It takes me a moment to gather myself. I shake my head, forcing my focus back into place.
“The nun hurt Hex?” I ask, remembering why I called this Court in the first place.
“No. Anathema have scouts,” Echo grits out. “Scouts that are our kind. That somehow made him bleed like a mortal.”
Cain sits forward. “That can’t be.”
Echo looks at him. “It is. We saw it. They had weapons, like nothing I’ve ever seen. Blades with white flames. It sliced through Hex’s arm like butter. He screamed when it touched him. I’ve never heard him—or any of us—make a sound like that.”
Echo’s haunted gaze fixes on the table.
“His hand turned to dust,” he continues. “Just… crumbled. Floated down to the ground like black confetti. Blood poured from him like a waterfall.”
I swallow, feeling at a loss for the first time in my existence. I don’t know what to do. How to give them the reassurance they need, when my own head is full of questions and fear about how we’re supposed to defeat something like this.
A knock at the door draws my attention up. Diesel enters, his fingers wrapped around his neck.
“Can someone else feed him now?” he asks. “Any more, and I think I’m going to pass out. Also, Prez, I got a call from Murray. He asked when our next delivery will be.”
“Fuck,” I breathe, rubbing my face.
With all of this going on, I forgot about our business. Our biker business. We may be vampires, but we still need money. We still have a presence to uphold in this town.
“One of you go to Hex. Rook, Echo, and Shade, deliver Murray his order. Make sure he pays in full. Warn him there may be a slight delay in the next shipment,” I order.
“I’ll go see to Hex. I’ll try to read more of this book while he feeds,” Viktor says, standing and pocketing the book as he leaves. Rook and Shade aren’t far behind him.
“Silas, Marko, Clutch, go feed and stock up our resources. Go unseen. Leave no trail,” I continue. My mind is still swimming. “Diesel, go with them. You need to feed and replenish.”
They all nod and leave. Leaving only Cain and me in the room.
“What am I supposed to do now?” I ask.
Cain shrugs. “If I knew, I’d say. Go be with her. There isn’t anything we can do right now.”
I get to my feet. “Go feed, brother. I can sense your hunger,” I add as I pass him.
“Bossy bastard,” he scoffs.
My lips twitch in a faint smile, but right now I don’t want blood.
I want her.
Need her.
I enter my room silently and find her freshlyshowered, wearing one of my black button-down shirts. My bed is cleaned and made with fresh sheets.
She spins on her heel, sensing she isn’t alone. Her cheeks flush, and a small, hesitant smile plays at her lips.
“I, er… showered and didn’t have anything, so I borrowed this,” she says, lifting the hem of the shirt slightly. It sits mid-thigh. “And when I came out of the bathroom, the bed had already been cleaned and fresh sheets put on. I didn’t even hear anyone come in.” She keeps talking, words tumbling out.
I walk toward her, moving at a slower, more human pace, fighting every urge to move at vampire speed and take her into my arms.
“Thankfully, the door was shut, and I didn’t flash anyone, and at some point, do you think someone could get my clothes?” she rambles on, as if her own voice might protect her. “It’s not like you are going to let me leave at any point. How’s Hex? Did he survive? You really should have taken him to hos?—”
I snap before she can finish.
One step. Then another.
