Chapter 35

HAVEN

As the sun dipped below the horizon, we were on the move. I couldn’t let him slip away. If he did, he’d vanish into the shadows, and I’d lose him for good. He was a master at this game, but I was ready for it to end.

We stepped into the hotel, blending into the bustling lobby. My brother had a knack for making an entrance, and I knew he’d strut out like he owned the place. The humans around us were blissfully unaware, as always. I hoped it stayed that way. A commotion would only play into Silas’s hands.

Sure enough, he emerged from the elevator, a smug grin plastered on his face. I darted across the room, positioning myself in his path. His grin only widened. The bastard.

“Brother,” he greeted me. “Miss me so much you had to come say hello? Did you find your little pet? I took such good care of—”

His words were cut short as I sliced his throat with a silver blade concealed on my wrist. It wouldn’t kill him, unfortunately, but it would shut him up. I pressed my hand to the wound to hide it from view and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

“You don’t have the right to say her name. You’re going to spend a hundred years in a coffin for attacking another woman. I wanted your blood, but Father has a soft spot for you, so a coffin it is.”

His eyes widened in fear as I led him out of the hotel. He followed without a word, a first for him. As soon as we were outside, he tried to bolt. I couldn’t help but smile. I’d been hoping he’d try to run.

“I was hoping you’d try to run. Gives me an excuse to hurt you.”

I hurled my other knives, severing tendons, and he crumpled onto the street. I strolled through the crowd of screaming humans, humming a tune as Phoenix wiped their memories.

I retrieved my knives from Silas’s body, cleaned them off, and sheathed them again. I hoisted my brother up and sprinted back to my house, Phoenix hot on my heels.

I headed straight for the basement and dumped my bleeding brother, who was shooting daggers at me, into one of the coffins. I smiled at him as I pulled on gloves. I couldn’t touch the chains myself—they were made of silver.

I found myself humming that song Grace loved. It helped me focus on the task at hand.

“You’re...a...monster,” Silas managed to choke out as his throat slowly healed.

“Who’s the real monster here, Silas? You attacked what’s mine: a defenseless human girl. You nearly tore her throat out with your fangs. So tell me, who’s the monster?”

“She’s just a human. I’m your brother.”

“She means more to me than you ever will. She’s my soulmate, the one I’ve been waiting for all these centuries. Her blood calls to me, and you dared to touch it. I wanted to torture you, but that would upset Mother, and I don’t want that. See you in a hundred years, brother.”

He tried to scream, but his throat wasn’t fully healed. I closed the coffin and draped the chains over it, then sealed it with holy water.

That should keep him quiet for a while.

Phoenix was waiting for me upstairs, a frown on his face. What now?

“What’s wrong, Phoenix?” I asked.

“You had to attack him in the middle of the street. I had to hypnotize so many people.”

“As if that’s a challenge for you.” I sighed.

“It’s exhausting, and neither of us have fed yet. Nice throws, by the way. I know you’re deadly, but...it’s a nice reminder not to cross you.”

“Did you need a reminder?” I asked, amused.

“No, but it’s still good to know.” He chuckled. “You should go be with Grace. I’m sure she’d rather wake up to you than Oliver.”

“Agreed.” I smiled, thinking of Grace. “Thanks for your help, Phoenix.”

“Will I see you at work tomorrow?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t want to leave Grace. We’ll come back to work together. I’ll work from home until then.”

“Sounds good.”

“Watch out for Clark,” I warned him. “He wasn’t involved this time, but he’ll want to know what happened to his sire.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Phoenix left, and I headed upstairs. I found Oliver standing guard outside my bedroom door. He bowed his head when he saw me.

Oliver was a giant of a man. I’d found him at a slave market in Italy and made him my right-hand man.

No one could intimidate people quite like Oliver. He was a dark, imposing figure, and that was what I liked about him.

“Sire,” he rumbled, “the lady hasn’t woken up yet.”

“Good. I’d rather she woke up with me here. No offense, Oliver, but she doesn’t know you yet.”

“None taken, Sire. She’s so small, I understand completely.”

Everything was small compared to him, even me. He always seemed to get a kick out of that joke.

“Thanks for getting here so quickly, Oliver.”

“I’m always at your service, Sire.”

“You’re so formal.” I sighed.

“I balance out Phoenix’s casualness.” He grinned.

That was true. One was too casual, the other too formal. As long as they did what I told them to, I didn’t mind.

“You’re right about that.” I chuckled. “I’ll stay with Grace until she’s ready to go back to work. Keep an eye on any vampires who step out of line while I’m busy.”

“Do I have free rein, Sire?”

“You do.”

“Appreciate it. I’ll stay with our lady now.”

With a bow, he exited the hallway and the house. I couldn’t help but think that I’d just doomed any chance of a secret kiss between them. Oliver was far from lenient. But at least they’d behave.

I walked into the room, finding my girl exactly where I’d left her. The IV bags were nearly drained, and worry began to gnaw at me. The doctor had instructed me to call if she hadn’t woken up by the time the IVs were empty. Maybe I’d give him a ring after my shower.

I headed to the bathroom, washing away the remnants of my brother’s blood. Once I was clean, I didn’t bother getting dressed. All I wanted was to be near Grace, to listen to the rhythm of her heartbeat and the soft sound of her breathing.

Before I settled in, I decided to call the doctor. I needed to know she was okay. He picked up immediately, as if he’d been waiting for my call. Maybe he had. He knew I wasn’t one for patience.

“She’s still out, and the IVs are nearly empty,” I informed him.

“I’ll swing by in a few hours to check on her.”

“Sounds good. I’ll be here.”

I ended the call and moved to the bed. I nestled next to Grace, pressing a kiss to her forehead before resting my head in the crook of her neck.

I hadn’t eaten yet, that was true. But I couldn’t stomach anything. I needed to hear her voice, feel her warmth, see her smile. Then, maybe, I’d consider feeding.

“I miss you,” I murmured.

Closing my eyes, I let the steady beat of her heart lull me back to sleep.

The sound of the doorbell roused me. Must be the doctor. I groaned but forced myself to stand, pulling on a pair of sweatpants before heading downstairs to let him in.

Sunlight streamed into the house. It wouldn’t kill me, but it was uncomfortable when I hadn’t fed. I wasn’t strong enough to face it now.

“Thanks for getting here so quickly,” I said, leading him back upstairs.

“Of course. I must admit, it’s concerning. She lost a lot of blood, but she should have woken up by now.”

I refused to entertain the thought that something bad had happened to her. No, she would pull through. She wouldn’t leave me.

As soon as we entered the room, he began examining her. I watched him closely, searching for any sign that something was wrong with Grace, any hint that she might not wake up.

“Everything appears to be in order,” he finally said.

“So, she’ll wake up?” I asked, hope creeping into my voice.

“Yes. I can’t tell you when, but she will. She was unconscious for a while, so it’s hard to say if her brain was deprived of oxygen, but... I’m hopeful.”

“I’ve visited her dreams, and she seemed fine,” I offered.

“Then her brain is functioning. You just need to be patient until she wakes up on her own.” He shrugged.

I would wait. I meant it when I said I’d wait forever for her. I knew she would come back to me.