He lifted his head at the sound of my voice, his eyes glazed. “Amelia,” he slurred, his breathing thin and ragged.
Josh, a slim-built vampire, flashed from the inside, his shaggy brown hair wisping around the sides of his face. He wore a white t-shirt with a batman symbol on the front and blue jeans with sneakers. The first time I’d met him was when I woke up in Karson’s room after Sarah had almost killed me. He was different from the vampires I’d met. He seemed honest, kind, and wore his emotions on his face, not carefully hidden under a mask. He was also the only vampire who spent most of his time in the house, rather than lurking around the grounds like theothers. He was the kind of guy who would bring home flowers for his mother. And he’d buy them, not just steal them from someone’s garden.
“What happened?” he asked as he slipped under Karson’s arm and helped support his weight.
“A poisoned blade,” Monique responded, her lips thin, worry carved into her brow. “Michael has taken it to find out what they used to get an antidote.”
From out of the dark, three vampires appeared. Pixie and Leon were friendly and always spoke when I passed them. Pixie usually had a bright smile. Challis, a male with sun-kissed skin and tight ringlet curls, in complete contrast, looked at me as if he wanted to burn me at the stake.
Pixie’s hands twisted in front of her as she took Karson in, her words coming out in a breathless rush. “Is he going to be alright? Oh stars, what can we do?”
“Get blood,” Monique snapped.
Pixie’s dark hair floated behind her as she took off into the house. The blood, I knew from watching various vampires come and go, was stored in the basement.
Leon’s brows were etched with worry. His movements sharp and short as he strode beside me, he scanned the edges of the property cautiously, his breath floating into the night as he spoke. “I told him killing that witch wasn’t a good idea.”
Was this retribution?
I licked my dry lips. “Was this Caron?”
Monique’s jaw clenched, and the silence stretched until finally she admitted, “I don’t know who is responsible.”
Karson’s feet dragged on the stairs as they hauled him inside. I bounded after them. They went straight to the sitting room. He groaned with pain as they laid him on the couch. His head slumped back on the rest, his eyes closed. I dropped to myknees beside him and placed my hand on his forehead—he was burning up.
“You’re going to be alright,” I told him anxiously, smoothing back his sweat-soaked hair. “You’re going to be fine. You are goingto be fine.”
He opened his eyes and stared at me. His breathing sounded strained and rattled as he said, “I’m alright, I’m a firstborn, remember.”
Even in terrible distress, he was a cocky ass. I was pleased to hear it, but that didn’t stop him from suffering. Usually, the suffering ended quickly as his body repaired itself. Why wasn’t he healing?
“Of course you are,” I whispered, kissing his forehead, his skin damp and salty on my lips.
His mouth curved in a ghost of a smile, then his eyes rolled back in his head and fluttered closed. He was losing consciousness. Whatever they had used, even for a firstborn, it was bad.
Monique lifted the bottom of his shirt to look at the wound.
I gasped. Challis swore. Leon’s eyes widened and his face seemed to lose color.
Black vines writhed under Karson’s skin out of an angry black stab mark. The vines twisted and crawled as if they were alive, moving slowly toward his heart. If they reached it …
“What the fuck is that?” Challis breathed.
Monique blew out a shaky breath. “I don’t know.”
“Whatever it is, to disable him, it has to be from powerful dark magic,” Challis said, lifting his head, his eyes darting between Monique and Leon.
Leon shook his head and took a step back.
Karson looked sickly and his breathing had thinned. Nausea rose in my stomach.
“How many families would have the knowledge of what could bring down a firstborn?” Challis said to no one in particular.
Leon swallowed. “I don’t know, but I’d be more concerned right now with what else they have planned.”
Monique’s head whipped up. “Go outside and warn the others to be on full alert.”
Challis left, but not before he threw me a look that could freeze hot water. I ignored him; I had much bigger problems than a vampire who didn’t even know me deciding he didn’t like me because of what I was.
