Bitten (The Graced Series Book 2)

by Amanda Pillar

  It gave her a headache just from trying to remember it all.

  A stable hand appeared in the doorway, bobbing into a slight bow when he spotted them in the wagon. Strangely, he wasn’t too surprised to see them there. Maybe he was used to people sleeping in wagon beds?

  “I need to give the stables a clean, milord, my lady.”

  “Sure.” Hannah climbed out the wagon, giving the young boy a wide berth. Fin followed suit, running his hands through his blond hair.

  “It's a nice day for a walk,” the lad said. “No one else will be up yet.”

  She could take a hint: get out the stables because they had work to do. Hannah nodded at the boy while Fin tucked his shirt in. Once he was dressed with some semblance of order, he extended an arm to her, all gallant hero. “Shall we walk?”

  She smiled in response. “Sure.”

  The lad waved a hand. “There's a gate in the back of the garden.”

  Arm in arm, they headed into the neighboring courtyard. Just being able to walk next to someone — and while touching them — was astonishing. Hannah knew that part of her affection for Fin was born out of a desire to simply be with someone, anyone, but would she have acted on those impulses if that someone hadn’t been Fin?

  She doubted it. Byrne supposedly had a mental shield and she hadn’t even tried touching him, even though he was handsome.

  They wandered through the formal garden, the scent of honeysuckle heavy in the air. Breathing in deeply, Hannah took in the little allotment, an oasis of green and calm, before heading out the small gate. The alley behind had a cobblestone road, and bluestone buildings either side.

  Fin paused by the gate, letting his arm drop. “Should we grab Rena?”

  “She might still be asleep. You said that Elle and Lady Beatrice were caring for her?”

  Fin nodded, with a half-smile. “I might have over-emphasized Elle’s role in that care, to get Emmie moving. I had a feeling if Elle caught her out of bed sparks might fly. But Lady Beatrice was quite happy to babysit.”

  Taking a few steps down the alley, Fin right behind her, she looked up at the pale blue sky. It was going to be a cool day, but a clear one. Maybe she and Fin could wander to the market, and he could grab something for Rena? She wouldn’t be able to touch the baby while she wore it, but that would be okay. Perhaps she should get some knickknacks to practice her ability on — to try and strengthen her mental shield?

  A scent of blood and pomade wafted through the air; there must be some vampires nearby. Something whistled through the air beside her, and as she stopped to sniff, she was shoved to the ground, hard, her knees cracking against the cobbles. She collapsed on her front, the wind rushing out of her lungs.

  Fin had thrown himself on top of her, pressing her down to the ground. Air finally found its way into her lungs and she gasped it in great gulps. Then it hit her; her cheek was pressed to the stone street, but no memories were rushing in.

  She smiled with delight, and turned to tell Fin but was stopped by the sound of something thunking into flesh.

  Fin yelled.

  Panicking, Hannah fought to get out from under him, but he was pushing her back down, shielding her with his body.

  Fin had been shot.

  With a crossbow bolt.

  She wanted to vomit. To cry. To scream. She could smell his blood as it dripped onto her. Fueled by adrenalin and panic, she rolled Fin onto his side. “Fin!”

  He was breathing, his face pale and pinched with pain, but he was breathing. The bolt had torn right through his back, the tip emerging from his chest. Hannah looked around, seeking their attacker. There was someone on a roof near them. Then a draft rushed through the alley, blowing her hair around her face, obscuring her vision. She had to go after the coward who’d shot at them, but she had to see to Fin, too. Grabbing him by the shoulders, she dragged him back toward the gate, toward safety.

  He had to be okay.

  He just had to be.

  Chapter 69

  Byrne had fallen asleep on the couch. He barely fit, his huge frame curled up awkwardly. Alice looked over at him, still surprised he was in her house; that he’d sought her out. But she wasn’t going to second-guess their situation too much.

  Well, she’d attempt not to.

