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“Save her!” I snap, the world coming a little more into focus. I look at Julian. “Save her, now!”

Julian doesn’t react to my snapping at him, but he keeps eye contact with me as he tells Sebastian, “Put the witch in the car and the one I left alive in the trunk. Then call Gaspard. We need to clean up before the authorities arrive.”

“Right away, Commandant.” Sebastian moves away, gently placing Jade in the passenger seat and buckling her before moving to one of the dark lumps on the floor. The unlucky one that’s going to be interrogated, though I can’t feel especially sorry for him.

Meanwhile, Julian picks up his phone and hits a button before putting it to his ear. “Hector? Sorry to wake you, but it's an emergency. Head to my house as soon as possible. There’s someone who needs your immediate attention.”

Then he hangs up, and before I know it, he picks me up, carrying me princess-style as well. My arms go around his neck to steady myself.”

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Taking you home. You’re in shock,” Julian returns evenly.

“I know that,” I mutter.

“I’m sure you do. We need to hurry, though. Your friend is dying.”

“Then why aren’t we going to a hospital?” I demand.

Julian snorts before climbing into the SUV. “Because a human hospital would let her die. I just called the strongest hedgewarlock in New Orleans. A pricey call, too. If anyone can save your witch, it will be him.”

He sits on the seat, and I go to move off of him, but he holds me tight.

“I need a seatbelt,” I say, a little waspishly. I don’t know why I’m being so surly with my rescuer, but it might be the shock. I'm in too much pain to think about much of anything right now.

“I am stronger than any seatbelt. Please, ma souris. I need to hold you.”

Right, the effect of my blood. He probably is feeling on edge because I was almost taken. I suppose it would take too much energy to argue with him, anyway. Instead, I give up, my head going to rest against his shoulder.

“Alright,” I agree grudgingly.

Sebastian gets in the car after slamming the trunk and starts it.

“Drive fast,” Julian says, his voice soft and dangerous. “Like your life depends on it.”

We tear through the streets of New Orleans, thankfully mostly empty this early in the morning, and reach Julian’s house quickly. The moment we pull up, Gaspard is at the passenger-side door, where Jade is lolling in her seat. He opens it and unbuckles Jade like he’s handling something precious, even though the look on his face is downright murderous.

“Hector is on his way,” Julian says.

“He’s already here,” Gaspard rumbles, and then he and Jade are gone. I blink and then remember that vampires can be crazy fast. Gaspard is probably running her to the healer. Why do I keep forgetting things? Is it the shock or the bump on my head?

Sebastian opens Julian’s door, and Julian exits the car with me still in his arms. He doesn’t struggle or do anything clumsy, just exits smoothly like he's not carrying a whole woman in his arms. My head is still resting against his shoulder, and it feels too heavy to lift. But I shouldn’t go to sleep, right? You’re not supposed to after head injuries or something. I can’t completely remember.

My eyes close against my will, and when I open them again, I’m in bed, in that same green room from this morning. Was that just this morning? It seems like days ago. Weeks ago. Everything is distorted. Is Julian sure that I don’t have a concussion?

“I’m sure, ma souris,” he says, amused. “It is the shock. It’ll wear off.”

“Can you read my mind?” I ask in wonder and a little uncomfortably. That’s not good. I’ve had some thoughts about him I’d rather him not know.

“I’d love to hear them sometime,” Julian responds, still amused, and I blush. “But no, little mouse, I cannot hear your thoughts. You are muttering everything you are thinking aloud. Another symptom of your shock, no doubt. You need rest and . . .” he grabs the extra pillows from next to me on the bed and starts putting them under my legs. “. . . we should raise your legs to let the blood go back into your heart. It will help keep you calm.”

I let him fuss with the pillows for a moment, situating my legs to his liking, then ask, “Julian . . . was it Colton? They called him ‘the Most High.’”

The vampire turns to me, a frown on his lips. “I’m uncertain, ma souris. I have other enemies that may have noted my attraction to you and sought to hurt me by taking you . . . but I would not be surprised if it was him. He’s desperate to have you, and with the Fraternity involved, it may have forced his hand. I will find out the truth soon enough.”

Right, the kidnapper he left alive. “Will you kill him when you’re done?”

Julian goes still, but keeps my eyes. “Do not ask questions that you will not like the answers to, Andi. That is the first rule of this world.”