Chapter 45
Seraphim
After walking the length of this room for the four hundred and seventeenth time, I glanced at Sam. She was passed out in the bed, spent and exhausted. I didn’t know what to expect, but her being completely unconscious was unnerving.
I could feel that she was in pain. On top of that, she was freezing. I had no idea that the death of your Nexus member could do something like this. She wasn’t dying, that much I knew, but her body was chaotic. It felt like some part of her had died when Joseph did and it went beyond simply emotional turmoil.
Something was different. She didn’t feel whole anymore. I funneled energy into her at intervals, which helped warm her for a time, but the chill kept returning.
What the fuck did someone do against a vampire cold? Mark needed to get here soon. I knew he wouldn’t know any more than I did, but she’d likely take more comfort from him than me. He’d at least called ahead and made sure someone would let me bring her up to her room. The looks I’d received and the whispers that followed us hadn’t helped me feel better about being here.
Unable to restrain myself any longer, I climbed into the bed and pulled her against my chest. She stirred, pressing her body closer, but didn’t actually wake. The closeness comforted me and she gradually began to warm up. My own chest was feeling achy and I didn’t know if it was residual from her or if I was suffering the loss as well.
“I’m so sorry,” I said, pressing my lips to her head.
The door flung open and Mark’s scent hit me. He stopped at the end of the bed, looking both confused and infuriated.
I put a finger to my lips, then carefully extricated myself. Sam moaned, curling in on herself as she began to shiver again. I wanted nothing more than to go back to my previous position, but instead I pulled the blanket over her and motioned for Mark to follow me into the hall. Once the door closed, he whirled on me, grabbing my throat and thrusting me against the wall.
Grabbing his wrist, I attempted to free myself. I was weak right now from my own exertion and Sam’s state, so I dropped my arm and leaned my head back against the wall.
“What the fuck happened?” he demanded.
“Stop acting like your maker and I’ll tell you.”
Reluctantly, he removed his hand. “You are not allowed to touch Sam.”
“On the contrary, I’m the only thing that ensured she wasn’t taken back in Alabama. I’m trying to help her right now, Mark, and as much as you hate me, I know that you’re incredibly intelligent. You know what this connection means.”
He ground his teeth together. “Sure. Whatever. Tell me what happened. Where is Lock?”
Swiping a hand down my face, I blew out a breath. “They have him.”
“Fucking Christ. Tell me everything.”
“We were attacked by two of Sibon’s people. Lock broke my neck because I pissed him off and they took the opportunity. I don’t know the specifics, but when I woke up, Joseph had an ice stake through his heart, Lock was unconscious, and Sam was… She was distraught, completely lost to her pain.”
“They killed Joseph?”
“No, Sam did.”
“Why would she do that?”
“To keep them from using him against her, I imagine. Davi is able to stop you from using magic for a time. He blocks it- it’s not important. She used what little she could to make sure Sibon wouldn’t get her hands on Joseph. Erla was going for Sam while she was down, so I jumped in to stop him. I’m not strong enough to fight them both and my instincts drove me to protect her above all else. I didn’t see Davi grab Lock until it was too late.”
“And Erla?” he asked, pacing one way, then the other.
“After Joseph died, a huge amount of ice magic tore out of Sam. She killed Erla without even meaning to, but whatever she did is still affecting her body. She’s been ice cold since then and the only thing that helps…”
“Is you,” he finished for me. He didn’t look surprised, but also didn’t appear thrilled by it.
“Davi won’t forgive the killing of his wife. They’ve been together for nearly five centuries. Sibon will be equally angry, especially after losing me. They’re going to use Lock to get to Sam. They’ll torture him, kill him repeatedly, anything that will make her come for him.”
“We have to get him back. You can’t be suggesting we leave him there.”
“Of course not, but Sam can’t go racing off to save him. We need a plan and we need to be prepared. I have no idea what we’re walking into, but whatever it is, we’re not ready.”
“What do we do?”
“We can’t fight her. None of us are strong enough for that. If we’re going to get him back, that’s all we’re doing.”
He shook his head. “I can imagine they won’t make that possible.”
“We’ll figure it out. The most important thing right now is finding a way to convince Sam to wait. You know her.”
“She’s going to run off immediately.”
I clapped him on the shoulder, earning a murderous glare. “Looks like we’ll be working as a team, Markie. I do claim team leader privileges since, you know, first-born.”
