9. Lane #2
“He seems nearly coherent enough to tell us,” Cecile said. Lane hadn’t noticed her return.
Rowan made a regretful sound. “Coherence is one thing. He might not remember who he is, let alone meeting his sire.”
“Is amnesia a feral thing?” Lane asked.
Rowan and Cecile’s attention snapped to him in unison, both staring with eerie stillness. It was as if they’d forgotten he wasn’t one of them. Not privy to vampire secrets.
“No,” Rowan said at last.
Lane’s heart skipped. “Forgetting who you are can happen to any vampire?”
Rowan’s signature blankness returned, his deep brown eyes going almost lifeless. “I wouldn’t call it forgetting. It’s theft.”
Venom laced those last two words, and Lane’s stomach dropped, gooseflesh erupting on his arms. Had the memory of who Rowan was before his transformation been taken? He didn’t dare ask. Rowan wouldn’t tell him, but he didn’t need to. The answer felt painfully obvious.
Rowan stepped past Lane, toward Felix, as if he hadn’t implied something heartbreaking.
Felix’s murmured comforts hadn’t faltered as they’d talked.
The feral vampire seemed riveted, his glowing gaze fixed on Felix, his body lax in Felix’s hold.
He was young, not just short and slim. Maybe around twenty years old.
No wonder Felix had called him kid. To a vampire, he probably seemed like one.
“See, you’re all right,” Felix soothed, and the vampire nodded. Felix’s face broke into a staggeringly sweet grin. “That’s it. Good. I want to help. What’s your name?”
The vampire mumbled something Lane couldn’t make out.
Felix brushed the vampire’s messy hair from his brow. “Caden. It’s nice to meet you. I bet you’re confused right now.”
Caden nodded more firmly this time, seemingly unaware he was no longer being held in a vice grip, all thoughts of escape gone.
“He remembers who he is?” Rowan sounded breathless and almost agonizingly hopeful.
So did Cecile as she said, “I can’t believe he’s this aware.”
“I think we can save him,” Felix said, not taking his attention off Caden’s face.
Lane hoped like hell he was right.
“I know you want to, Felix, but how? It’s not supposed to be possible,” Rowan said, heavy with regret.
“We don’t know for sure. I’ll figure something out. I’ve never seen anyone in his state relax. There’s something different here.”
“W-what?” Caden trembled, his glowing gaze darting around. He pulled away from Felix, who caught him swiftly.
“Shh,” Felix cooed as Caden began to struggle. “Sorry, Caden. We shouldn’t talk about you like you aren’t here. I’m going to help you, okay? That’s all we were saying.”
After a tense moment, Caden stopped struggling and nodded.
“We’ll do everything we can,” Rowan said to no one in particular. Maybe to Caden. Maybe Felix.
Lane’s chest warmed.
“Can you tell me what you remember from before you got here?” Felix asked.
Caden’s eyes darted wildly around. Lane feared he’d start struggling, but instead he said, “I was scared.” He blinked, refocusing on Felix, and the white glow in his eyes completely disappeared.
Cecile clutched Rowan’s arm.
“You’re safe now,” Felix said without missing a beat. “Nothing to be scared of. Why don’t we get out of here? Find somewhere you can relax.”
“What if…” Caden shuddered. “What if I lose my mind again?”
“I’ll stay with you and keep you safe. No matter what,” Felix promised.
After a little more coaxing, Felix led Caden out of the café, his arm around Caden’s slender shoulders. Lane, Rowan, and Cecile followed as they slowly crossed the street and entered Arcadia.
“Do you think he’ll be all right?” Cecile muttered as Felix and Caden headed up the stairs.
Rowan stared after them. “I don’t know, but a building full of vampires is the best place for him. There’s no way he’ll escape or come near any humans here, or do anything he’ll regret.”
“Part of me still can’t believe he’s aware of his surroundings.”
“I know. I hope it lasts.”
Lane did too. Caden relapsing and losing control would be heartbreaking. Could Felix pull him out of feral bloodlust a second time? “Do you think he’ll remember anything we can use to find his sire?”
It didn’t seem like they’d get answers from Caden any time soon, but hopefully, once he realized he was safe, he’d share what happened. Lane would hate to see another person turned feral, even if Caden could be saved. They might not be this lucky again.
Rowan’s expression was distant. “Normally, I’d say he’ll know his sire if he remembers who he was before turning, but who knows how being half-feral could affect things.”
Lane was surprised. “You think he’s only half-feral?”
“Something must have gone wrong. Or right, I should say. It’s like the feral transformation didn’t take hold properly.
I can’t see why else Felix was able to soothe him.
Even before we arrived, Caden hadn’t killed or hurt anyone.
Typically, ferals are a bloodbath from the moment they come into contact with people.
” Rowan turned to Cecile. “Did you learn anything from the human before sending him away?”
“Caden came in through the back entrance. Their rear camera is broken, of course.”
“Damn.” Rowan looked exhausted for a split second. “I’ll see if any cameras from the next block over caught sight of him. He didn’t drop out of the sky. Someone left him here, as close to me as they could get without risking being seen by anyone in our building.”
Cecile grabbed his arm. “I think you should let me handle it.”
Rowan’s posture stiffened. “Why?”
“Because we need to talk about what happened to you back there.” She raised a sharp brow, as if daring him to deny the problem.
The way they eyed each other, seeming to speak without words, felt personal, like Lane shouldn’t be here. But what choice did he have?
Rowan’s jaw worked. “It was the blood.”
“Yes, but I’ve never seen you react so strongly. Is it the curse?”
Rowan’s gaze darted to Lane. “Probably. I’m hungry when I shouldn’t be, but chasing up security footage isn’t bloody work.”
“Maybe not. That doesn’t mean you should be running around when you aren’t well. I’ll take care of it. Go rest.”
“But…” Rowan couldn’t seem to think of how to finish.
“But nothing. Arguing is a waste of time. You know I’m right.
” Cecile pulled out her phone, typing as she talked.
“Emile is following a lead in the Arts District. I’ll look into Caden now, and once we know more, I’ll update you.
There are plenty of hands ready to pitch in, no matter which way this goes. ”
“All right.” Rowan relented. “Can you find someone to look into the Sherwoods’ current whereabouts while you’re at it?”
“Sure thing.” Cecile’s fingers flew across her phone screen.
Rowan seemed reluctant to leave her to it, adding, “What about the Hillmans? Any updates?”
“I’ve exhausted the search.” A furrow appeared on Cecile’s brow. “They seem to have sprung from nowhere. No one’s heard of them.”
“Suspicious,” Rowan muttered.
“I don’t know who else they associate with,” Lane said before anyone could accuse him of withholding information or making things up. “They said they were from out east. That’s all I know.”
“Thank you, Lane. I didn’t mean to direct suspicion at you.” Rowan’s words hit Lane right in the chest, in a good way for once. He seemed to realize it because his expression softened. “Come. We have other things to work out. The Hillmans are a problem for another day.”