Page 74 of Soren

Gabe could scream—it was so frustrating, that none of his extensive medical knowledge was any fucking use in determining the time it takes for a vampire to heal from a broken neck. But surely it wouldn’t take long, right? Considering how quickly Soren’s broken ribs had healed. So Gabe sat on the porch in the weak morning sun, waiting for Jay to wake up.

Gabe’s phone was broken, smashed by Hendrick in the shuffle, so he couldn’t see how much time was passing. He briefly regretted not being able to call Danny. Or even Roman. But what good would that do anyway? They were due home the next day, but even if they moved their flight forward, left Bali that instant, they were still a full day away—who could say they’d get there in time to help?

So Gabe sat and waited, and tried not to think about the gutted look on Soren’s face when he’d opened the door to find Hendrick holding Gabe on the porch. Or the sight of Soren kissing that slimy douchebag. He marveled briefly that his anxiety wasn’t taking over. But this was kind of like what happened during codes at the hospital. Gabe could be calm in an emergency. He could put his emotions on the back burner to save a life.

And hewouldsave Soren’s life.

Gabe brought his mind away from the trauma of the past half hour. He tried to remember only the good. How beautiful Soren had looked at the club, dancing freely under the flashing lights. How peaceful it felt to be held by Soren on the couch. In Soren’s bed. He tried to channel the inner calm he felt when he had Soren in his arms. He didn’t come close to it, but it helped, if only a little.

When Jay finally stirred, after what felt like an eternity, Gabe at last felt like he could take a full breath. Beyond the frustration of waiting helplessly, he’d been terrified one of the neighbors would walk by, or someone would call the police. Gabe couldn’t have any outside interference, not now. It would only slow him down.

Plus, how the fuck did you explain when the dead body with a broken neck suddenly revived itself?

It seemed to take Jay a minute to orient himself, and then he was up, leaning over Gabe in an instant. “Gabe! Are you okay? What happened? Where’s Soren?”

“I’m fine.” Gabe wasn’t, but he would be. “You were ambushed by Hendrick. Soren’s gone.”

“Oh God.” Jay looked around them frantically, as if Gabe was pulling a prank and Soren was just hiding in the bushes. “I’m sorry!” the little vampire wailed when he couldn’t find anything. “I’m so sorry!”

“It wasn’t your fault.” Gabe tried to comfort him. “He attacked you from behind.”

“Your leg,” Jay said, reaching toward Gabe’s bent extremity, stopping just before he touched it.

“Listen, Jay,” Gabe said, not wanting to waste any more time. “I need you to do something for me.”

Jay stopped his flailing, peering at Gabe with anxious eyes. “Do what?”

Gabe took a deep breath. “I need you to turn me.”

“And you’re sure about this.” Jay wrung his hands, brows furrowed. It might have been adorable, if Gabe weren’t so fucking impatient to get this show on the road.

“I’m sure,” he answered from his spot on the couch. He’d had Jay drag him in here—almost passing out from the pain—not wanting to push their luck any further than they already had by lying out on the porch for everyone to see.

They’d found Ferdy locked in the living room, barking frantically. They’d taken him to Soren’s bedroom for now. Gabe could only hope none of the neighbors called the cops on the loud puppy, but he didn’t want him in here when whatever had to happen…happened.

“I’m not leaving him to do this on his own.”

Jay didn’t look reassured. “But I’ve seen it take days for someone to turn. You might— You might be too late.”

“Do you think Hendrick will kill him?” Gabe didn’t want to think of that possibility, couldn’t bear it, but he needed to know.

That made Jay pause. He shook his head reluctantly. “Unlikely. And I think he would want to…draw it out, even if he did.”

Fuck. Gabe couldn’t let himself dwell on the thought. Soren would be okay. He had to be.

“I could go after them,” Jay offered.

“And how will you find them?” Gabe countered.

“Um…”

“When my brother turned, he said he could…feelRoman. Mates can sense each other’s emotions. They have a bond. A palpable bond. I know I can find him. I just need you to turn me.”

Jay’s gray eyes bore into him. “It’s permanent, Gabe. Forever. You’ll never be human again.”

For the first time since they’d met, Gabe could feel Jay’s age. There was regret there, underlying Jay’s statement—had this vampire been given any more choice in his transition than Soren had?

Gabe tried to put all his sincerity into his words. “I would do it anyway. To be with him. I wasn’t sure before, but…I know that now. I would. So just do it.”

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