“Are you seriously joking right now?”
“It’s just a thing I do. Can you stay with her for a bit? I need blood.”
“I don’t want you wandering the tower alone.”
“I won’t get lost,” I assured him.
“Great. The problem is that I don’t trust you. Not even a little bit.”
“Well, you’ll have to try. I’m preparing to put my life on the line for a man that would not do the same and who I don’t like. Let’s put the stabby feelings away until this thing is over.”
He grumbled something as I made my way down the hall. I could go down to the kitchen to get a blood bottle, but that wasn’t appealing when I was this drained. Warm blood from the vein was the best way to get myself back at full strength, which was what I needed in order to help Sam the best I could. When she woke up, I needed to be able to at least try to contend with her when she inevitably tried to run off after her mate.
As I made my way down the stairs, I smelled something that made my fangs lengthen. In a place like this, catching the scent of a human was basically the universe giving you a gift wrapped up with a bow.
Racing down a few levels, I stopped beside Ruth. “Hey.”
She screamed, spinning away from me. I caught her arm before she went tumbling down the stairs, then pushed her against the wall. She shoved at my chest, a look of indignation on her face.
“Get off me, you demon.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. The cult talk should wear off eventually.”
“Don’t call me names. And I’m not in a cult.”
“Not anymore.”
“Go away.”
“You shouldn’t wander this place alone, you know. There are demons everywhere and you smell fucking delicious.”
“I’m waiting for Ryan.”
“Aw. Did you two bond?”
“He’s the only one remotely trustworthy.”
“If I recall correctly, he ate a few people on Halloween.”
Her eyes widened and her heart rate sped up. I ran my tongue over the tips of my canines, my gaze catching on the hammering point in her neck. She shoved me again, which just made me want her even more. With a growl, I pushed on her shoulders, forcing her more firmly against the wall as I dipped my face into her neck. The first taste of her blood made me feel warmer and I couldn’t help but groan.
I was overcome by both pain and shock when she bit down on my neck. Grabbing her jaw, I tore her away from me, making the wound spurt blood. It covered the lower part of her face, making her look like a feral beast, which was quite a feat, considering we were in a building full of vampires.
“What the fuck, Ruth?”
“You were biting me,” she pointed out.
Her southern drawl was fucking annoying, especially when she was pissed off. Sam had trained herself out of the accent, at least. Mine was still noticeable, but I found it more appealing than the deep Alabamian one, biased or not.
Squeezing her jaw, I moved my face close to hers. With the fresh blood in my body, my wound was already mostly healed, but I was fucking pissed about it.
“Do you know what you did?” I asked.
“Stopped you from killing me.”
“One, I wasn’t going to kill you. Two, I’m still going to feed from you. Your rabid dog act won’t save you from those more powerful than you, but you probably should have tried it with Joram before he fucked you.”
She paled, but narrowed her eyes, lifting her chin. I didn’t know if it was strength or stupidity that seemed to run in this damn family.
“Third,” I went on. “You just drank my blood after I had yours. That means you have everything you’d need to become a vampire.”
She sucked in a breath. “What?”
“All I’d have to do is…” I moved my hand to her neck, jerking it slightly while I made a cracking sound.
“Please don’t.”
“Here’s what you’re going to do. Those pretty lips are going to stay very quiet while I drink what I need to recover from saving your sister. No thanks needed. You don’t seem to care all that much.”
“I do,” she whispered.
“Good to know. Maybe she’d like to hear it. Anyway, I’m going to feed from you and you’re going to be a good girl until I’ve had my fill.” I ran two fingers over her bloody lips. “Do you understand, Ruth?”
“Yes, sir.”
My grip tightened on her throat. “Stop with that shit.”
“Okay. Just get it over with.”
“Shut the fuck up. You’re annoying.”
I sunk my teeth into her neck again and she kept her side of the deal. It was quiet, peaceful. When I finished, I left her there, immediately shifting and returning to Sam’s room. I ignored Mark, going straight for the bed and pulling her against me.
“What happened to you?” Mark asked.
“Sam’s sister is feral,” I muttered.
“Her sister?”
“When’s the last time you talked to Lock?”
“Just before you guys headed to Alabama.”
“Ah, fuck. There’s a lot to catch you up on. It involves murder, intestinal garland, and bendy straws.”