Page 60 of Dance With Death

Rubbing his temples, Grayson turns away, and I continue to run through the plans in my head. Will Grayson notice me using mind magic? Because I’ll need some to get past nursing staff and temper reactions to a blood-drinking vampire in the hospital.

He pivots to face me. “I’ll come. Any sign of trouble we leave—without Holly.”

“Thank you. Let’s not waste time.” The inviting lights call me towards the hospital main entrance, but I’ve barely taken a step before Grayson grabs my arm and turns me to face him. “Now what?”

His hand cups my cheek. “If I do this, you have to promise to talk to me about what happened between us as soon as we have a chance.”

I freeze. I’m still struggling to overcome the vulnerability Grayson causes as much as cope with the desire for us to seal our blood bond. The desire for Grayson, period. But underpinning everything is the fear that I’ll kill Grayson either with my hybrid blood—or via Dorian’s murderous reaction if that blood doesn’t succeed in ending Grayson’s life first.

I say nothing, but my heating cheeks and faster pulse answer for me.

22

VIOLET

Humans allow the hospital inmates to receive visitors between certain hours, and, by lucky chance, we’re within that window of time. Although, I’m perturbed by whether this will aid or interfere should I need to move Holly from the premises.

Blood runes and the girl who faints at the sight of bleeding? Holly may not like that spell, but it’s our easiest way out of the hospital.

Grayson stands beside me by the elevator and fidgets. I’ll attempt to keep to our agreement, but what if Viktor or whoever abducted Holly did injure her mind? The worst scenario possible attempts to sneak into my head again—or she’s a construct. I slap the thought away.

Once Holly leaves here, I’m avoiding hospitals. They’re awful places that trigger the part of me that now picks up on the decay and sickness. I’d rather stand in the morgue for hours than pass the rooms containing weakened humans trapped by their race’s inferior physical state and the nurses who stand guard.

“What if Holly’s parents are still here?” whispers Grayson. “Humans stay close if someone important to them is in the hospital. You can’t shove her parents from the room.”

As we leave the elevator to walk towards Holly’s room, Grayson ducks his head. A uniformed man pushes a metal trolley along the hallway, not paying attention, and I glance at the contents as he passes. Vials and bottles. Packets. I point. “Humans could ask for witch help with medical issues. We’ve more advanced treatments for many ailments.”

“That’s not allowed under the accords,” says Grayson. “No medical interference with humans by supernaturals. Besides, humans would never trust a supe’s motives.”

“Hmm.” I wrinkle my nose at the disinfectant smell that does nothing to disguise the sickness pervading the atmosphere.

“Pharmaceuticals are big business,” adds Grayson.

“Yes. Rowan informed me that Circle members hold positions in many big business human organizations, and always have done. Interesting, correct? Why would witches crawl into such positions if they want the status quo unchanged? And look at all the vamps in the legal profession.”

“Yeah, but supes always worked in those professions—they just do it just publicly now.”

Something stinks about the Circle. What kind of organization would allow Viktor’s disappearance and not bring justice for a girl’s murder? Not all members may know, but Cornelius would need help in wiping his son’s existence from the world. Someone besides Viktor’s father is complicit.

The sooner I gain access to their sphere, the better.

A couple of visitors take up all the attention from one of the nurses manning the station, whereas the other writes names in boxes on a whiteboard, her back to us as she scrawls in a thick blue pen.

Perfect.

The hemia vampire passes them unnoticed, and each step I take towards Holly’s cell fills my stomach with fluttering trepidation at what I’ll find. I’m reluctant to meet Holly’s parents and pause outside the heavy door. “How many humans do you detect in the room?” I whisper to Grayson.

“One. But be prepared for Holly’s parents or the nurses to return.”

“I’ll be quick.”

Grayson follows as I creep through the door into the dimly lit room. To be fair, the hospital attempted to add some homely touches with a small TV and an upholstered chair or two. A painting consisting of swishes of pale blues and greens faces the bed; its creator evidently failed art class.

The number of machines surrounding Holly has reduced since this morning, but tubes still protrude from her hand. Grayson immediately crosses to the window and pulls the glass to one side, revealing metal grills behind. Damp air from the rain seeps into the room.

Oh. “Is the human scent inside the hospital bothering you, Grayson?” I ask.

He doesn’t turn. “I manage to ignore blood scents at the academy, don’t I?”

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