  After they had talked for hours, Byrne had nodded off. But Alice had been too keyed up for slumber. His story hurt her heart. And it had made her edgy. Humans with colored eyes having special abilities. People pretending to be something they weren’t. Aunt Zara implying that Ashok might have been the one to hurt their mother, to hurt her.

  Could her brother really have been the one to stab her, to murder their mother?

  No. Alice didn’t want to believe it.

  But there was a killer on the loose, and she couldn’t ignore the fact that there was an element to these murders that spoke to her. Something had been niggling at the back of her mind, ever since they found the countess. She’d had a powdery substance on her body — as had the first victim — which looked like snuff, although it was much finer than what Alice normally encountered. Which meant it was no doubt more expensive. Then there was the fact that the last body had been found dumped within the chrysanthemum podium...the killer had to be someone with access to the palace.

  Someone with a grudge against vampires.

  That could be one of any hundreds of palace workers, although the staff within the palace were mostly vampire. But here was the thing; snuff wasn’t cheap, not for humans. Especially not the kind of snuff she’d found on the bodies, so it was unlikely that a servant would have access to it. At least, not enough where they could just leave it on corpses. And why would someone want to kill aristo vampires? The only thing the victims had in common was court. They were all members.

  Could the dead vampires have been competitors? Were they were murdered to consolidate power?

  And who in the palace would need to kill to keep their position? It had to be someone already in court. Elle had said she was looking into the aristo human families, but they wouldn’t need to worry about strengthening their power. They already had it. But then there was the snuff issue: there was only one human Alice could think of that met all those criteria and who’d she’d seen use snuff at the palace.

  She needed to talk to Elle.

  Chapter 70

  “Fuck.”

  He quickly grabbed another bolt from the backpack by his feet and took aim. He’d missed the first two shots: that stupid memory-stealing leech had been shoved out of the way at the last minute. The arrow had found its mark, but on the wrong target.

  Third time’s the charm.

  For some reason, he’d expected the woman to look haggard, deranged. Which was stupid, he admitted to himself, and he wasn’t foolish particularly often. Well, killing that countess might have been a bad idea. But anyway, it didn’t matter what she looked like. No matter that she was young and pretty, with dark hair. She’d be dead soon. He aimed the crossbow, finger on the trigger.

  Something thumped onto the rooftop behind him. A tingle ran down his spine, and slowly he turned around.

  A vampire stood there, her long red hair blowing in the slight breeze that had ruined his first shot. He knew who she was, his brain screaming that he had to run, that she was far too dangerous — but he couldn’t stop the words that growled from him.

  “Fuck off, I’m busy.”

  The duchess gave a tittering laugh, her violet eyes all kinds of crazy. “I can see that.” She smiled. “But then, I’m about to be pretty busy myself.” That grin broadened, showing her fangs, which were longer and sharper than any he’d ever seen before. Bringing the crossbow up fast, he shot at her, should have hit her, but she moved. Before the thrum of the bow string had died, she had him by the throat, her strong hand choking him.

  He scrabbled at her wrist. How could this be happening?

  Chapter 71

  Fin waved his hands at Hannah ineffectually as sh
e dragged him to safety. “Let me go,” he panted. “Get away. They were aiming at you.”

  “No.” She was still pulling him back when someone dropped down near them. She threw herself in front of him; she wouldn’t let them hurt Fin again. Even if it meant touching someone, killing someone. They would not harm him again.

  “Hannah!”

  It was her mother. Dressed all in black, she stood before them, the stench of blood thick in the air around her. In her right hand, she held a head, her fingers wrapped in curly brown hair.

  The body was nowhere in sight.

  “Mother?”

  “I was on my way to check on you when I heard you yell.” Her violet eyes flashed. “Sorry I wasn’t quick enough to stop Fin from getting hurt.”

  Getting hurt? He had been shot through his chest! Who knew what kind of damage had been done? He was more than just hurt.

  She cradled his head. “Fin?”

  He gave her a weak grin. “It’s okay, I’ll be fine.”

  “I’d say he won’t be fine,” Tatiana said, staring at him critically.

  “Mother!”

