Page 47 of Crimson Born

“Yes. You should. You must have something better to do than hang out here all the time.”

“Yes. I do actually,” I snapped. “Lots of things.”

Truth be told, I didn’t.

As I’d declined Imogen’s offer to be her protegee, I’d been trying out the different jobs available at the Bastion, hoping to find one that was a good fit for me.

Nothing had worked out so far. The things I had experience with—cooking, gardening, taking care of livestock—were completely useless in the vampire world.

And there was definitely nothing Iwantedto do more than be here with Reece. But I certainly wasn’t going to tellhimthat visiting him was the best part of my day—not when he was acting this way.

“Give me that first,” he practically growled. “I’ll read it when you leave.”

He shoved a large hand through the bars, waiting for me to place the “boring” book in it.

When I did, our fingers touched. There was an audible hiss as Reece inhaled sharply.

For a moment we held blistering eye contact. Then he broke it and jerked his hand away as if he’d touched a hot pot. He stepped away from the doorway, scowling.

“What’s the matter? Have I done something wrong?”

He shook his head. “No. I’m just anxious for some news about when I can leave.”

“Oh.”

I was stung by his unexpected harsh tone and apparent aversion to my touch.

Why was he so different today? What could have gotten into him?

Maybe it was my imagination that we’d been growing closer day by day, but I didn’t think so.

“Well... I’m sure it won’t be much longer.” My own tone turned petulant. “And if you’d prefer somedifferentcompany, I can ask my friend Kannon to stop by and talk to you. You probably don’t remember him, but he’s the one who found you and brought you back.”

Reece’s expression clouded. “We met. Earlier tonight.”

“You did?” That was a surprise. And why hadn’t Reece mentioned it before now?

“What’s wrong? Didn’t you like him?”

“He’s a peach,” Reece said with a sneer.

“I agree. He’s been nothing but kind to me. So what’s the problem?”

“I don’twantto make friends here, Abbi. I don’t want to make a new life here. I want toleave. I don’t belong here. Neither do you.”

“Oh really. Wheredowe belong then? If the outside world was so great, why did they find you living like an animal? Why did I have to come here every day for weeks, worried sick about you, afraid you’d never be able to speak again, afraid you’d never even remember my name?”

“I don’t know. Why did you?” he roared. Then in a low voice he muttered, “God knows what you could want from me.”

For a moment, I stared at him in stunned silence, battling the threat of tears. Then I whirled to go. I was expected at Imogen’s chambers soon anyway.

Reece reached through the bars of his enclosure and grabbed my sleeve. “Wait. Abbi... I’m sorry. Don’t go yet.”

The orderly who always sat in the observation room with me lunged toward us, but I stopped him with a confident, “It’s all right. We’re fine here.”

The man sat back down with his book, and I turned back to Reece. Gently, I pried his fingers from my shirt.

“I have to,” I said. “Imogen summoned me. I can’t be late.”

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