BloodSworn (29 page)

Eden curled her lips. “Spoiled food.”

“They are human beings.” Outrage made Trina’s voice sharp.

“They stopped being human when they accepted the bite.” As
if she sensed Trina’s reluctance to believe, Eden shrugged. “Run your tests on
them. All it takes is an exchange of infected blood. Even a small amount of the
virus in the vampire’s bite will kill them. Without proper care, they all end
up like this eventually.”

Trina ignored the startling fact that her sister knew so
much about her despite the years of separation. Then she forgot everything when
her gaze zeroed in on Drew.

He’d bitten the King, and the vampire had returned the
favor. The King had the ability to control him, so Drew was already infected.

The only way to free him would be to kill the King before
the virus had enough time to take root and turn Drew into one of the walking
dead. Without further analysis, she didn’t know the gestation period of the virus.

 “They call them remnants. They are literally the living
dead. Frequent blood exchange makes them stronger and faster. The low level of
the virus in their system is designed to keep them alive longer, and heal small
wounds. It helps the vampires maintain a healthy food supply.

“Their fate is tied to their master. The higher the dosage,
the more blood they consume, the stronger they become. By the time the virus has
seated itself in the body, the remnant is addicted to the pleasure/pain of the
bite and all the benefits of being more than mortal.”

Horror filled Trina at Drew’s fate. Without a regular dose
of the vampire virus, his body would slowly decay and die. She was determined
not to let it happen.

Eden nodded her head in Drew’s direction. “I’m sorry, but
you needed to know. He’s a danger to you. You would be doing him a kindness to
kill him now.”

Trina said nothing as her sister walked off. Maybe it would
be a mercy. Maybe he would be better off. But she couldn’t give up on him
without at least trying to save him. He was worth the risk. She wondered what’d
happened to harden Eden against hope.

Dorian lingered behind and squeezed her shoulder. “Losing
you and your parents at the same time changed her. Don’t judge her too harshly.
She’s trying to protect you.”

Trina stood. She was not sure she was convinced by his words,
but she appreciated his attempt.

“We need to get back to the Den and out of the graveyard before
darkness falls.” No one needed to be told twice and headed for the cars.

Weston looked a little worse for wear, the three shifters
behind him not in much better shape. The witches had suffered minor scratches
and bites but nothing life threatening.

The ride back was silent with Trina doing her best to patch
up Weston with the limited supplies from the car’s first aid kit.

“Don’t bother. It’ll heal soon enough.”

Trina ignored him and finished bandaging a nasty gash on his
arm, anything to distract her from the growing nerves as they neared the Den.

After everything that had happened, she didn’t know where
they went from here. One thing Merrick said was true…they would never leave
her in peace.

How could she expect anyone to share that life with her?

The car rolled to a stop, and Trina glanced up to see a mob
of people in various stages of battle paraphernalia swarming outside the Den. Spray
paint decorated the walls in an intricate design. They were casting some sort
of spell. All the symbol needed was power to activate it. A few loose bricks
lay scattered on the sidewalk, and a number of scorch marks darkened the walls
of the Den.

“Look, a welcoming party. And I forgot to bring my torch and
pitchfork.” Trina remained seated, too exhausted to face another confrontation
right now. The same witches who almost spun her into a panic just the day
before didn’t even phase her now.

“We killed a high witch and some of her people.” Merrick
left the car idling, but it was too late to try to sneak past them now as they’d
already been spotted. Even from this distance, magic shimmered in the air like
raindrops caught in the sun’s rays.

The car behind them pulled out and for a second, Trina
thought they would drive off and leave them to defend themselves. Then Dorian parked
in front of the crowd, exited and reached out a hand to help Eden exit the car.
The two of them walked forward, and the crowd fell silent.

Merrick used the distraction and grabbed her hand, pulling
her from the driver’s side. “Come, let’s go home.”

Home.

Tears crowded her eyes, and she ducked her head. Though he
might not know it, Merrick had made the Den a home for her. She hadn’t realized
how long she’d been searching for that very thing.