  “He’s been shot close to the heart. The technology isn’t available to save him anymore.”

  Tears trickled down Hannah’s cheeks. He was dying. How could he be dying? They were going to the market...

  “It’s okay, Hannah. I did a good thing. I saved you.” He raised a hand, wiping away one of her tears.

  No. It wasn’t okay.

  Hannah looked pleadingly at her mother. “Choose him!”

  Tatiana shook her head slowly. “I can’t do it.”

  Shock numbed her. Her mother was probably the most powerful vampire in existence — and she couldn’t do it?

  “Of course you can!” Hannah yelled. “You’re one of the first vampires! Choose him!”

  Blood was puddling under the head. “He is half-Graced. If I Choose him, he could have direct access to my mind. And I’m old, sweetheart. If you think it’s bad when you accidentally pick up a few memories, his mind will be crushed by mine. If you want a drooling vampire husk, then yes, I can do it. But if you want Fin, then I can’t. My personality will overwhelm him.”

  Hannah thought quickly. “Dante—”

  “He already has one Chosen, who is half-Graced. I don’t know if his mind could handle a second.”

  Hannah’s thoughts raced. She couldn’t Choose Fin herself, she was only part vampire, and he was Graced. It might not take... There had to be someone. Misty—?

  Byrne burst into the alley then, followed by a human. Alice, that was it. She was a type of doctor. In an instant he took in the situation and then dropped to his knees before Fin. He grabbed the shaft of the bolt, and her human’s face went white. Fin’s eyes rolled back in his head and he stopped moving.

  “Fin!” Hannah screamed.

  “Don’t pull it out.” Alice held a hand out. “Don’t!”

  Byrne jerked back, letting go of the bolt.

  “If you pull it out, the blood loss will be severe — he’ll die.”

  Hannah’s thoughts whirled. What about the child, Emmie? Surely she could heal something like this. But it would mean exposing her talents to everyone else.

  Was Fin more important than the girl’s secret?

  Hannah knew the answer.

  “Someone get the gir—”

  Tatiana spoke over her. “We need someone to Choose him.”

  Alice shook her head. “That’s a wooden bolt. It’s right next to his heart. He’ll die when he wakes.” She turned to Byrne. “You could Bite him.”

  “What?”

  “A friend of mine was seriously wounded a while ago. The only way to save her was to Choose her. It healed her injuries. But Choosing won’t work in this instance. The only option is to Bite.”

  “But he’s unconscious,” Byrne said. “He can’t say no if—”

  “That’s why you have to do it now.”

  Hannah knew Byrne was right, Fin should have a choice, but seeing him lie there, blood spreading across his shirt...

  Hannah nodded. “Do it.”

  “Hannah—”

  Hannah’s voice emerged as a growl. “Do it, Byrne!”

  “Fuck.” But Byrne was pulling off his shirt, exposing a rock-hard chest puckered with the kind of scars that could only come from silver. There were so many, Hannah thought...he’d had to have been tortured.

  “I do not want you in my fucking head, Fin,” he said. “But I owe you. After this, we’re even. You hear me?”

  But Fin was still out cold.

  Byrne’s canines lengthened and sharpened, his jaw changing shape, becoming something half human, half animal. Then he bit down on Fin’s arm, drawing the human’s blood into his mouth, swallowing great gulps. Hannah had never seen anyone Bitten before; it was much the same process as being Chosen.

  Byrne let go of Fin’s arm, his fingers turning into a claw, and he slashed his own wrist. Shoving it against Fin’s lips, Byrne dripped blood into his mouth. Fin didn’t swallow at first, and crimson trickles leaked down his cheek. Alice reached over and massaged Fin’s throat.

  Hannah’s whole focus was on Fin. “Please.”

  Fin swallowed.

  Before long, Byrne pulled away. Hannah opened her mouth to protest, but Byrne shook his head. “Enough for now. We need to move him. Then tomorrow, we give it another go.”

  Chapter 72

  A shiver wracked Byrne’s body.

