“Now we’re good.” I couldn’t complain, I guess.
I sank into the chair beside his bed, a smile tugging at my lips happy that we had at least started to sort things out. I knew we hadn’t got through everything, but we both knew that there were bigger, more important things going on.
"Find anything useful on the phone?" Damon asked, and I shrugged.
"I just gave it to Kaitlyn before I came here," I said and he nodded.
"She'll sort it out." He struggled to find a comfortable position on the bed. "Kaitlyn's resourceful." I resisted the urge to help him, knowing he wouldn't appreciate being coddled.
"Aye, she is. Best hacker I've ever known." We sat and talked about plans of what we could do to find Erica. Damon suggested that we go back to the bar where she worked but I had a feeling that she wouldn’t return there. We continued to brainstorm until I felt the buzz of a mind link. I opened up to my sister's voice.
“You can bring me a large bar of chocolate to say thank you,” she sang through the link, making me smile. I thanked her and told her I would be right there.
“Kaitlyn came through?” Damon asked, and I nodded,
“Sounds like it,” I said. “Are you going to be okay?”
“Of course I am,” Damon scoffed. “Go get what you need to bring your girl home.” I nodded at him and smiled.
Just as I was about to walk out the door, I stopped without turning.
“Damon?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you really love her?” The question was painful to ask, but I had to know.
“Yeah.” His voice sounded sad and his own hurt was clearly evident. I said nothing for a moment.
“Good,” I finally said with resolve. “That means that you will protect her.”
“With my last dying breath,” he responded with the clearest certainty.
I nodded and walked out of the room.
Chapter 10
Erica
AsIstoodinfront of the mirror, my green eyes staring back at me, I couldn't help but feel a knot forming in my stomach. The black dress seemed to swallow me whole, amplifying the darkness that surrounded us since Trenton's death. Imogen entered the room, her usual fierce expression softened by her own grief.
"Are you ready?" she asked, her voice cracking slightly. I nodded, my hands trembling as I tried to smooth down the fabric of my dress.
"Imogen," I said hesitantly, "I'm scared. I'm terrified of being hunted again. We need to leave this place." She sighed heavily, her gaze dropping to her father's picture on the dresser.
"I know, Erica. I don't want to move either, but we have to keep our family safe, especially now that Dad's gone."
As we continued to prepare for the funeral, I could see the pain and uncertainty etched across Imogen's face. I knew she was struggling just as much as I was, if not more. Her eyes met mine in the mirror, and I could see the unspoken questions burning behind them.
"Erica," she began cautiously, "About your new mate. Do you think if you accepted the bond, you might be safer? That way, you wouldn't have to hide with the rest of us." The thought had crossed my mind, but I couldn't abandon Imogen and our family. I shook my head, feeling the weight of my decision settling over me.
"No, Imogen, I can't leave you guys. You're my family too." My voice broke, betraying my fear and resolve. "Please, don't tell anyone about my mate. It's too risky." Imogen's jaw clenched, but she nodded begrudgingly.
"Alright, Erica. I'll keep your secret. But we need to be careful, now more than ever."
"Thank you," I whispered, feeling the weight of our shared grief and determination binding us together like iron chains. We had survived so much already, but the darkness lurking on the horizon threatened to consume everything we held dear. And as we prepared for Trenton's funeral, I knew that only our loyalty and love for one another would guide us through the treacherous path ahead.
A firm knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. Beck, Imogen's twin brother, stood in the doorway with a solemn expression.
