Page 65 of Crimson Storm

“They took our identification and money, locked our bank accounts.”

“I heard about that. How unfortunate.”

“You knew?”

“I know lots of things.” Imogen pursed her lips, and her voice turned mocking. “Did your dear Sadie do nothing to help free you?”

Don’t let her provoke you. Stay calm. Keep your head. Literally.

“I’m sure she would have if she’d known where we were or what had happened to us. When we escaped, I was unable to reach her. There was an attack on the Vampire-Human Coalition headquarters. It’s been destroyed.”

“I heard about that too. Pity.”

In spite of Imogen’s sympathetic words, there was no trace of compassion or concern in her demeanor. Her lack of shock certainly led weight to the possibility that she, and not human radicals, was behind the bombing.

“I don’t even know if your sister is alive,” I added.

“She is.” Imogen’s tone was matter-of-fact. “And yet you’re here. What is it exactly you thinkIcan do for you?”

“It isn’t safe for us in the outside world anymore. The three of us are wanted—for the murder of a human. And for escaping the Safety Center. I still don’t even know what the initial charges were against us that got us arrested. Anyway, our photos have been circulated nationwide. I have no idea where Sadie is now. She didn’t answer her phone. We have no money, no I.D... nowhere else to turn.”

Her smile held a chilling blend of pleasure and malice. “So... you’ve come back to my court, to beg for my protection. Perhaps you have a better understanding now of my feelings toward humans—and my disdain for my sister’s approach to dealing with their species.”

“In spite of what happened to me, I still believe in Sadie’s teachings. I still believe in peace.”

In a flash of motion, Imogen snatched the short dagger from the belt of the soldier on her right and plunged the weapon into his thigh.

The man didn’t yell or react other than flinching and gasping quietly. If it had been me, I’d have dropped instantly and been rocking on the floor in pain, but he stayed upright and silent.

From the savage look on Imogen’s face, I was shocked I hadn’t been her target.

“How can you still be so naïve?” she roared at me. “They locked you up, hunted you—mydaughter. It’s an outrage. There canbeno peace with them.”

I was so shaken it was difficult to respond. But I had to. For Shane’s sake.

“They’re not all bad. There’s a human who risked his life to help us get here. Shane. He took a bullet for me.”

Beside me, Reece shifted slightly, and a low growl emanated from his throat.

“Yes, I’m aware of that too,” Imogen said. “In fact, when I was informed you brought himwith you—tomycourt—I almost didn’t believe it. You’re still capable of surprising me, little one. I’m told you actually asked our medical personnel to save his life.”

She laughed out loud.

“What’s funny about that? He saved my life, and Kelly’s and Heather’s.”

“Well that’s all very admirable, but you must know I can’t let him leave now that he’s seen our sanctuary.”

“You’re going to have him killed?”

She lifted one shoulder and let it fall, looking bored. “Unless you’d prefer to turn him.”

The growl beside me rumbled louder. What waswithReece? If I could hear him, so could Imogen. Surely growling in the queen’s presence wasn’t in the Bloodbound rulebook.

“Of course, if you do that,” Imogen said, “you must be prepared to be connected to him for eternity. You’ll be his maker, and that is a very special bond.”

A tremble began in my belly and worked its way outward. I spoke through quivering lips. “No. Please, Mother. You know how I feel about turning a human.”

One of the reasons I’d left the Bastion was Imogen’s determination to test me to see if I possessed the same “gift” she had, the ability all arch vampires had to turn a human with a single bite.

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