With no signal that she saw, shifters from the compound surrounded
them, ushering them through the doors. Drew was carried off to the infirmary.
She wanted to follow and help, but the biggest help she could be to him right
now was to find the King and get rid of the problem for him.

She’d thought that when they rescued her sister, things
would be better. It only unearthed more problems. Like shit, they stuck to the
bottom of her shoe and she couldn’t scrape away the smell.

The Den was a hive of activity. Everyone was armed, some
with claws and teeth as huge animals prowled the grounds. It was a little
unnerving to see their true selves so out in the open. “I see you decided to
throw a party.”

Victor rose from behind the desk, looking disgusted. “They showed
up late last night, the numbers doubling every hour.”

“Any trouble?”

“Minor squabbles. They wanted us to turn over the heathen
murderers.” He scratched his bristled chin. “What happened on your end?”

“Successful, but we are about to have a few hundred vengeful
vampires descend.”

Victor grunted. “At least they offer more of a challenge
than the witches.

“We left them in pretty rough shape, but they will
retaliate. Double the patrols. Be on the lookout for remnants as well. The border
is going to be hit hard.”

Eden and Dorian entered the room, and Trina was surprised they
hadn’t disappeared as soon as they got what they wanted.

“You came back to help us with the vampires.” Trina wasn’t
sure whether she was asking a question or not.

Eden shook her head. “It isn’t that simple. We want to ask
you to come back with us.”

Trina didn’t say anything for a moment, ignoring the one
thing that she thought she’d wanted the most…an offer to come home. “Not
simple? The shifters risked their lives for you.”

“They came because that’s their job. We can’t fight without
council approval.” She ran a hand through her tangled hair, only to get her
fingers caught up in the mess. “But we can keep you safe and away from the
front lines.”

Two of the shifters growled, and Weston pulled his gun and
checked the clip. Trina was just pissed. “If we followed the witches’ rules,
you would still be rotting in that garden.”

“I know.”

Trina couldn’t believe how casually Eden accepted their
abandonment. “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept that.”

“Eden’s right. You would be safer.” Merrick’s words stopped
her heart. She pushed away the pain and narrowed her eyes on him. He had
something planned and wanted her shuffled out of the way.

Trina crossed her arms and didn’t budge an inch. No way in
hell would she go down without a fight. “Let’s not forget that witches have
tried to kill me on more than one occasion, and you want to hand me over to
them. You will keep me safe. If either group wants me bad enough, they won’t
stop, no matter where I stay.”

* * *

Trina had fallen asleep wrapped in Merrick’s arms and awoke
the same way. The instant she moved, he snuggled closer.

“How do you feel?”

“Better.” Memories of last night rose, starting with her
demand that he undress so she could check for injuries. Once he lost his shirt,
she lost most of her medical training as well. It didn’t help that he strutted
around the room, parading before her so she could see every naked of inch of
him.

Looking was her first mistake.

Touching had been her second.

She rolled over and realized that he was still very much
naked and happy to see her. Despite the way they’d spent nearly all night familiarizing
themselves with each other, she blushed.

Merrick laughed, and Trina shoved at his chest. She managed
to slip out of bed before he could catch her, and they lost another hour of the
day.

“Come back here.”

The slumber in his voice heated her body anew. All she
wanted was to return to the protection of his arms and take advantage of his
good nature, but they both had work to do.

As if reading her thoughts, he sighed and rose. “You know,
they did manage not to burn down the place while we were gone.”

Trina rolled her eyes, wishing it were that simple. “Only a
small riot.”

Until the King was dead, Merrick and Drew were in danger.
She had to find a solution and fast. Instinct warned that the vampires wouldn’t
waste time in retaliating.

“I want to check on Drew.”

Merrick’s face settled into a scowl, but he didn’t object. “Don’t
leave the guard’s side.”

