Chapter 52 Arabella #2
“The blood of two drained vampires, and a century of lessons from Alaric Valerian, the fiercest warrior that ever lived.” Gideon strokes my hair. “He cut you.”
“I’ve had worse nips from Cleo VII when her toad is too cold.” I cough blood onto his shirt. Gideon makes a face but doesn’t move to wipe it away – a courtesy that, were our roles reversed, I likely wouldn’t extend to him. “You have to go after Astor—”
“Don’t worry. I smelled Alaric approaching. Astor won’t get away with this.” Gideon uses one hand to flip his phone open. A second later, Sinead’s pocket starts vibrating. “Damn it, it’s going to take me some time to get used to her not sorting everything out for me.”
“How…” I close my eyes. “How are you here? I never sent—”
“The Nevermore Coven.”
Of course.
“I checked the security cameras and saw Astor sneak into your house.” Gideon slides his arms beneath me. “I need to get you to Sanctus House. Lilac will heal you—”
He stumbles as a loud howl echoes from outside, followed by the distinct and profoundly wonderful sound of Lord Astor screaming.
Gideon gathers me against him. I bury my face in his bloody jacket, allowing the honey and red cherry scent to wash over me as he runs for the door. I rub blood from my eyes and squint at my front garden, barely able to believe what I’m seeing.
Lord John Astor stands in my fountain, his legs trapped by a strange, jaw-like contraption that’s emerged from beneath the water.
He flails his arms, attempting to fend off Alaric Valerian – armed with a bloody sword – and an enormous wolf that’s already taken a huge bite out of his arm.
The churning water beneath him is stained dark red.
Gathered around the fountain, clapping and cheering (and are those crisps?), is every member of the Nevermore Murder Club and Smutty Book Coven.
“Argh!” Astor thrashes in the pond as Morrie’s booby trap tightens around his legs and Celeste takes a chunk out of his thigh.
“The cavalry has arrived,” Gideon says.
“I’m terribly sorry I didn’t get here sooner,” Alaric says as he swipes a fresh wound across Astor’s neck.
“I’ve been in the garden for some time, but I didn’t realise the door was open and the infernal Patrick Stock window glass is vampire-proof, so the only way in was through Cleo VII’s enclosure, and I must confess that I’m rather afraid of snakes. ”
“You’re afraid of snakes?” Gideon’s voice rises. “That’s hissssssterical.”
I glance up at him, surprised that he’s not smiling. A look of impossible sadness passes over his cobalt eyes. He catches me staring and looks away.
“Gideon?”
“Arabella, we’re here to save you—” Isis’s face falls when she sees me in Gideon’s arms. “Oh, drat. Gideon got here first.”
“That’s not a ‘drat’. It’s a good thing,” Dora scolds her sister.
“I mean, obviously. What’s he doing here?” Komal thrusts her hands on her hips. “He’s ruined our perfectly good rescue plan.”
Astor squeals as Celeste dives in for another bite. No one makes any move to help him. Gideon sets me down and the Nevermore Coven crowd around us, laying their hands on me and all talking at once about their adventure.
“How did you get into Sanctus?” Gideon asks. “Security should have never let you past the gates.”
“We didn’t go through the gates.”
The ladies part to reveal Celeste, back in her human form, her naked body dripping wet and covered in Astor’s blood. She holds her head high with feigned dignity as she tries to cover herself with her hands.
“Could I have something to wear, please?” she asks.
Gideon grabs my burgundy coat from the rack in the foyer and tosses it to her. I try not to wince at the bloodstain she smears on the collar.
She did save my life and all, but that coat is Versace.
“Celeste was amazing,” Dora says. “She leapt over the fence, scared the security guy out of his office, and opened the gates for us.”
“She’s one badass werewolf,” says Mina.
“Her teeth are even scarier than yours,” Maisie adds.
“Why?” I whisper to Celeste as she wraps her arms around me. “You put yourself in danger because of me. I never wanted you to reveal your secret.”
She smiles back. “It’s what you do for friends.”
A lump forms in my throat as I stare around at these women who risked their lives for me. On nothing but a vision and a voice message, they stormed into a vampire estate armed with their wits and… is that a crucifix?
When I can breathe properly again, we’re going to have a chat about which vampire superstitions will save their arses and which will get them laughed out of Sanctus.
Before I realise it, my arms are going around Celeste, too. I’m squeezing her so hard it hurts. Maybe it’s not that hard, and I’m just broken.
The other girls pile in on the group hug, squashing me and Gideon in the middle of their circle of love.
“I’m sorry that I hid myself from you all for so long,” I mumble.
“We get it, Arabella,” Celeste says. “Being ourselves can be dangerous. And scary.”
“Exactly. I know I can be…”
“Abrasive?” Isis supplies.
“Caustic?” Mina suggests.
“I prefer ‘fiercely independent’,” says Dora.
“All of those things. But I want you to know that I’ve never had friends like you. Real friends. And I’m grateful for you all, even if I don’t always show it.” I glare at Komal as she inches closer to the house. “And no, you still cannot borrow my clothes.”
They pull me inside and settle me on a sofa in the second living room – the one that’s not covered in blood – and someone puts the kettle on and Celeste complains about the lack of ingredients in my pantry and Dora pulls me into her shoulder and Winnie starts directing people to clean up the mess and Maisie and Komal shoo a very satisfied Cleo VII back into her enclosure and it’s not until Beth places a glass of blood in my hands and they all settle in around me that I realise someone is missing.
“Where’s Gideon?”