CHAPTER 24
Frankie
“I’ll just be in here if you need me,” Graven says as his boots scuff against the floor. “If there’s a cure, he’ll get it.”
I know I should acknowledge him, but my throat won’t work.
None of this feels real. I’m outside myself, watching some broken version of me bent over my best friend’s body, sobbing…
useless. I can’t make that person speak.
I can’t do anything except lie here and let the tears burn down my cheeks.
Memories of every night Jess held me when we were kids flood in.
I can’t lose her. She’s a part of me. How would that even work when she shares my heart?
I’m not sure how long I’ve been sleeping when I shoot straight up. The air is heavy, and there’s an itch beneath my skin covering my entire body. I’m still on the bed, next to Jess, but it feels like I’m in my own bubble, cut off from everything around me.
“Frankie.” A rough voice has me leaping off the bed. The anger I shoved below the grief boils to the surface when I finally realize who it belongs to. It might be deeper now, rougher, especially when the wound around his throat is still seeping blood, but I’ll never forget it.
“Don’t scream. I won’t hurt you. Not that anyone can hear you, anyway.”
I grab the blade hidden under the mattress and hold it up. I know what he did to my best friend, I saw it with my own eyes. I should hate him, and I do, but my heart aches so much for the brother he once was.
He stands close enough for the torchlight to hit him. Scars. So many scars. Pale lines cross his cheeks and jaw, twisting across skin that should belong to the boy who used to chase fireflies with me.
The Nate I once knew wouldn’t hurt a fly. This person—this monster—standing before me is a stranger now. “What the hell are you doing here? How’d you get past the guards?”
His gaze lingers on Jess. “I would never hurt you.” His eyes meet mine again, and they look so much like the old Nate that I almost believe him…almost.
I tighten my grip on the handle. “I thought you’d never hurt Jess, so don’t mind me if I’m not exactly trusting.”
“I know.” He looks down, rubbing the tattoo on his wrist. The matching ink on mine suddenly feels wrong, so I pull my sleeve down to cover it up. “And it kills me, what I did,” he adds.
“Really? It kills you?” I snap. “Because the only one dying right now is Jess.”
“That’s why I’m here. I want to help.”
My eyes narrow at him. “Why would you help us after what you did?”
His eyes flick back to Jess. “Because she was like a little sister to me.”
“Fuck you!” I spit. “You don’t get to say that.”
He flinches for a moment, then straightens his spine. “I’m glad you’re wearing my gift.”
My hand rests on the stone. “You’re the one who gave this to me? Are you the one who’s been responsible for my blackouts?”
“Yes.”
I’m so confused. Why would he stand by Dante and do his bidding, only to help me? Then it clicks. Of course, how could I forget. “You’re sired, aren’t you? I should’ve known you would never do this, not of your own free will, anyway.”
He doesn’t say anything, just closes his eyes and runs a hand through his hair.
“Answer me. You’re sired to Dante, right?”
“It’s not that simple.” His eyes plead with me to understand, but how can I?
“It is that simple! It’s a yes or no question. If you’re not sired, that means you chose to poison Jess. I don’t care what the fuck is going on. Nothing, NOTHING, would make me turn on my friends…my family.”
“Frankie, I…” He leaves the sentence hanging, like he’s debating on telling me more. When he doesn’t, I shake my head.
“You know what, fuck it. I won’t believe you anyway,” I say.
He swallows hard, jaw tightening for a beat. “I know.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a small vial of liquid, shoving it in my hands. “Give half of this to Jess and half to an unmated, pure-blooded demon. It won’t completely stop the change, but it will buy you time while you find a cure.”
I don’t trust him, but what other option is there? I tentatively take the vial from his hand. “What does it do?” The green liquid rolls along the glass when I turn it over. It’s the same color as the gross spinach smoothies Jess used to make.
“It will ease her pain and slow the change,” he says quietly. “The potion binds whoever drinks it, letting them share the demon’s immortality. But it only works if they stay close to one another. It won’t last forever, but it will keep her alive for a while.”
I wonder how he knows this, but don’t bother asking. I can’t believe anything he says anyway. “How can I trust you?”
His eyes fall for a second, not bothering to answer before he disappears. The heaviness in the air lifts, and everything is back to normal.
I study Jess’ pale face, the festering bite, her absolute stillness. My gaze slides to the vial. Whether Nate’s lying or not, whether she dies or not, at least she won’t be sired to Dante.