Chapter 16
Sixteen
VAUGHN
Iget up slowly, but only because Sophie is looking at me with innocent doe eyes, and I’m afraid that will change if I make any brusque movements.
Maybe it’s all in my head, and she’s just pretending right now before she pounces.
Just because she isn’t projecting an aggressive stance, and she was in a pitiful state a minute ago, doesn’t mean she isn’t dangerous.
“You got that from drinking my blood?” I ask.
She braces her hand against the coffee table, and on impulse, I offer her my hand to help her get back on her feet. She stares at it for a couple of beats before she accepts the help.
Tingles spread from my hand and up my arm. I must be imagining things. There’s no chance that touching her did that to me. Weirdly enough, she massages her palm once I drop her hand.
“Yes. I told you blood remembers. Lucca never bothered to teach you that?”
I take a step back, not keen to answer the question. “What else did you learn?”
She tilts her head, and then her gaze darkens. Oh shit. Here we go. The truce is over.
“I saw what happened to you. How you became a vampire. Boone led the attack against your friends. You were collateral damage.”
I curl my hands into fists, and I know my eyes must be glowing red because I feel pretty mad about the topic. “Yes.”
“And Lucca killed him?”
Her pulse accelerates. That means something, I’m just not sure exactly what.
I nod. “He ripped his heart out with his bare hand. Does that upset you?”
She winces almost as if she wasn’t expecting the question. “Boone was no friend of mine. I hope he rots in hell.”
Now it’s my turn to be surprised. “Aren’t you on Tatiana’s side?”
She opens and closes her mouth. Then she crosses her arms. “I’m not answering that.”
“After our encounter at Night Crawlers, I tried to find out who you were. I couldn’t get much information, but one thing I do know is that you aren’t one of King Raphael’s supporters.”
Her nostrils flare, and a flash of red shines in her eyes. “You mean the usurper king?”
I arch my brows. “Usurper king? Is that what you guys call the rightful king of your race? Do you even know why Tatiana hates his guts so much?”
A myriad of emotions swirl in her eyes, and I wonder what lies she’s been fed her entire life. If she got glimpses of my memories through drinking my blood, then she knows Lucca is not the bad guy.
“Hellooo. Can someone get me out of here?” the talking cat whines from inside the wooden chest. I totally forgot about her.
“Tish? What are you doing there?”
I move farther away from the chest in case the cat decides to come after me again.
“Lover boy stuck me here.”
“It was that or toss you out the window,” I retort.
Sophie takes Tish out and holds her against her chest. I’m grateful for that because the cat is seriously giving me the death glare.
“You got the information you wanted from me,” I say. “Am I free to go, or do I need to fight you to get out?”
“I didn’t get all the information. Why were you pretending to be human?”
“Why were you?” I arch a brow.
“I already told you. I’m not answering any questions.”
“Well, in case you failed to notice, I’m no longer your prisoner.” I lift my hands to show my unbound wrists.
Someone knocks on the front door, immediately putting me on high alert. “Miss Sophie? Are you all right?”
She pivots on the spot and faces the door. “Yes, I’m fine, Igor.”
“You’re not alone. Who’s there with you?”
Hell. I so do not want to be here to face whoever is outside that door. Judging by his baritone voice, I peg him to be a massive dude like Ronan. I rush to the open window. We’re on the second floor. I think I can make the jump.
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Tish asks.
In the next second, the front door opens, and a freakishly tall male fills the frame. Yup. I was right. He’s a giant.
“Stop right there!” he yells.
Don’t think so, jerkface. I leap, praying I don’t break my legs when I land. That will seriously impair my ability to escape.
The fall is jarring, even with me landing on soft knees.
At least my bones survive the impact, and I don’t fall flat on my face.
I quickly get my bearings. The name of the street tells me Sophie’s apartment is downtown, and even though it’s late at night, there are still people milling about in cars and on foot.
No one pays any attention to me, though.
Before I take off down the street, I look over my shoulder.
Sophie is by the window, staring at me. I’m caught between needing to flee and wanting to stay.
Damn it. Did her bite do something to me?
There’s no way these emotions are normal.
I didn’t stay in captivity long enough to develop Stockholm syndrome.
I shake my head to clear my mind, then finally leave. It’s only when I put some distance between her place and myself that a fear presents itself in my brain.
If she saw that Lucca turned me into a vampire, what else was she able to see?
SOPHIE
“Who was that, Miss Sophie?” Igor asks, none too happy that I didn’t let him go after Vaughn.
I turn away from the window, feeling strangely sad that Vaughn is gone. What a novelty emotion for me, who rarely feels anything.
“He’s no one of importance,” I lie, and sense Tish’s judgmental gaze on my face.
Igor tries to level me with a hard stare. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
I move to the couch, sitting down with one of my legs crossed under me. “Why did you come to see me?”
“Your father wanted a report. Were you able to find Madeleine Boucher’s hidden cell at Bloodstone?”
“Nope,” I lie again.
By now, Tish must think I have a concussion.
I did hit my head pretty hard, but that’s not why I don’t want to tell Igor that I located Madeleine.
After my encounter with the deranged specter, I wasn’t sure if it was wise to free her.
And now, after I got glimpses from Vaughn’s memories, I’m even less sure.
They paint a completely different picture than the story my father told me.
Boone died because he went after Lucca’s girlfriend, and even though I don’t know her, I can imagine that being someone who Boone was obsessed with was not a good thing. Every time I think about him, I feel the worst type of dread.
“Your father will not rest until you locate and free Madeleine Boucher.”
I massage my temple. “I’m aware. Well… I have nothing to report tonight. I’m sorry you came here for nothing.”
“Yeah, ever heard of using a phone?” Tish adds.
“I was nearby, and then I caught a scent of vampire male leading to your apartment. I got worried.”
“Worried about what? Sophie can’t have male company now?”
Igor grimaces. “Of course she can… I mean, is that what he was? I haven’t seen that male around. Is he new in town?”
Shit. I can’t tell Igor that Vaughn is a newly made vampire. That’s huge news. Vampires have been unable to turn humans since the Nightingales left this world.
“Yes, he’s new. He’s actually from Boston. A regular.”
“Miss Sophie, you have to be careful. You don’t know if he’s affiliated with the usurper king.”
“What’s the big deal if he is?” Tish pipes up again. “No one knows that Sophie is Queen Tatiana’s daughter. Wouldn’t it be convenient if she managed to infiltrate the inner circle of the usurper king?”
Igor rubs his face. “Yeah… it’d be useful.”
“You worry too much, Igor. I can take care of myself.” I get up and walk to the front door.
Like the good soldier he is, I don’t need to spell it out that I want him to go.
“Well, good night, then, Miss Sophie. I’ll call you next time.”
“Okay. Thanks for stopping by.”
No sooner do I close the door than Tish starts with the inquisition. “What’s with all the bullshit, Soph?”
I only answer when I’m certain Igor is truly gone and can’t overhear our conversation. “If I told Igor the truth about Vaughn, he’d be compelled to tell Father, and I don’t want anyone knowing about him.”
“Why? What else did you learn from drinking his blood?”
I stare at her sharp, feline eyes. “I don’t think everything that Father has told me is the truth. Actually, I know it isn’t.”