“They will certainly try.” Thomas’s lips quirked. “It’s kind of them to weed out my enemies for me.”
seventeen
ThomasandNathanwerestill discussing battle plans when I left. I headed back to Joseph’s makeshift hospital room in search of Liam. But he wasn’t there. His scent still lingered on the air, telling me he hadn’t been gone long.
Changing course, I headed for his room.
Located on the third floor in a wing of the house where only Liam and Thomas were allowed to stay, it hadn’t seen much use since he’d bought a house outside of the city. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d visited as a result.
In a rush to check on him, I climbed the stairs two at a time. Eric was leaving Liam’s room as I reached it.
“How is he?” I asked.
“Joseph believes we’ve provided adequate blood for his needs.”
The relief that rushed through me made me light-headed. I’d been so afraid.
“Joseph and Rick are still inside,” Eric said, moving past me. “They should be done soon.”
I watched him reach the end of the hallway and turn the corner before reaching for Liam’s door. I pushed it open and stepped inside.
Liam’s room was masculine. Gold and wood accents ran throughout. A perfect counterpoint to the dark walls. It was difficult to tell the exact color; either a deep green or a blue black. Maybe some combination of the two. Wainscoting had been added to the walls to create depth and give it a more traditional flare. Directly over the bed was a painting of a horse, its form lost to the fog surrounding it. In the distance, behind the animal, you could just make out the outline of a castle.
Liam had told me the story of that painting before. It was of Liam’s home. His birth place. His sire had commissioned it a decade after Thomas and Liam were forced to leave.
It had hung in his bedroom ever since. A reminder of what he’d lost—and the eternity he’d gained.
I joined Joseph at the end of the bed.
Liam was in the midst of feeding off a red-headed enforcer. Rick didn’t show any signs of pain as Liam pulled him closer, clutching the other man’s arm to his mouth.
Joseph didn’t get the chance to speak as Liam’s focus jumped to me, the raw need on his face making me catch my breath. He looked at me the way a dying man might salvation. Like I was the only thing that existed.
Liam let Rick’s wrist slide through his hand, his movements predatory as he stared at me.
“What’s wrong with him?” I asked.
“Nothing you need to worry about.” Joseph was already packing his things. He gestured for Rick to follow him out of the room.
The enforcer gave me a quick nod and a half smile before strolling toward the door with a lazy saunter. As if he didn’t have a care in the world. And as if terrifying snarls weren’t coming from Liam’s throat as he got a little too close to me.
“You sure about that?” I asked in a tight voice.
Liam shifted forward, the covers sliding down to pool at his thighs. His chest and arms were bare, revealing a body that was every woman’s dream.
Rick paused to shoot him a look as he smoothed his sleeves over his wrist to cover the wound that was already in the process of healing. “He won’t hurt you. He’s simply reacting to the amount of blood he’s ingested.”
I looked from the enforcer to Liam with uncertainty. Is that what he was calling this?
Joseph lost his patience, rolling his eyes as he grabbed his stuff off the dresser. “He’s just feeling a little excitable right now. Help him fuck some of that energy out of his system, and he’ll be fine.”
“You’re a little too frank,” I told him.
Joseph headed for the door. “It’s part of my bedside manner. Feed him. Fuck him. Keep him occupied for the next few hours and by tomorrow night he’ll be ready for war.”
Rick’s face held sympathy as he followed the other man. “Vampires are predatory in nature. We enjoy the hunt. You can use that.”
Use that, how?
