“Where…” I tried to speak. It was raw and painful.
Closing the book and standing from the chair, he poured me a glass of water. Offering it, he also gave me a benevolent smile. “We’re beyond the Burnt Woods, safely deep within our rock sanctuary.”
“Aiko…”
“He’s out on patrol. He’ll be back soon.”
I sipped the water. “What happened?”
“Savion lost his goddamn mind and gnawed through your throat like a dog through a bone.” Odom sat down in his chair again. “He made you take his blood, and he took yours. What he should have done was die, struck down by magic. He attacked the Breaker and nearly killed you.
“But Aiko tore out of there with you, and Billan distracted Savion.”
I frowned. “Billan is dead?”
Odom nodded. “Yes. Savion beheaded him.”
“He was going to take mine…” I took a deep breath and let it out as slowly as I could. “Heismy father.”
Odom stared at the pitcher on the nightstand for a long moment. “I don’t know how it’s possible, but yes. You are the only known druid-vampire child.”
“In three thousand years.”
He nodded. “In longer than.”
“Go on, what else happened? It was all gray and foggy for me from the moment he decided to make an actual snack of my neck.”
“Aiko rushed out of the building with you, and your sword and his, and stole a horse—”
“We went through the…the Arch of Life.”
“You did.”
I pursed my lips. “Aiko was obscured by an iruki bird.”
Odom lifted his eyebrows. “Auspicious.”
“What did he see for me?”
He smirked. “I’ll let Aiko tell you later.” I harrumphed, but Odom chuckled and continued on. “He stole a horse, and hoisted you on and rode that poor beast all the way to the practice field, where he grabbed a fresh one and rode on again.” Odom grabbed my hand. “I don’t know how you didn’t die on that horse. I don’t know…”
“Because Roran told me to stay alive,” I answered. “Because I have people who love me, and I need to see them again.” I smirked. “It wouldn’t do for the Bright Sword to die on the back of the horse, would it?”
Shaking his head, Odom laughed lightly. “He rode all the way here in a day. He wouldn’t stop until he got you here. And it was only when he got you here that we figured out…” His voice trailed away.
I finished for him. “I’m half vampire.”
“And you needed blood.”
“I figured that out, too,” I whispered. “Somewhere in the mess that was my mind, I realized.” I stared at the sheets in front of me. “I asked Aiko…”
“And he was more than willing, child. More than. He treasures you. That you gave him your blood to preserve his strength the other day meant the world to him, and he was happy to help you.”
I looked up at him. “I didn’t hurt Aiko, did I?”
“Not even close,” Odom smiled. He took my hand. “There are things you should know, Kimber. You and Aiko—”
“General, I’ll explain it.” Aiko strode into the room, looking wild-eyed and wild-haired. He was not happy, and I shrank back on the bed, away from him.
