Page 46 of Crimson Bond

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I made Shane a promise, and I’m going to keep it. I’m going in there—whether you help me or not.”

She tried to walk away, and I grabbed her hand, tugging her back toward me.

“Don’t,” I pleaded. “Stay with me, and we’ll leave together. Please, if you love me, just... don’t go in there.”

“Don’t make this an ultimatum,” she said in return.

She jerked from my grasp and ran into the room. “Shane,” she yelled as her head turned one way then the other. “Shane, I’m here. Where are you?”

Throwing up my hands and blowing out a harsh breath, I followed her. I didn’t share her hope that she’d still find the human alive, but I certainly wasn’t going to let Abbi wade into the fray alone.

In spite of my claim of not caring about the humans, it was impossible not to feel sorry for them once we were in the middle of the bloodbath. What a horrible way to go.

No one deserved to die this way, not even the guy who’d tried to steal the only girl I’d ever loved.

Speaking of Shane, I didn’t see him anywhere—not that any of the humans were exactly recognizable at this point. With me close at her heels, Abbi reached the front of the room near the raised platform where Imogen sat.

The queen calmly observed the spectacle as if it was a garden party and not a portrait of hell’s inmates devouring each other. She wore an expression of delight so acute she almost looked insane. Maybe it wasbeyondalmost.

When she spotted us, her smile spread. She stood and opened her arms in welcome.

“The victorious warrior returns.” Her expression soured. “And my dear daughter. Come join the party, children. There’s plenty for everyone.”

Abbi strode up to her. “Where’s Shane?”

Imogen’s lips pursed, and she raised one brow, directing a significant glance behind us. “I believe he’s on the dessert table.”

Abbi and I both whirled around.

Shane’s body was indeed stretched out on a stone table about thirty feet away. He was motionless and covered in bite marks and streaks of blood. About ten vampires swarmed around him. Who knew how many had already bitten him?

We were too late. He was either going to turn or die.

It looked like it was going to be the latter. He was pale, his face and body looking sunken.

Abbi rushed toward him, pushing away the other vampires. Some of them fought back until Imogen’s order rang through the chamber.

“Stop. Let her have the boy.”

The other vampires backed away obediently, and Abbi moved close to Shane. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she catalogued his wounds and brushed his hair back from his unconscious face.

“Shane. Can you hear me? Shane?” She bit her own wrist, holding the bleeding wound over his still mouth.

“I’m afraid he’s beyond the point of healing, my dear,” Imogen taunted. “He’s lost quite a bit of blood—almost all of it actually.”

She descended the stairs and strolled toward us. “You have a choice to make. You can bite him and turn him... or you can let him die.”

Fire blazed in Abbi’s eyes. “I can’t. I can’t do either of those things. Youpromisedhe’d remain unharmed if I did what you wanted, if I helped Reece get in touch with Sadie.”

Imogen grinned. “But youdidn’tkeep your end of the bargain, did you?”

“I tried. Sadie was already dead when we got there. That isn’t my fault.”

Imogen shrugged. “It isn’t mine either.”

“Isn’t it?” Abbi demanded.

Imogen just laughed. “It doesn’t matter. The end result is the same. Besides, his blood smells so lovely, doesn’t it? I’m not sure how you can stand so close and resist it. In fact, I think I might just finish him off.”

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