Crimson Bond

by Amy Patrick

  It wasn’t like he was my competition. There was no competition. I was Bloodbound and thereby ineligible to claim a mate. Abbi had chosen not to be Imogen’s heir and a queen-in-training, which meant she’d taken away even the possibility of a distant future liaison between us.

  That still hurt whenever I let myself think about it. I was trapped, and she was free, and it didn’t seem to bother her at all. What a fool I was to let it bother me.

  “None,” I said in answer to her question.

  Her eyes went wide. “What? It’s just the two of us?”

  “Yep. A happy little couple on a cross-country vacation.”

  Abbi ignored my bitter sarcasm. “I thought you said Imogen considered this mission a top priority.”

  “She does. And that’s why we have to avoid attracting too much human attention. Traveling with a group of Bloodbound wouldn’t exactly be subtle.”

  “Oh.”

  She was quiet for a minute, perhaps considering all the implications of a road trip alone with me. I’d been considering them practically nonstop. Then she looked my way again, surreptitiously running her gaze over my face and body.

  Just that subtle glance of interest was enough to set me off. My skin warmed everywhere her eyes landed. God, I was gone for this girl. I hated it.

  “Reece... I’ve been wondering... why are you all so... well, you know?”

  She was so bashful about asking, I couldn’t help cracking a smile. “No. So... what?”

  “You know what I’m asking. Why are you all so big? Why do you look so... good?”

  My grin spread. She might be into the human, but she had been checking me out. My physical reaction went far beyond a grin, but that wasn’t something she—or anyone else here at the Bastion—needed to know. I simply answered her question.

  “I told you before, we have a special diet.”

  “Right. You said your blood bags come from a special supply. What’s so special about it?”

  “It’s mixed with Imogen’s blood. Which reminds me...” I drew a tiny vial from my pocket.

  Before Imogen had dismissed me the second time, she’d handed me a dose of her blood with orders to watch Abbi drink it. It was meant to ensure smooth traveling for us, and she’d told me to give it to Abbi sometime before we left.

  Now would be the perfect time. Imogen would know I’d done as she commanded. Besides, Abbi might refuse to drink it once we’d left this place.

  I held the vial out to her. “Drink up.”

  She took it and held it up to the light, swirling the blood inside.

  “Wait... is this Imogen’s? I don’t want it. This is what keeps all of you loyal to her no matter what. No Kool-Aid for me, thank you.”

  She tried to hand it back, and I retreated a step, showing her my palms. “Queen’s orders. She’ll know if you haven’t taken it.”

  “Oh. That’s why she wants to see me. She should know she doesn’t have to force me to go along with the plan. She’s holding Shane hostage. I’m not going to let any harm come to him.”

  “Of course you wouldn’t. He’s too ‘important,’” I snarled. “But I don’t think that’s it. It probably has more to do with your appearance.”

  “My appearance?”

  She glanced down at herself. “What’s wrong with how I look?”

  You’re perfect.

  That’s what popped into my head. What came out of my mouth was, “Nothing. You look... fine. It’s just we’re not going to get very far if you’re recognized as a fugitive.”

  “So, I’ll wear a disguise. That’s what I did to get out of San Francisco,” she argued. Always so stubborn.

  “You won’t need a disguise if you’ll just do as you’re told and drink that.”

  She gave the vial another wary glance. “Imogen’s blood will change my appearance?”

  “Not completely. You’ll still look like you, only... more.”

  As if she needed to be more beautiful. God help me, I was a dead man. It was Imogen’s order though, and if Abbi didn’t follow it, we’d never make it out the front door.

  “Look, it’s your choice, but if you don’t drink it, you can’t come with me. And if you don’t come with me and at least try to help me get through to Sadie, Imogen will have no reason to keep your little human sweetie-pie alive. Old Shane’s gonna find himself the main course at dinner tonight because you’re squeamish about drinking a little royal blood.”

