Page 103 of Prodigal Son

Cybil sat on the floor of her cell, her stare drifting over the wall as she traced a dirty finger down the mortar line of the cemented stone. The corridor was quiet, but Cain’s mind never stopped screaming. He wondered what Cybil heard, if anything, in her mind.

Cain questioned what he’d done to deserve such a cruel outcome. In one fell swoop, he’d lost two people he adored. God saw to his loneliness, assured his regret, and taught a memorable lesson.

First Anna, then Cybil, and now Destiny. He understood loud and clear, he was meant to be alone. Destiny’s words that morning had reminded him of such in a way that he would never forget.

“What is she?” Destiny shrieked. Accusation lighting her wide eyes as she kept her distance from him after he returned to the house, covered in blood.

Dane had been a mess, and Grace was torn between protecting the young man and calming Destiny. His sister trespassed into Destiny’s thoughts and instantly read her disapproval and blame.

“Cain, you can’t wait any longer. She’s witnessed too much. She knows what we are and realizes what you did.”

“We?” Destiny asked, eyes brimming with tears as she cupped a hand over her ravaged neck. “You’re all like that?”

He moved to comfort her, but she cowered in horror, breaking his already shattered heart. “Please don’t fear me, Destiny.”

The wound at her neck was raw and gushing. She refused to let anyone close enough to examine the damage and her thoughts were too foreign and chaotic to control. He insisted the others give him space. He needed to calm her down so she might listen to reason.

“Stay back!” She snapped, holding up an unsteady hand. “Wh-what are you?”

Gracie lingered. “She needs blood, Cain. Her injuries are bad.”

Destiny backed into the corner, her body shaking in fear. Humans were so damn fragile and by the amount of blood pouring down her chest, it looked as though Cybil nicked an artery.

“If you don’t feed her your blood, she could bleed out.”

Cain glared at his sister. “You’re not helping, Grace!”

Destiny stumbled into the wall, her face pale and her eyes untrusting. Blood loss weakened her. And the snippets of conversation she’d picked up in the last hour likely horrified her.

“Fine. Fix this yourself.” His sister stormed off, and Destiny sank deeper into the corner, her heart beating like a tribal drum before war.

“I won’t hurt you. You have my word.”

“That girl attacked me like an animal.”

“She’s not like us. She suffered a trauma and—” He still couldn’t comprehend the loss of Cybil. “It doesn’t matter. You’re safe with me.”

He knew what she thought of him. It was the only title legend had upheld. But he was not vampire. Vampires lacked humanity and reason.

“All of you?” she asked. “Is it the entire order?”

There was no point in lying to her anymore. “Dane’s the only one left on the farm who is mortal.”

She shook her head and gave a humorless laugh. “Mortal. I suppose you aren’t really thirty-eight.”

“I am thirty-eight.

Twin tears fell from her eyes and her chin quivered. “Why?” she sobbed, showing him in one word how much she hoped they might work. Then she stiffened her lips and lifted her chin as if somehow forbidding herself to feel anything else in that moment.

He wondered what it said about her affection for him, if self-preservation could somehow turn her feelings off. Voice stern, she met his stare and asked, “What happens now, Cain? I know your secret. Am I in danger?”

“No. I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He’d even refused to let Eleazar near her until he was ready. His stomach sickened at the inevitable.

Destiny’s face crumbled and she softly wept. Wiping back her tears, she scowled at him. “Don’t do that. Don’t try to act honorable and protective when you’ve been lying to me all this time.”

“Only about this. Everything else I told you was the truth, Destiny.” His chest ached and he wanted to hold her. “It’s breaking my heart to see you so upset.”

She shook her head, her tears smearing with blood as she wiped her eyes. “You’re not who I thought you were.”

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