Page 68 of Crimson Storm

As queen, Imogen had anytime-access to all the members of the Bloodbound, but she seemed to prefer Reece over all the others. And who could blame her? If I were queen, he’d be my “favorite,” too.

He rolled his eyes. “She’s my maker. She’s yours, too, and you’d do well to remember it. It’s the only reason you’re still alive. Anyone else who’d gone and consorted with the enemy would have found themselves headless.”

“Yes, I guess I should be grateful Imogen is somerciful.” My words were laced with sarcasm, but then I got serious.

In spite of Reece’s gruff attitude, he’d kept me from harm last night with his suggestion of compromise. Perhaps deep down inside somewhere he still cared for me? At least enough to not want me dead.

“Thank you for what you did, by the way, stepping in with Imogen like that.”

For a moment our gazes connected and held, the tension strung between us in a taut, invisible wire. Then he gave a slightno big dealshrug.

“I was just being honest. Idothink you’ll be of use. Besides, like I said, I don’t believe Imogen really wanted to kill you. She still has high hopes for your future.”

I snorted. “Well, she can hope all she wants but there’s no way I’ll ever be her mini-me—now or thousands of years from now.”

* * *

When we arrivedat the clinic, Reece insisted on going into the medical holding room with me.

“I won’t say a word,” he promised when I tried to protest. We entered the room together, and he went to stand against the back wall as I tiptoed to Shane’s bedside.

Shane was sleeping. He looked much better, cleaned up, and his color was good. He’d been deathly pale the last time I’d seen him.

Stroking his bare arm softly, I said, “Shane? Can you hear me?”

His eyes blinked open. He looked at the ceiling and then around the room. When his gaze landed on me, he smiled.

“Abigail. Hi. Are you okay?”

“Am I okay? I came to see howyou’redoing. How do you feel? Are you in pain?”

His brows quirked as he thought about it a moment. “No, actually. They must have some good drugs at this hospital. Where are we?”

Darting a glance at Reece’s glowering face, I kept my answer vague. “We’re at the place I mentioned. I’m so sorry you were wounded. I was hoping you’d be on a plane or maybe even home by now.”

Looking more alert, Shane pushed up to his elbows. “We’re in the vampire place? It looks like a hospital room... without windows.”

“It’s a medical clinic. They treated you last night,” I explained. “They’re going to make sure you heal properly and keep you safe until I get back.”

His brows pulled together. “Where are you going?”

“I have to leave for a while. I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

Now Shane sat up fully, placing a hand on his abdomen and patting it in apparent amazement. “It doesn’t hurt at all.”

He pulled up his t-shirt, exposing his mid-section. “I’m completely healed. It looks like I wasn’t even shot. How is this possible?”

“They injected you with vampire blood. It heals people—that’s a secret by the way.”

In fact, it had been so secret, even I hadn’t known about it until Dr. Coppa told me. Kannon, the big liar, had told me just the opposite in the van so I wouldn’t further weaken myself by giving Shane my own blood. Besides, it had to be injected to work for humans—drinking it wasn’t helpful to them.

“Don’t tell anyone, okay?” I said. “We’ll be even more endangered than we already are.”

Shane reached out and took my hand. “I’d never do anything to endanger you. You know that.”

Behind him, Reece made an irritated snorting sound.

I withdrew my hand from Shane’s. “I know. And I’ll make sure you stay safe, too. That’s why I have to leave. I have to go and talk to Sadie.”

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