Page 47 of He is… Creed: Part Three

“I can’t prove evil is inbred yet, but I’m working on it. Julian was always evil. Caleb was not. They are now what they were before those injections.”

“You have no idea what is inbred in me,” I say. “I do. No lifebonding.”

Disapproval mixed with reluctant acceptance touches her features. “I have to tell Caleb about the extra chromosome.”

“You wouldn’t deserve to be here if you didn’t.” I turn away and reach for the door.

“Creed, wait.” I pause, but don’t turn.

“What do I tell Addie?”

“To stay the hell away from me.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Addie

About ten minutes after Creed left me an emotional mess at the restaurant, the hostess has directed me to my destination table, and I’m sitting with eight positively gorgeous women. Apparently, Julian only abducts women who could be models. Meanwhile, I’m in leggings and feeling as much of a mess on the inside as I must look on the outside.

The first in the group to introduce herself is a brunette with a bob. “Hi,” she says from the seat to my left as I was placed at the head of the table. “I’m Emma. I’m so glad you joined us.”

“You’re Emma?” I ask, surprised as I’d pictured the nurse who put together my care package as middle-aged and frumpy, not petite and adorable, for no good reason. “Thank you so much for your gifts.”

“I’m so glad to help.” Emma motions around the table. “Everyone here is as new to the city as you are.”

I blink to find everyone staring at me, as if I’m a two-headed beast. “Hello,” I greet. “I’m Addie. I’m happy to be here to fill in for Katie.” I’ve left off my last name, by intent.

“Your eyes.” The comment comes from the gorgeous blonde at the end of the table. “Emma said you’re staying with Creed. Are you his lifebond?”

“Intended lifebond,” I amend, feeling the explanation like a punch in the gut. “We haven’t completed the blood bond.”

“Wow,” the woman says, and sits back in her chair as if dumbfounded. “That must be…terrifying.”

Agreeable murmurs follow.

And here we go, I think. “Why would that be terrifying?”

“He was Julian’s second in command,” said one woman, who introduces herself as Brenda.

“They called him ‘The Punisher,’” said another.

“Even the other Zodius soldiers feared Creed.”

Similar murmurs follow from around the table, and I absorb them all with only a hint of shock. He’d been “The Dark One” and now “The Punisher” to them. And all I can think of is how much hell Creed is living as punishment for his sacrifice. Protectiveness is a prickly bear, and I have to damp down my energy.

“Did he hurt any of you?” I demand, knowing full well he did not.

A pause ensues, and everyone seems to glance from one to the other before the single word, “no,” passes around the room.

“He saved you. He is now hunted because he saved you, and yet you dare act as if he is the enemy? If he hadn’t broken his cover the night he rescued you, you would have all been injected with some drug Ava is experimenting with, which most likely would have killed you.”

A redhead introduces herself as Brenda and then clears her throat before making her case. “Please understand, Addie, Creed was an extension of Julian. We were not to talk to him or look at him without fear of reprisal.”

Another adds, “He scared the hell out of us. We went through hell at Zodius.”

Another adds, “If someone crossed Julian, they were either thrown to the wolves—”

“Or given to Creed for torture,” another woman finishes.

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