“We all know that.”
I shake my head, already turning towards the door. “It is irrelevant. I already thought this was a bad idea, but taking him back, where he could be recognised—”
“Vladimir,” Jeremiah says, power flaring as he feeds it into his voice. I still and not from the compulsion. Occasionally, I forget that he is almost as old as I am, that both of us might pale in comparison to Maurice wielding his power, but we are vampires through and through, and we have learnt how to makethatpower our own.
“This is dangerous,” I say through gritted teeth. “And foolhardy and—”
“And you know it would be more dangerous to let this fae run free. If they keep to schedule, another young vampire is going to die soon.”
“Grant might be that vampire.”
Jeremiah huffs a laugh. I turn, eyes narrowed, but he merely shakes his head. “I’m not going to lie, the last few months have shaken a lot of my confidence in you, but that’s one area where I know you’ll never fail. You’ll never let him down, Vlad. You’ll keep him safe.”
I am honestly surprised, and that surprise robs me of my voice. I nod shortly and let myself out of the living room without another word.
It is time for us to leave.
An hour later, we are heading across the city. Traffic is still fairly busy, but it will only take us around two hours to reach Margate, and we have hours of darkness ahead.
Grant slumps in the passenger seat, scrolling on his phone. He did not offer to drive, and I did not ask him to. I am more than content behind the wheel. I have not turned on the radio, though, and for once, the silence I often seek out is deafening.
“Did you want to listen to something?” I ask.
Grant jerks his head up in surprise. “Oh. Really?”
“Yes.”
A grin flicks over his face—there and gone—and he leans forward to fiddle with the radio. After a moment, he makes a pleased sound and taps at his phone again. I do my best to concentrate on the road.
I am not certain what to expect from this job. Of course I will do whatever it takes to ensure Grant’s safety. I know I serve the Hunt before all else and that to leave a high fae running around, particularly one who may have been involved in the deaths of several vampires, is incredibly dangerous.
Will I give up on searching for her if it means saving Grant?
My eyes slide over to him again.
I know the answer. I do not like it, but I know it, and I fear the Huntsman may know it, too.
Grant settles on some music from his phone, something that is all heavy guitar and mumbled lyrics, but it brings a smile to his face, so I do not mind it much. I mind it even less when he moves his head to the music, mouthing the words along silently.
He has been withdrawn these past few months. Since the argument I had with Asher and the others, but even more so since the high fae came through the veil. I do not know how to cross the distance that has grown between us. How to repair the trust I have broken.
Around an hour later, once we are out of the city, Grant frowns and turns the radio down. He twists to face me in his seat.
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“I…” Grant pushes his dark hair back from his face, then huffs when it flops forward again. “I’m from here. Margate. I know I should’ve told you sooner, but it’s not like Maurice could come, and I’m sure Jeremiah and Paxton could handle it, but we don’t have long until another vampire dies, right? I mean, if it’s a pattern and it seems like it is, and Idowant to help, Vlad, I can totally do it and—”
“Grant.”
He falls instantly silent, eyes big and round as he waits for my response. A faint tremor goes through his frame and I sigh.
“I know,” I say. It is a shame we are on the motorway as this would be an easier conversation if I could pull the car over. The next junction is ours. I can do it there.
“You know?” Grant shakes his head. “How…?”
“Jeremiah told me tonight. He was right to. It is something I needed to know before we arrived in the city.”
