“I used the stipend I got as a companion to pay for a place for her to crash,” Deborah explained. “I didn’t see her as often as I liked because of my role as a companion but at least she was safe.”
“Something happened to change that,” I guessed.
Chadwick hadn’t been stationed that far away. Just two and a half hours to the north, near the Michigan/Ohio border in Toledo. It was close enough she could have come back to check on Lexi.
Deborah’s laugh was sharp. “You could say that.”
I was silent, giving her time to gather herself.
“Chadwick is cruel. I knew that going in but thought it was a small price to pay for my health. I figured I could do the ten years I needed before I was considered for the bite. After that, I’d do everything in my power to win a slot.” Deborah tried for a smile and failed. “Do you know I had a relapse last year? It’s almost unheard of for a companion to be anything but in the best of health. Chadwick didn’t care. He said my disease made me taste better.”
I was quiet, wondering how neglectful he’d had to be for that to happen. Thomas had fed Linda once and cured her cancer. As long as she didn’t come near death multiple times, he might never have to give her blood again.
Deborah would have had to be in very poor health for a relapse to be possible.
“And then he found out about Lexi.” Deborah nodded when she caught my jerk. “My baby sister. He said she should come with us. That he’d never been with sisters before.”
I should have been a lot less nice during our last encounter. Maybe if I’d beaten the shit out of him, I wouldn’t feel so enraged right now.
“So that’s why I ended my relationship with him,” Deborah finished. “Are you going to tell me why this is so important or just let me guess?”
Her tone was flat and even.
“My whereabouts were leaked last night,” I said, watching her face carefully.
She was too intelligent not to catch my meaning. “You think it was me.”
“I hope not.”
I really did. Because I liked her a lot more than I did a few days ago. It was hard not to admire someone who would put their life and health at risk to protect those dear to them the way she had.
“What do I need to do to prove I’m not the leak?” Deborah asked.
I considered her, weighing my options.
If we’d been human this would have been an impossible question. Innocence and guilt were more difficult to ascertain.
Luckily, we were vampires.
“Allow Joseph to examine your mind,” I said, coming to a decision.
He’d be able to tell her intentions, and if her mind had been tampered with using compulsion.
“If that’s what it takes, I agree.”
It was clear Liam had anticipated my response because Nathan was waiting outside my door to escort Deborah.
He grinned at seeing the state of my dress. “Nice outfit, A.”
“I was in a hurry.”
“Sure, you were.”
“See that she gets to Joseph.”
Nathan acknowledged the request with a twitch of an eyebrow as he gave Deborah a dismissive jerk of his head. “Wait for me by the stairs.”
I nodded reassuringly at her to say it was going to be okay. Reluctantly, she moved down the hallway, leaving us alone.
