Zoya and Katarina exchanged a glance. They’d been there when Beckham had used it as a form of torture. They knew the odds of Brian coming around.
“Why don’t you have a seat?” Zoya suggested.
“I have the best recipe for Russian tea,” Katarina offered as Zoya gently moved Reyna to the couch. As if she were a wild animal about to bolt.
“Russian tea?” Reyna asked in confusion.
“Vodka. Takes the edge off.”
“This isn’t good,” Jodie muttered.
“Jodie, come help me in the kitchen,” Katarina snapped. “Meghan and Tye, blankets and candles. It’s going to be a long night.”
…
Reyna fell asleep on the couch with her head against a pillow and her feet in Meghan’s lap. Having someone to take care of had finally seemed to snap Meghan out of the daze she’d been walking in for the last couple weeks. She’d helped Zoya and Katarina nurse Reyna through the hours and hours of screamingand snarling.
Soft voices and the feel of fingers brushing her hair out of her face drew Reyna from her deep slumber. She felt half-awake and half-asleep. Somewhere in an in-between place.
“How’s she doing?” Beckham whispered low.
“As well as can be expected,” Katarina responded. “She is sleeping. That is best.”
“How much vodka did you give her to get her to do that?”
“Enough.” Katarina sighed. “Will the boy make it through?”
“He’s going to need more blood. He’s rabid. If I could get him to drink, then maybe he’ll pull through.”
“Did you ever think that we’d be the ones trying to save a rogue vampire?” she asked with a tinge of humor in her voice.
“Only one,” he said fondly.
“You needed a good assassin. I was dying. And anyway, you’re not saving this boy for your own sake. You’re saving it for hers. Do you truly love her?”
Reyna felt Beckham’s eyes on her. “I do.”
“What does it feel like?”
“To feel?”
“Yes.”
“Like indescribable pain and wonder.” Beckham paused. “She’s a weakness. I’ve never allowed myself to have one before. She’s so fragile.”
“She’s not that fragile. She has steel for a backbone and she’s as stubborn as you are. Stop treating her like she’s going to break. She needs your strength, not your fear.”
Beckham growled low at the comment. “I have to protect her.”
“I know.”
“She doesn’t want me to.”
“You’ll do your best.”
“I’d die a thousand deaths for her. No matter the cost, you protect her first.”
“Sir…”
