panic wondering if CHAS had already made some sort of move against The Cause.

  “Vera’s not feeling well. I think she’s getting worse,” my mom said.

  My shoulders fell. Why did everyone have to go bad at once? “Is it—I mean, is she okay?” I asked.

  “She’ll be fine, for now,” my mom said. “But her energy level isn’t there, not like it was.”

  Considering Vera had next to no energy before, it couldn’t be good.

  My mom shook herself, as if casting off the glumness. Her expression cleared. Some of the shadows remained, but she was back to business. “In the meantime, you’ve got training, and I need to make some calls to settle the rest of our schedules.”

  She left us alone after that. I finished my eggs, worried about Vera, and went back to my coffee. I was debating a second cup when Alex folded the paper and pushed off his stool. He placed his dishes in the sink and grabbed a couple of bottles of water out of the fridge.

  “You ready?” he asked. It made me grumpy all over again seeing him so awake and refreshed.

  “How far are we running?” I asked, sliding off my stool.

  He shrugged. “I don’t live here, you do, so today, you pick the route.”

  “I get to choose?” My eyes narrowed. “What’s the catch?”

  “No catch. Think of it as a day to ease back into things and show me around at the same time.”

  I chuckled and pushed open the back door. “You know those three stoplights we went through on the way home last night?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Consider your tour complete. That was pretty much ‘city center’ right there.”

  “Obviously people don’t live here because of the bustling city atmosphere. What about the scenery? Show me what you like about this place.”