Page 19 of Crimson Bond

“You want to pull over for a bit and take a break?”

“No, I’m fine. Let’s keep going. I want to make it to Buffalo, New York before daybreak,” he said. “We’re making good time. At this rate we’ll make it to Sudbury tomorrow night.”

“You know... when we get there and you do meet Sadie, I think you’ll find you two have a lot in common. Your leadership styles are similar—commanding but respectful. You both lead by deserving loyalty, not by simply demanding it.”

“No offense, but how would you know?” he asked.

“I could tell by the way your men looked at you. And by some things Kannon has said about you.”

“Well, I just treat them the way I’d want to be treated.”

“Exactly. And that’s what Sadie does—with vampires and humans alike.”

Imogen couldn’t have been any more different from Sadie. And from Reece. She ruled through fear, which never created true loyalty.

“She’s going to love you, too,” I assured Reece. “In fact, if you ever wanted a change, I know Sadie would love to have you—”

“Stop right there,” Reece warned, cutting me off mid-sentence. “Just listening to this is treason.”

“It’s just the two of us, and we’re hundreds of miles from the Bastion. No one there can hear us, not even Imogen.”

“It doesn’t matter. What Ithinkyou’re suggesting is impossible. You know I took a vow.”

“Which means nothing outside the Bastion. There’s a whole world out here, Reece.”

Being alone with him and seeing him away from the Bastion had shown me the old Reecewasstill in there somewhere. It had created a new spark of hope in me. And he was right, I had been suggesting he leave the Bloodbound behind and join Sadie’s efforts. To me it seemed like a great solution, especially now that Imogen was willing to join forces and work with her sister.

“A lot of vampires have never even heard of Imogen,” I told him. “They get along just fine without her. You could too. And if you’re notinthe Crimson Court any longer, would she really care that you left the Bloodbound?”

Reaching over with his right hand, Reece literally covered my mouth. “Stop Abbi. It’s not going to happen.”

“Why not?”

“For one thing, her blood prevents us from disobeying orders.”

“Not you. I haven’t forgotten how you defied her when she was about to force me to turn that human.”

Reece had intervened at the last moment when I’d believed I had no choice in the matter, refusing to abide by the deal I’d made with Imogen to free him from his Bloodbound vows. He’d even drawn his dagger and thrown it between me and the human man—right in front of the queen.

Of course, he’d also said hewantedto be Bloodbound even though he knew it meant removing any possibility of having me for a mate.

“For another thing,” he continued, ignoring what I’d said, “Imogenwouldcare. She’d never allow me to defect. If she let me get away with it, others would try it too.”

“So you know guys who do want to leave the Bloodbound?”

“Some. There’s a good bit of grumbling about the celibacy rule—or near-celibacy,” he corrected himself. “Some of the guys joined when they were very young or desperate for a reprieve from their human lives, and now they wish they could take a mate. They like being soldiers and protectors of our people but not that particular vow.”

I nodded. “I would imagine it’s a... challenge for young guys to live under a restriction like that.”

“To say the least,” he muttered.

Reece sounded like he commiserated. Remembering how passionately he’d kissed me and held me, I ventured a comment that had the potential to slam the door on our open discourse. It was too important to leave unsaid, though.

“You weren’t meant to be without a mate. You’re a romantic at heart. You have so much love to give, Reece.”

Aaaand there was the slamming door, in the form of a frown overtaking his face.

“Not anymore. I’m not that nice, fun-loving kid you met the night of the bonfire. I’ve changed.”

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