Page 86 of Mongrel
Janos and Deseo collect and watch over the girls as we wait for the arrival of a healer, Ivaz, and extra wagons. Daniel prepares Csejthe’s horses and carts in the meantime.
The longer this endless night drags on, the more likely it is we’ll end up spending the day within these walls. The thought makes me shiver. As far as I’m concerned, these grounds are cursed, and I want nothing more than to put some distance between us and this terrible castle.
Cecily hasn’t been physically hurt. Thank the moon we were fast enough to spare her that. But the emotional trauma of being stolen from her home, from her loving family, and being hauled halfway across the country will be with her for countless nights to come.
Bowie and I sit next to each other on hay bales, both of us watching Cecily as she sleeps beneath a heavy horse blanket. Though my racing heart has finally calmed down, my nerves are worn thin, and I’m unable to settle. I fidget on the prickly bale, leaning closer to Bowie.
“I’m so sorry about everything,” he says, his voice a low whisper.
I match his dulcet tone. “What do you have to be sorry about?”
He takes my hand in his and pulls it into his lap. “I’m sorry you got shot. I should’ve thought of that, but I was in such a hurry to get into the castle. I put you at risk.”
“That was my own fault,” I argue. “It was my plan.”
“A plan I agreed to. I shouldn’t have.”
I give his hand a gentle squeeze. “You couldn’t have known what would happen, and you saved me from the worst of it.”
“There’s more. I’m sorry I got Bettina involved at all. It seemed like a good idea when I first wrote to her, but I should’ve known she could never resist adding someone like Báthory to her collection.”
Horrified, I fail to hold in my gasp. “You think she’s going to make Báthory into a vampire?”
“I hope not, but the thought crossed my mind. I wouldn’t be surprised if she does.”
“We should kill them both before such a thing can come to pass.”
Bowie shakes his head sadly. “I cannot kill my sire. Not only is it forbidden, but…” He hesitates. “A part of me can’t help but love her. And I’m sorry for that too.”
I can’t pretend to understand Bettina’s grip on my beloved, but one thing I know for sure is that it’s not his fault. None of this is. Yet he’s taking all the blame on his slim shoulders. I release his hand and wrap my arms around him. “You have nothing to be sorry for. Your heart is too big for killing, and that’s all right.”
He grips my waist. “I killed those guards. I wanted to kill Báthory.”
“Me too.” I’ve wanted it more than even the first juicy bite when I take down my dinner.
“And Janos. Janos could have killed her.”
“He tried. Bettina stopped him before he could land the blow.”
“Of course she did.” Bowie sags.
“Bettina won’t let Báthory continue torturing and murdering girls, will she?” I hate to even think it, let alone ask.
“No, Bettina won’t tolerate that for a second. She may redirect Báthory’s cruelty or starve her of it just to see what happens. Perhaps she’s only acting under King Matyas’s orders to be sure Báthory can’t escape trial.” Bowies heaves a sigh. “What an awful mess of this I’ve made.”
“Hey now, stop that.” I meet his gaze. “Cecily is safe, and little Esther’s big sister, Bethie, and so are the others. Báthory is caught. The king will have all the evidence he needs, and whatever ulterior motive Bettina has is no one’s fault but her own. You have saved these girls, Bowie.You.When everyone else turned a blind eye, you refused to do nothing.”
“Wesaved them, Andras, together. I could never have done it without you. But I’m glad your opinion of me hasn’t been damaged. Tell me what happened when I left you to fight them alone. I was so worried.”
“I ran.” A grin sneaks across my face. “Seemed like better odds.”
“Wise man. Then what?”
I tell him of our chase through the castle halls, the second set of guards, and Bettina’s chaotic arrival. “I almost had Erzsébet. Would have if Bettina hadn’t tossed me aside like a sack of rotten potatoes.”
“I suppose I’m glad she arrived after all,” says Bowie. “It was you against a dozen guards and a wretched murderess otherwise. If that had ended poorly…” He doesn’t elaborate.
It hadn’t occurred to me until this moment that Bettina probably saved my life with her timely arrival. I can’t bring myself to care. I still hate her.
