Page 166 of Immortal Bastard

She dropped into the rocking chair, her body shaking with tension and her vision blurring. He was right. Her actions put them all at risk. She hadn’t considered how quickly a video like that could go viral.

Her shame grew when she considered the unwritten rule about not photographing the Amish. The Order had done everything in their power to ensure the safety of hundreds of immortals trying to live peacefully, and she’d put them all in jeopardy within one week.

As she worked her way through each social media app, searching for any traces of uploaded footage, a tear dripped onto the screen. She deserved to feel terrible. She deserved Christian’s fury and more.

“It’s clean,” she said, handing him back the phone only to have him give her the other one. This one had a video of her running, her speed alarming, and probably what caused them to video her in the first place while they waited for the EMTs.

By the time she scrubbed both phones it had started to rain. She had questions but sensed Christian’s reluctance to speak any more about the victims of the accident.

Had he erased their memories? Was the baby going to be okay? What if she gave him too much blood? What if they ran blood tests at the hospital and found traces of her blood in little Ethan’s labs?

Sick with worry, she couldn’t bring herself to meet Christian’s eyes. “I’m sorry.”

“Are you?”

“Yes.” Twin tears fell and she wiped her eyes. “I’m new at all of this. I was just acting out of instinct. I only wanted to help.”

“You have a very big heart, pintura. I know you meant no harm.”

She pushed away more tears. “How do you do it? How do stand by while innocent people die, knowing you could help?”

“We must protect our own.”

Even knowing everything he just explained and regretting that she put The Order in danger, she couldn’t fully regret her actions. If put in the same situation again, she might take the same risks. “What will they do to me?”

“The punishment for exposure is one hundred lashings per witness.”

His words knocked the wind out of her. They were going to whip her?

“No one will touch you, Delilah. I won’t allow it.”

“But…you said—”

“I’ll take your punishment. You’re my responsibility.”

“Christian, no—”

“You don’t have a say in this.” The wind picked up and rain pelted the wood planks under the awning. “You need to feed. It’s time to go inside.”

The house was dark, and he made no attempt to light the candles. They each washed and changed into fresh clothes, because Christian said they needed to return to the Safe House right away to speak to the bishop about what happened.

“Why do we have to tell anyone?” she asked, fearful of what other consequences might come.

“Because we do not bear false witness. Deceit leads to darkness. We live in the light and speak the truth, even when we are afraid of what will come.”

She fixed her braids and met him downstairs. Her body wavered as she approached the stairs. He hadn’t fed her while they were in the bedroom, and she worried he’d forgotten about her, until she found him in the kitchen, emptying his vein over a tall glass.

“What are you doing?”

“You need to feed.”

She stared at the glass. “Why are you—”

“This is what I’m offering. I suggest you drink it.” He licked the slice on his wrist shut and turned his back on her.

His disappointment slayed her. A lump formed in her throat, and her hand trembled as she lifted the glass. Her fangs extended at the first whiff of his blood, only to clank against the glass. She struggled to swallow it all down with her throat so tight, but she managed.

When she set the empty glass on the table, he turned and faced her again. “It’s raining, so we’ll take the carriage.”

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