  That got through to her. She opened the vial and emptied it. For his sake.

  “How long does the magic pretty-potion take?” she joked sourly after swallowing.

  “You’re already—” I stopped myself before I launched into some sort of lovesick ode to her beauty, shifting the focus of my answer. “It’ll take a few hours to alter your appearance significantly. And another dose or two to enable you to mesmerize humans.”

  “What did you say?”

  “Mesmerize. Humans,” I repeated.

  “We can’t do that.”

  “Some of us can. The Bloodbound can.”

  I’d been amazed the first time I’d used my new ability. It came in very handy whenever nearby human authorities caught wind of our activities or when we needed to cover the tracks and mitigate the damage left behind by a rogue vampire. It would no doubt be invaluable on our upcoming trip.

  “Imogen calls it ‘The Pull.’ I call it useful,” I said. “Especially now that cars are checked at every state border. And we’ll be crossing quite a few of them in the next few days.”

  When we reached the throne room, Abbi looked surprised I wasn’t going inside with her. Surprised and scared.

  “She wants to see you alone,” I explained. “She specifically said she didn’t want me there.”

  “Oh.”

  The fear in her eyes tugged at my rust-stiffened heartstrings. “It’ll be okay,” I said softly. “I’ll be right here waiting.”

  Ugh. I sounded exactly like that pathetic, besotted human guy we’d left in the med clinic. I needed to toughen up where Abbi was concerned—and fast.

  If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to carry out my mission, and I wouldn’t stand a chance of sticking to my rigid Bloodbound vows.

  Which meant both of us would end up dead.

  8

  Inevitable

  Reece

  For the next few minutes, I engaged in some serious self-talk, reminding myself how Abbi had chosen to walk away a year ago when she’d believed it meant never seeing me again.

  She knew I could never leave Imogen’s service, but that hadn’t stopped her from running off to seek peace and love and rainbows.

  I recalled that she’d never once sent word back about how she was doing—or inquired about how I was faring. And I reminded myself of how quickly she’d moved on with her life—not to mention that she’d brought living proof of that fact with her here to the Bastion.

  I’d just met the bastard and nearly punched his lights out.

  By the time Kannon came along, the self-talk had done its job and my emotional armor was fully intact. Abbi could ride naked in my passenger seat all the way to the Canadian border, and I wouldn’t notice.

  Much.

  “Hey there. Why you coolin’ your heels out here? Mommy put you in time out?” Kannon joked.

  “Abbi’s in there with her,” I said, “getting some last-minute ‘advice’ before we leave for Canada to find Sadie Aldritch.”

  “We?” He looked confused. Clearly Imogen hadn’t updated him on the situation.

  “Yeah. Abbi, uh... she’s coming with me.”

  Kannon’s head jerked back like someone had flicked water in his eyes. “What? What are you doing? You’re going on a road trip with her, just the two of you? Dude, that’s not smart.”

  My jaw hardened. “It’s not a romantic getaway. Abbi’s going to help me get to Sadie. It won’t be a problem. It’s just business. No pleasure involved.”

  “Yeah right. I’ve seen you two together, remember? You’
ve got more chemistry than a pharmaceutical plant. I give it two days before you’re making blanket forts at the Holiday Inn.”

  He waggled his eyebrows to indicate “making blanket forts” was a euphemism for something more intimate.

  “You’ll lose that bet. I’m completely over her,” I assured him. “That tends to happen when someone leaves you without a look backward. Besides, I’m Bloodbound now. I’ll admit before I took my vows I had some lingering feelings for her. Now I feel nothing, except maybe a desire to punish her.”

  Kannon’s blond brows pulled together. He liked Abbi, or at least he had before she’d left. Just recently he’d reminisced about her like she was the baby sister he never had.

  “And exactly how do you intend to do that?” he asked. “I wouldn’t like to hear you were cruel to her.”

