Page 117 of Warrior Unraveled

Cinead met his gaze. “I believe so.”

“Do you still love your sister, even knowing what she’s become?”

“How could I not? She is my flesh and blood, and what happened to her is my fault, not hers.”

“Then you have to convince her that she’s still deserving of love,” Wes said firmly. “Or she will starve herself to death.”

In front of the cell, they stopped. Maya pressed the intercom next to the cell door and said, “John? It’s Maya. I’m with Wes and Cinead. We’re coming in.”

The intercom crackled, then John’s voice could be heard. “Okay. I’m restraining her.” There was a high-pitched scream, then the intercom went silent.

“Stay close to us,” Maya warned Cinead, then unlocked the door.

The room was larger than the lead cell Wesley had been in, but not any more welcoming. It was generally only used for hostile and dangerous vampires, and in this case Deirdre was considered a danger—to herself.

John was trying to keep Deirdre from lunging toward her visitors, holding her from behind, one hand restraining her arms behind her back, the other arm slung like a vise around her torso. She was fighting against his grip, and by the looks of it she’d managed to inflict some wounds: there were cuts on John’s face, and also on his exposed forearm. Blood had dried over the wounds, which had most likely been caused by Deirdre’s claws.

Even now, her fingers curved into sharp barbs and her fangs were fully extended. Her eyes glowed red with rage, and she growled like a caged beast.

But John was well fed and stronger, whereas Deirdre had to be feeling the pangs of hunger by now, which weakened her.

“Deirdre, oh my God,” Cinead choked out and stretched his arms toward her as if wanting to embrace her, but Deirdre hissed at him, and he jerked backward.

“It’s me, Deirdre, it’s Cinead, your brother,” he tried again.

She shook her head violently left and right, sending her hair flying.

Undeterred, Cinead took a few steps toward her. Deirdre suddenly stopped moving and stared at Cinead.

Her eyes changed. The red glare dissipated. “Cinead?” She took a breath. “Help me. They’ve locked me up. They’re trying to hurt me.”

“They’re here to help you. You’re not well right now.”

Deirdre glanced at Wesley and Maya, then looked back at Cinead. “Don’t trust them. They’re vampires. They want to hurt us. Save yourself.”

Cinead continued to approach until he was only a couple of feet away from her. “Listen to me, Deirdre. Everything will be fine.” He reached out and swept a few strands of her hair behind her ear. “It’s a big change. But you’re alive. You sacrificed so much for me, for us. You saved Virginia’s life.”

Wesley noticed tears rim Deirdre’s eyes, red tears.

“I love you even more now. You’ve proven that redemption is truly possible. You’ve redeemed yourself in all our eyes. The entire council will hear of it. And I know they’ll praise you.”

A red tear dislodged from one eye and ran down her cheek. “Cinead,” she whimpered. “But look at me. Look at this.”

Cinead gently stroked his hand over Deirdre’s head. “You’re strong, my little sister. You can do this. You can be this.” Cinead’s voice was thick with emotion. “These people are our friends. They’ve promised to protect you now. To help you accept this. And I’ll be here for as long as you need me. I’m still your brother, no matter what form you’ve taken. Because I know that inside this new body of yours, your heart is still the same.”

Tears were now rolling down Cinead’s face, but he didn’t seem to notice, or didn’t seem to care.

“Please don’t leave me, Deirdre. Please don’t give up.” He motioned to John. “John is going to release you now.”

John hesitated and looked at Wesley.

Wesley nodded. “Do it.”

Slowly, John released his grip on Deirdre. At first she didn’t move. Everybody in the room held their breath.

All of a sudden, there was a movement so fast Wesley couldn’t even follow it. When he blinked, Deirdre was embracing her half-brother, sobbing at his chest, and Cinead was holding her and stroking his hand over her back as if she were a little child.

“I’m so hungry,” she murmured.

“We’ll get you some nourishment, won’t we?” Cinead said with a look at John.

John turned to the table where several bottles of blood stood, picked up a bottle and unscrewed the top.

The scent of the blood seemed to reach Deirdre, because she suddenly released her brother and turned to look at John.

“It’s all for you. As much as you like,” John offered and held the bottle out to her.

Her movements hesitant, she reached for it and took it. As if she was ashamed of her need, she dropped her lids and turned away.

Seconds later she lifted the bottle to her lips and drank.

Cinead let out a relieved breath.

“Everything will turn out alright, little sister. You’ll see.”

Deirdre had accepted her second chance at life. And Wesley knew that his friends at Scanguards would make sure she was safe. Not only because she was a vampire now, and one of them, or because she had saved Virginia’s life, but also because as a former council member, Deirdre knew too much. That knowledge could never fall into the demons’ hands.