Page 51 of Crimson Bond

Things were certainly not turning out the way I’d expected them too.

“Could I...” Marjorie started, faltered, then spoke again. “Would it be okay if I sat with him? Just for a little while? I know you’re close, but, well it would be amazing to be here when he wakes up.”

I gestured toward the chair where I’d spent so many hours thinking the same thing. “Please. You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I have a feeling when he opens his eyes, it’syourface he’d rather see.”

And now that Shane was no longer alone, now that there was someone else to watch over him who truly cared about him, I decided to take Reece’s advice and get some rest. I left the clinic and walked to my chambers, thinking.

As for the other thing he’d said—about me addressing my “subjects” and ruling the Bastion in Imogen’s place, I wasn’t sure what to think. Or to do.

If only Sadie were here.

She’d definitely know what to do. She could take over and lead the vampire race, or at least teach me how to.

As it was, I had nothing but some iffy pheromones, a few vampire preparedness classes, and a year working an entry-level job at the Vampire-Human Coalition.

I wasn’t even that great of a vampire. How could I be the queen of all of them?

27

Willing Consort

Abbi

After a long bath, I fell into my bed in the guest suite, mentally and physically exhausted.

I’d barely settled under the covers when there was a knock at the door. I almost didn’t answer but thought better of it. It might be something about Shane—or Imogen.

When I opened the door, Reece stood on the other side.

“Hi.”

He’d calmed down since the last time I saw him, and it looked like he’d just showered. Instead of his Bloodbound uniform he wore jeans and a dark t-shirt. His dark hair was still damp, and he smelled like cedar and soap.

“Hi. Is everything okay?” I asked.

“I don’t know how to answer that, since it kind of depends on you. Could I come in?”

Once inside my room, Reece shifted from foot to foot, looking around and clearing his throat.

“What’s going on?” I prompted.

His gaze finally met mine. “I came to apologize. I’ve been horrible the past few days.”

“They’ve been difficult for all of us,” I started, already forgiving him.

He held up a hand. “Let me finish please. I’m sorry for what I said back there in the clinic. I don’t hate the whole human race, and I don’t want...Shaneto die.”

It looked like it pained him to say Shane’s name, but I gave him points for effort.

“And I’m sorry for taking the decision out of your hands back in the Grand Dome,” he said. “He’s your friend. I should have let you have the final word on the matter.”

“It’s okay.” I meant it. Reece had obviously been thinking with a clearer head than I had during the horrific feast.

“You were right. If you’d left it up to me, Shane would be dead now,” I admitted. “At least this way he still has a chance at life. And you were only trying to help.”

Reece’s face crinkled. “Yeah... see, I have something to confess. I was only helping myself. I didn’t want you to ‘mourn him always.’ Shane came between us enough while he was alive—I wasn’t going to let him do it in death.”

“Oh.”

---