He’s hesitant at first, but steps forward to take it. The Stanton boys all leave to give us a moment.
“If I’d have known, I wouldn’t have sent you out there alone. I thought it was safe.” His hand softly touches the top of my head and runs over my hair.
“I know.” I offer him a smile and rest my hand on his arm. I want him to tell me what’s wrong with him, but I don’t want to ruin this moment. I hate when he’s mad at me. I absolutely cannot stand it.
“I couldn’t tell you about the blood. No one else knew.” He blurts out, and his shoulders set in, in a sign of relief.
“I don’t understand.”
“Your blood is unusual. When you were in prison, we tested it. The first night you came in.” He takes a pause, “it leaked in the secret council. More proof it’s all falling apart.”
“But Una was working with us?” I still can’t wrap my brain around her betrayal. My first best friend and everything was a lie. She had no issues standing feet away from me when I was about to die.
“That’s a shock to me too. I would have never put you with her if I’d known. She was vetted properly.”
“Can you help me up? I think I’m ready.”
Clark places one hand under my head and grabs my hand to hoist me in a seating position. The Stanton boys, who kept an eye on me from a distance, come over as soon as they see me sitting.
“Take it easy,” Finley shoots an annoyed look at Clark. “She needs to rest.”
“I asked him, and no one is resting on a hard table.” I gently feel my forehead, where most of my pain is coming from. “She gave me a good one.”
“She’s long gone,” Hunter says as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “They are all minions.” He nods toward the people chained in the corner.
“Who are they?” Clark asks, keeping his hand on me as if to claim me from them.
Arthur shrugs, “More people that know her secret now.”
“We need to get her back to our den.” Finley moves forward to grab my arm, but Clark stands in his way.
“No, she’s not going anywhere near vampire blood again.” Clark's fists tighten, and the seams on his jacket look like they might pop, having turned partially within seconds.
“We are all on the same side.” Ivor steps forward now and gives Finley a soft tap on his shoulder as a signal to back off. “You’re welcome to come, Clark.”
Clark’s body loosens. He rubs his chin, unsure of what to do.
“We will all go to the den,” I say, and Clark shoots me a look as if I am crazy. “At least for tonight so I can recover from this.”
“Agreed,” Ivor says as he looks to Clark for his approval.
“Agreed,” Clark says, then checks my bag of blood.
My own bag of blood is empty, and the vampire blood is full again. He gently pulls both needles out and places a bandage over each. “I can’t protect you there.”
“You’re sick.” I reach up and run the back of my fingers on his face, “What’s wrong?”
Clark pulls back from my touch as if I had stung him. “Can you get up?”
I swing my feet over the side of the table, and he uses his body to hold me as I move my feet to the ground.
“Thank you.” I keep my arm around his neck, as I’m not quite strong enough to walk on my own – or at least I pretend.
“I’m well enough to protect you. That’s all you need to know for now.” He turns me away from the Stanton boys, so our backs are to them. He leans in, and his lips touch mine for a soft, sweet kiss. There’s something pure and innocent about the kiss, so unlike our romp.
“Let’s go,” Ivor calls out, his voice angrier than he had hoped to show.
As we leave the room, I feel the envelope in my back pocket grow warm – and I know I’ve finally received my mission.
The End
* * *
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Tanya lives on the South Shore of Nova Scotia with her husband Tyler and their two Labradoodles – Oscar and Elmer.
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