Page 113 of Savage Blood
So it wasn’t blood but the poison in my veins.
“Stand up,” Reese commanded, steadying me on my feet. “Stop leaking all over me.”
I choked back the wave of nausea trying to overwhelm me. “Let go of me, then.”
But her arm remained firmly around my waist. Unfortunately, I wasn’t sure I could stand if she released me.
Reese drew me closer to my father. “You left me out there, Barric. Why didn’t you come for me?”
He sighed. “I couldn’t risk getting caught, Reese. You understand, don’t you?”
A soft smile curved her mouth as she gazed at him like he was a god. “Of course. I’m just glad I got away from Camus when I did. You still need my help, after all.”
Barric held his scarred hand out. “Now you can return to where you belong.”
I fought Reese’s hold as my heart hammered against my ribs, but another wave of dizziness crashed over me, and I helplessly staggered toward my father.
“I know exactly where I belong, Barric.” Reese reached for his hand and grabbed it.
She suddenly released me, and I dropped to the floor like a bag of bricks. And then her other hand arched through the air, a silver blade catching the bouncing lights moments before she sank it into Barric’s sternum.
The wolf shifter howled and stumbled back once Reese jerked the blade out of him. Blood erupted from the wound, staining his blue shirt and the floor.
“Traitor,” he snapped.
Reese’s manic laugh held an edge of rage. “Youused me and threw me away like I was nothing, Barric. I amnotlike that pathetic, groveling Amelia. I have a fucking backbone.”
“A backbone that I will crack in half for this.” Barric gripped his chest to stop the blood flow, spun, and vanished into the crowd like a ghost.
Reese clutched my arm and helped me to my feet. A string of curses tumbled from my mouth as I searched the thinning club for my father.
“Is that a silver blade?” I asked.
Reese wiped Barric’s blood off on her jeans. “Yes, but it won’t kill him, not while he’s got the Infernal Sol.”
Why wouldn’t the damn thing come off? I was supposed to be the one who could take it.
“Coltrane!” I jerked out of Reese’s hold and stumbled toward the geode where Barric tossed the former raven captain.
The area was empty, with only a trickle of blood glistening on the floor.
Shit.
She was gone.
My neck tattoo prickled, and I pivoted as Fane marched across the club toward me. His shirt and jeans were torn and black blood speckling his flesh.
Air caught sharply in my lungs. “What happened?”
But Fane ignored me as he explored my body for injuries, snarling when he noticed the bruises on my wrist from Barric.
“What the hell happened toyou?” He cradled my face between his hands, worry pummeling the bond. “I told you to stay put.”
I scoffed. “When have I ever listened?”
His gaze traveled over my shoulder, and he spotted Reese with the bloody knife. “What are you doing here?”
“Just settling a little score with Barric.” She stashed the dagger in her pocket. “And I have some information you need to hear.”