  I smiled wickedly. “I won’t be cruel. I’ll be a pain in the ass. I’m going to be the worst travel companion there ever was. Every mile will be more miserable than the last. I’ll prove to her just how little she means to me.”

  Kannon puckered his bottom lip, raising his brows as if impressed. “You’ve really given this a lot of thought.” Then he smiled again. “Last time I checked, that meant you did care about someone.”

  “Not this time.”

  “Wow, you really are cold-blooded,” he said. “Nothing makes your heart beat anymore. She’s gorgeous—even hotter than she used to be. I can’t believe it has no effect on you. It almost gave me all the feels.”

  I shot him a murderous glare before I realized he was teasing me.

  Kannon laughed. “Completely over her, huh? You may be a grouchy bastard, but I suspect you’d no more hurt a hair on Abbi’s head than throw yourself on a solar-charged spear coated in liquid platinum. You still love her, don’t you?”

  “No, I did love her, but I wouldn’t want that in my life again, even if it were possible. It hurts too much to love someone so deeply.”

  “I hate to tell you this, bro, but that’s the only way to love someone,” Kannon said. “That’s why it wasn’t hard for me to give up on the whole thing and pledge myself to Imogen. I was in love once. She supposedly loved me too, but then my girl left me flat when she found out my paralysis was permanent. Never again, thank you.”

  “It’s a good thing we’re both Bloodbound now. Neither of us ever has to bother with love again,” I said, and we bumped fists.

  Outwardly, I was the picture of composure. Inside, I was shaken by how easily Kannon had seen through me—and how easily Abbi had pulled me back into her orbit.

  But what I’d said to him was true. I didn’t want to ever love anyone the way I’d loved Abbi.

  Especially not Abbi. It hurt too much.

  She’d moved on, and I’d moved past the need for that kind of thing in my life.

  So why was I so filled with anticipation about our road trip together?

  “Well, good luck with your mission,” Kannon said, grabbing the handle of the throne room door. “And Reece?”

  “Yeah?”

  “When it comes to Abbi... my momma always said the most painful thing you could do to your enemies was heap ‘burning coals of kindness’ on their heads. Think about it.”

  With a wink, he opened the door and disappeared inside.

  A few minutes later, the doors opened again, and Abbi emerged to find me smiling.

  Because I had come up with the perfect punishment for her. I wouldn’t be a pain in her royal ass. I wouldn’t be cruel.

  I would be amazing.

  I’d be funny, charming, polite, and considerate. I’d heap bucketsful of burning-kindness-coals on her head and make her want me more than I ever wanted her.

  I would make her fall in love with me again.

  And then I would break her heart.

  A tingling sensation spread from my head down to my chest and arms then my legs and feet. I shifted from one foot to the other, too filled with anticipation to stand still.

  It wouldn’t technically be breaking my Bloodbound vows because I wouldn’t make love to Abbi... just... seduce her a little.

  “Did someone just tell you a great joke or something?” Abbi asked.

  I placed a hand lightly on the small of her back and steered her toward the cavern exit, still smiling. “No. I just saw Kannon. We had a good talk.”

  “About?”

  “Nothing much. Guy stuff.”

  “But it made you happy?”

  My grin stretched farther. Oh yeah. “Yes. It. Did.”

  “Ooookay then.”

  At her questioning tone and expression, I explained. “Look, I figured some things out when we were talking, okay? Come on, Abbi. I’d think you’d be happy to bid farewell to the cranky S.O.B. you found when you got here.”

  “I am glad,” she said, still sounding unsure. “I mean, it would have been a long drive to Canada otherwise.”

  “Exactly. As long as we’re traveling together, we might as well have a good time, right?”

  “Right.”

  Verbally she was agreeing with me, but her body language said she was waiting for a sneak attack.

  The girl was smart. I felt a reluctant sense of pride in her. She’d come a long way since her days as a naïve Amish farmgirl.

  But she still couldn’t read minds. She couldn’t see the dark joy bubbling inside me at this chance to make her suffer. At the promise of sweet revenge.