He walked up to her and pulled her hat from behind him. He
placed it on her head, cupped her chin and kissed her with a slow thoroughness
that left her standing there long after he’d vanished into the bathroom. It
wasn’t fair that he could turn her around so easily.

She wandered into the hallway, almost tripping over the
shifter who was waiting for her. With a blush, she hurried to the infirmary.

Glenda smiled when she saw them. “There’s food in the fridge.”

The shifter immediately pulled out a sandwich and made
himself at home. Trina waved away the offer. “I’m fine. I wanted to check on Drew.”

Glenda nodded toward the ward. “I just got him settled. Go
check.”

The anxiety that something had changed during the night eased
when she saw Drew hooked up to an IV and resting comfortable.

A clean bandage encircled his throat, and she peeked beneath.
The bite was almost healed, only a tiny scar remaining.

That quick healing meant the infection wasn’t a fluke. It
wouldn’t just wear off because she wished it.

She grabbed his hand and pulled up short.

They’d tied him down.

Indignation shot through her, and she worked to loosen the
first straps.

“No! You can’t.” Drew woke at her touch, and he shook his
arm, smacking her hand away from the cuff. When she didn’t reach for them
again, he calmed a little. He nervously licked his lips and confessed her greatest
fear. “I can hear him in my head. I was afraid what would happen when I fell
asleep.”

Trina’s heart broke at his fear. She wanted to reassure him,
tell him he was being paranoid, but he could very well be right.

Drew smiled at her expression. “Don’t worry. The bastard will
die soon enough. In the meantime, we spoke with Dorian, and he said a serum could
be created by using the witches’ own blood. It will knock me out and prevent
others from getting in my head as well. To the outside world, I’ll be dead.”

“Merrick and I will stop him.”

Drew’s eyes grew heavy under the drugs, his body relaxing.
“I know.”

Trina checked on the other patients to give herself time for
her anger to cool off. She wanted to rage at Glenda, but knew that she’d offered
Drew a comfort. That small fact cooled off her temper enough for her to enter
the other room without wanting to rip into the other woman. “Were you able to make
any headway on what I left you?”

Glenda shook her head, a defeated slump to her shoulders. “I
saw your results, but I couldn’t duplicate them without magic. We have a short
supply of that around here.”

“Let’s test with fresh samples and see what we find.” Trina turned
to gather the supplies when Glenda raised her hand.

“You’re bushed. Sit. Rest. Let me take care of it.”

Trina smiled and sat, pulling her notes closer. “I think
we’re on the right track.”

Trina absently fingered her hat, blushing when she
remembered the last time she’d worn it.

Glenda stopped at her side with a vial. Trina turned the
page and held out her arm.

A sharp sting made her looked up.

But much too late to see that the needle was attached to a syringe.

Trina yanked her arm away, giving a startled yelp as the
needle tore from the curve of her elbow. She put pressure on the wound and launched
to her feet, the chair toppling to the ground between them. “What did you do?”

“I’m dying, and the vampires promised they would heal me…for
a price. You.”

“Dying? From what?” Trina glanced at the shifter seated at
the table, only to realize that she hadn’t heard from him since they’d entered.
Glazed eyes and a waxy complexion indicated that he’d passed out. Trina felt a
pang for not noticing sooner.

There would be no help from that quarter.

“Parkinson’s.”

Trina stared at Glenda. “You don’t show any symptoms. The
disease takes years—”

“Years to slowly die. Years to have my body fail. I would
lose everything.”

Trina had thought the doctor had been afraid of the
shifters, the way she kept her distance from them, but the whole time she’d
been afraid they would find out the truth. It was stupid of Trina not to have
picked up on it sooner. What doctor would continue to stay and treat patients
when she feared them? “There are medici—”

“Drugs don’t work anymore. They’re not covering the
symptoms. The shifters won’t tolerate weakness in someone supposed to heal
them. The vampires promised me my life back.”

“You mean the illusion of life.” Trina stumbled as the drugs
sped through her system. She tottered to the door, her legs like two
toothpicks, her body heavy.

She had to warn Merrick.