Page 11 of Claimed By Blood

For almost a month, I agonised over the thought of her stuck in a coffin because of my actions. Frost was captured, and the rest of the pack put in danger because I begged them to attend the gala and rescue her as well as Vane. All because I was convinced there was nowaymy soft-hearted sister wouldeverhave betrayed me.

She won’t fool me a second time.

I dress slowly, rebuilding my emotional blocks and checking them over and over again as I slip into the jeans and soft red blouse. I take Immy’s advice and shrug a cosy parka over the top of my ensemble. When I emerge, she’s leaning against the wall, staring at Draven’s sleeping body with an unreadable expression on her face.

“You look great,” she says.

So does she.

I’m not used to this new version of my youngest sister. Before I was locked in the coffin, Cain gave her outfits tailored to make her frumpy and childlike, but that’s changed. She’s doesn’t dress like a femme fatale as Callie does, nor in Morwen’s black leather or even Bella’s practical business wear.

Instead, she looks sweet—innocent even—in an oversized beige turtleneck and washed-out jeans. It’s such a relaxed look, almost mortal in its simplicity, that I almost miss the fact that the jumper is made of cashmere and her jeans are tailored perfectly to her curves.

It’s not the sort of thing Cain would choose, which means she must have chosen it herself. Our sire always picked colours that clashed with her bright red curls, but the neutral colours she now favours show them off to their best advantage.

She shrugs the large, black cocoon coat over her shoulders and leads the way to the lift at the end of our hall. Just when I think she’s going to press the button and call it, she turns left, pushing through the discrete doors to the stairs beside it.

Immy turns her head back towards me with a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I don’t like elevators. Not after the coffin.”

Her words take me aback, and all I can do is nod.

“Race you to the bottom,” she calls.

What is she playing at?

I don’t have time to figure it out because she’s already gone, zipping down the steps with a quiet giggle. I’m not in the mood for games, not today, so I jump over the rail and free fall straight down the centre of the staircase. I land in a crouch just as she reaches the final step.

“That,” she pants. “Is cheating.”

A ghost of a smile tugs at the corners of my lips before I realise what’s happening and put a stop to it. I willnotfall for this again. She’s using my memories of the time when she was my best friend and playing them to her advantage. I have to be smarter than this.

Her lips thin, and she shrugs my indifference off, heading for the door. “Come on, I want to show you some of the best places in the city. Callie and Bella probably took you on a blood tour, am I right?”

“Pretty much,” I reply, trying to keep my voice even as we cross the foyer.

Fresh air.It’s foggy and rainy, but I don’t care. This is the first time I’ve been outside in weeks and I gulp it down with gusto, ignoring the humans as they stare and gawk.

“This way.” Immy hooks her arm in mine, and I tug my hood up before allowing her to lead me away into the brightly lit streets. We end up outside a quaint little row of shops with brightly coloured awnings, and she stops beneath the last one.

“This place is one of the best cafes in the city,” she begins, pulling me inside. “Quiet too, which is nice.”

She gets our blood to go, handing me one of the two disposable cups before dragging me back into the rain. We walk farther and farther from the bustling high-class shops. For almost half an hour we don’t even speak, passing bars and restaurants in silence. It doesn’t take long before the awkwardness shifts to become fraught with underlying tension.

Eventually, we reach a pedestrianised area which overlooks the river. It’s a sort of urban garden, which stretches on as far as I can see in each direction. Above us, a curling metal sign pronounces the space ‘Eden Community Gardens’ in yet another barely veiled Cain reference that makes me roll my eyes.

Humans love to imagine that our sire is the very same figure mentioned in their holy texts, and I understand Cain’s reluctance to challenge the notion. Why would he, when Abrahamic religions cover most of the world, and the church has been perfectly under his control for centuries?

As far as Cain’s concerned, it’s just another way for his existence to pervade their lives—no different from the portraits of him hanging in every home and business.

I’m certain, in reality, Cain pre-dates the first-born son of Adam by thousands of years.

“Cain ordered all major cities to build communal food gardens,” Immy explains, striding between the open areas of land. “Keeping humans healthy with access to free vegetables has dropped morbidity rates and prevents them from getting serious anaemia. This one surrounds the whole of Manhattan Island. It was one of his more popular policies.”

It’s also almost completely deserted. Most humans are tucked away in bed at this hour.

“Vampires don’t come here.” Immy releases my arm and tugs her coat around herself, crossing her arms over her chest as she puts distance between the two of us. “I guess there’s no point. But it makes it the perfect place to go when you just want to be alone.”

“You say that like it’s something you experience often.” I peer over the rail into the water below before following Immy who’s begun a slow stroll along the water’s edge.

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