“That’s a cop-out, if I’ve ever heard one,” I said as he glared at me.
“Sam, we’re on the same side. Cadmael is an ally,” Clive said.
“No, she’s right,” Vlad argued. “I knew what they did, and I chose to absent myself rather than stop it. It’s dangerous and plays into the desire some have to openly rule over humans.”
“Let’s get rid of these humans before we have this discussion,” Cadmael said, sounding as though he disapproved of everyone and everything, but especially me.
The vamps got to work, mesmerizing each one of the humans to forget what had happened, laying over a new memory of being sick from food poisoning. When they were done, Clive and I walked them out of the passage—the tunnel door was hidden behind a rusted dumpster—and then over to the hostel. It had a light by the door, glowing on the dark street.
I called Viktoria. It took her a moment to answer.
“Yes?”
“Sorry to call so late, but I need your help. What happened to that teenager was happening again tonight.”
“What?” Her anger was palpable through the phone. There were multiple growls in the background. Good. Hopefully that meant the pack was together.
“We got them out, but they need protection until the effects wear off and they’re feeling more themselves.” The little one beside me started to shiver, so I wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “One of them is a child, so there’s probably a search party looking for her.”
I had to pull the phone from my ear when an anguished howl pierced my eardrum.
“Where are they?” she demanded.
“We’re outside the youth hostel on the street behind the Bloody Ruin where I met László and his friend. I’ll wait with them. I don’t want anything to happen before you get here.”
Angry voices shouted over one another but I didn’t understand the language, which in this case was probably for the best. The phone went dead and I pocketed it.
You should go. They’re very angry. I said to Clive.
So I heard. Darling, they’re not happy with you either. I don’t want to leave you here alone.
I thought about it a moment. Stay nearby. I’ll need you to get back in the Guild anyway, but your presence here will only make them angrier.
As I agree, I’ll go, but know I’m close if they decide to take out their anger on you.
There was a bench, so I sat a few of them on it while we waited. A couple began rubbing their stomachs. One put his hand over his mouth. They were coming out of it. The wolves arrived as two shot up and vomited into nearby bushes.
Viktoria came straight to me. “What did you do to them?”
“I got them out, with the help of three vampires who had nothing to do with any of it. They were disgusted by what the others were doing.”
She scoffed at that, drawing the child away from me. She spoke to her in Hungarian.
As quietly as possible, I said, “They were given the memory of eating tainted meat from a street vendor and then being violently ill in a public restroom. They’re coming out of it now and their stomachs are cramping.”
“Still, you cover for them. They attack children and you shield the monsters,” she sneered. “You’re as bad as they are. I should have known only garbage associates with leeches.”
László snarled something in my direction. Viktoria gave me a look of disgust, waving me away, while she took the child from my side, ushering her to the larger group.
I walked down the road and turned toward the river, away from the asylum. Clive would find me. Right now, I just wanted to breathe clean air and walk. I understood I was the only one they could curse for what had been done to those poor people. I got it, but I still felt like crap.
Eventually, I made my way to the Chain Bridge. Leaning on the rail, I looked over the edge as the Danube rushed beneath. Lights from the bank danced on the water. If Fergus were here—and my leg was strong enough—we could go for a run and I could shake off this melancholy. Alas, my sweet boy was half a world away.
Needing to focus on anything other than tonight, I stared at the water, wondering about the cruel prince, his glass castle and mermaid daughters. I needed a happy ending. I hoped she’d escaped with her fisherman.
Clive leaned on the rail beside me. “You know what they said was aimed at my kind, not you, right?”
“Yeah.” I shrugged. “The people are getting taken care of, which is all that matters.” I turned my head to study him. “I don’t think there’s any coming back from what I did in there.” Thunking my head against his shoulder, I added, “I’m sorry. I wanted that Counselor job for you so badly.”