  Later, when the trip was over and I’d left her broken, when she’d realized all the sweet words and chivalrous behavior were nothing but a ruse, she’d hate me.

  But then that was inevitable.

  Eventually she’d find out the new aim of my mission to Canada wasn’t to secure Sadie’s alliance with the Crimson court for a rebellion.

  It was to kill Sadie and take her out of play so Imogen could rule over Sadie’s followers and be the sole leader of the vampire species.

  It was to destroy everything Abbi believed in.

  9

  That Particular Vow

  Abbi

  For the first couple hours of our drive, I was tense.

  Reece’s abrupt attitude change had jarred me, even alarmed me. And Imogen’s warning about what would happen to the people I cared about if we didn’t succeed was still fresh on my mind. But after a while, Reece’s good mood started rubbing off on me.

  He sang along to the radio and told me stories about some of the funnier things he’d encountered on his Bloodbound missions. Relaxed and charming like this, he was once again the guy I’d met the night of the crimson moon.

  Against that guy, I had no hope of resistance.

  “So, I couldn’t help but notice this is a Dodge Charger Hellcat,” I said. “Black instead of red, though—very vampish of you. Did you name him?”

  “This car’s a she,” he corrected. “I call her... Abigail.”

  My sharp inhale was audible, even over the music.

  Reece shot me a devastating grin. “Just kidding. I haven’t actually named her. Why don’t you do the honors?”

  Still blushing, I turned away from him, pretending to study the sky as I thought of something suitable. “Hmmm... what about... Blackberry?”

  “Blackberry? That’s lame.”

  “It is not.”

  He laughed. “I’m sorry, but it is.”

  “It’s not lame. It’s beautiful,” I protested. “Blackberry was the name of my favorite cow. I raised her from a calf and bottle fed her because her mom died. I named her Blackberry because, well, she was black and also because she was so sweet.”

  “Oh now, see? You have to go and make me feel bad. Now I have no choice but to give my badass car a girly name.”

  “You said she was a girl.”

  “Good point. But she’s a tough girl.” He caressed the dashboard. “Aren’t you, Blackberry? Just listen to that engine roar.”

  His muscular tanned hand stroking the dark leather was so attractive, I actually felt a little jealous.

  Great Abbi. Jeal
ous of a car. Pathetic.

  What was truly pathetic was how quickly I’d fallen under Reece’s spell again. A few smiles and kind words and I was right back where I’d started with him.

  I couldn’t let myself fall too deep, though. It would be hard to resist when he was acting like his old self, but it was also pointless. Reece was bound for eternity to Imogen, and I would never do anything to tempt him to break those Bloodbound vows. It would mean death for him—and Shane.

  I renewed my own vow to stay strong and keep my mind on the mission. Countless other lives depended on it, including Kelly’s and Heather’s.

  I had been allowed a quick goodbye to them before I left but hadn’t been able to tell them anything about where I was going or how long I’d be away. At least I’d had the chance to tell Shane what was going on and assure him I was coming back for him.

  “I hope Shane will be okay. He must be incredibly lonely there in the clinic, a single human among thousands of vampires,” I mused.

  Reece’s smile faded, a sullen look taking its place. “He’ll be fine. Anyway, that weak human isn’t exactly my top priority.”

  “You used to be one of those, you know. So is your family.”

  “Don’t remind me,” he muttered, sliding a glance away from the road to land on my face. “So what’s the deal with Shane anyway? I suppose you two are in love or something.”

  “I don’t actually know him that well,” I said honestly.

  “You knew him well enough to tell him about Sadie and the Bastion.”

  “We were traveling together. He was helping us get past the border checkpoints. I had to tell him a little about where we were going and why.”

  “And you two were on the road together how long?” he asked.

  “Three days.”

  “Three days.” He smirked. “And three nights.”

  “It wasn’t just the two of us. Kelly and Heather were there, too.”