Page 14 of Crimson Bond

Now would be the perfect time. Imogen would know I’d done as she commanded. Besides, Abbi might refuse to drink it once we’d left this place.

I held the vial out to her. “Drink up.”

She took it and held it up to the light, swirling the blood inside.

“Wait... is this Imogen’s? I don’t want it. This is what keeps all of you loyal to her no matter what. No Kool-Aid for me, thank you.”

She tried to hand it back, and I retreated a step, showing her my palms. “Queen’s orders. She’ll know if you haven’t taken it.”

“Oh.That’swhy she wants to see me. She should know she doesn’t have to force me to go along with the plan. She’s holding Shane hostage. I’m not going to let any harm come to him.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. He’s too ‘important,’” I snarled. “But I don’t think that’s it. It probably has more to do with your appearance.”

“My appearance?”

She glanced down at herself. “What’s wrong with how I look?”

You’re perfect.

That’s what popped into my head. What came out of my mouth was, “Nothing. You look... fine. It’s just we’re not going to get very far if you’re recognized as a fugitive.”

“So, I’ll wear a disguise. That’s what I did to get out of San Francisco,” she argued.Always so stubborn.

“You won’t need a disguise if you’ll just do as you’re told and drink that.”

She gave the vial another wary glance. “Imogen’s blood will change my appearance?”

“Not completely. You’ll still look like you, only... more.”

As if she needed to be more beautiful. God help me, I was a dead man. It was Imogen’s order though, and if Abbi didn’t follow it, we’d never make it out the front door.

“Look, it’s your choice, but if you don’t drink it, you can’t come with me. And if you don’t come with me and at least try to help me get through to Sadie, Imogen will have no reason to keep your little human sweetie-pie alive. Old Shane’s gonna find himself the main course at dinner tonight because you’re squeamish about drinking a little royal blood.”

That got through to her. She opened the vial and emptied it. Forhissake.

“How long does the magic pretty-potion take?” she joked sourly after swallowing.

“You’re already—” I stopped myself before I launched into some sort of lovesick ode to her beauty, shifting the focus of my answer. “It’ll take a few hours to alter your appearance significantly. And another dose or two to enable you to mesmerize humans.”

“What did you say?”

“Mesmerize. Humans,” I repeated.

“We can’t do that.”

“Some of us can. The Bloodbound can.”

I’d been amazed the first time I’d used my new ability. It came in very handy whenever nearby human authorities caught wind of our activities or when we needed to cover the tracks and mitigate the damage left behind by a rogue vampire. It would no doubt be invaluable on our upcoming trip.

“Imogen calls it ‘The Pull.’ I call it useful,” I said. “Especially now that cars are checked at every state border. And we’ll be crossing quite a few of them in the next few days.”

When we reached the throne room, Abbi looked surprised I wasn’t going inside with her. Surprised and scared.

“She wants to see you alone,” I explained. “She specifically said she didn’t want me there.”

“Oh.”

The fear in her eyes tugged at my rust-stiffened heartstrings. “It’ll be okay,” I said softly. “I’ll be right here waiting.”

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