  He’d been on the way to Greystoke townhouse, walking fast with Alice — she’d needed to talk to Elle urgently — his mind strangely at peace. It wasn’t until he’d first caught Alice’s rich scent that he’d understood how bitter and angry he’d been. Surviving, that’s all he’d been doing since Fin freed him. He hadn’t really been living.

  Then his thoughts had fled as he’d smelled it: Fin’s blood.

  Even though bears had the greatest sense of smell in the animal kingdom — far better than a vampire’s — it was usually difficult to pick out the individual markers of human blood. But Byrne had gotten a bit too familiar with Fin’s lately; the human was a magnet for trouble. Wondering what kind of grief he’d managed to get himself into this time, Byrne had started to run, Alice following closely behind him. At least this time, there wouldn’t be a mob of villagers trying to beat the shit out of him. Knowing Fin, he wouldn’t be able to get himself out of whatever scrape he’d gotten himself into, and Hannah wouldn’t be able to help him.

  Now the taste of Fin’s blood lingered on his tongue, and he winced. He wasn’t used to the coppery tang of human blood; weres tended to eat steaks or drink animal blood if they needed it.

  And he couldn’t believe what he’d started. Biting Fin. It hadn’t ever been something the two of them had discussed. Fin had been happy to have a mortal life, and Byrne had never thought to offer. Did that make him an asshole?

  Then again, until he’d seen that vampire guard Elle, he hadn’t thought that Graceds could get through the change, not even Hazels.

  “We need a stretcher,” Alice said. She had two fingers pressed to Fin’s wrist, checking his pulse. She was counting under her breath, her brow furrowed, and Byrne’s heart swelled within his chest at the idea of someone like her being meant for someone like him.

  She was perfect.

  They’d spent the whole night talking, getting to know one another, until he’d passed out. While he couldn’t say he was in love with her — love took longer than a night, at least for him — he was definitely infatuated. It didn’t hurt that she was beautiful and had enough curves that it should be illegal. Plus, she was super smart and kind. How she wasn’t in a relationship already was beyond him. But he wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

  Alice nodded at him and he stood up. Fin was still breathing, which meant he had a chance. It wasn’t until the third blood transfer that they’d know whether or not he’d make it. While Biting or Choosing someone wh
en they were hurt wasn’t common, it did happen. And he’d heard of people surviving the transformation with worse injuries. He just didn’t know if Fin’s being half-Graced would matter.

  Byrne walked over to the gate, his legs shaky. As he pressed the iron handle down, the gate jerked open. He took a step back, surprised. Elle was on the other side, her hair wild and loose, and her clothes thrown on haphazardly. She took one look at the scene, concentration creasing her brow, then nodded to herself. “Dante is going to bring a stretcher.”

  He stared at her. “Dante knows that someone needs a stretcher?”

  “His hearing is quite exceptional — I should know, I inherited a good portion of his strength when he Chose me. But in this case, no.” She tapped the side of her head. “Sometimes this comes in handy, too.”

  “You mean it’s real?” Alice said. “People really can read minds?”

  On one level, Byrne was faintly insulted that she hadn’t believed him, but then Alice was a doctor. She’d need to see something to believe it.

  Elle rounded on Byrne, placing her fists on her hips. “You told her?”

  He held his hands up and backed into the alley. He was in no condition to deal with a pissed-off vampire after sharing his blood with Fin. Biting someone would weaken him for at least the three days the blood transfer took.

  “It might be beneficial that she knows,” Tatiana said.

  All eyes turned on the duchess. Then Elle blurted, “Whose head is that?”

  Byrne frowned as he took in the head. He didn’t recognize the human, but that didn’t mean much. He was new to town, and the last time he’d been in Pinton, this man wouldn’t have even been a glint in his grandfather’s eye.

  Alice was leaning forward, a frown of concentration on her face. Then she gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “I was right.”

  Elle stood next to Byrne, Fin prone at their feet. Hannah sat next to him, slumped, her hands running over his hair. Crystal tears streaked down her cheeks. Glancing down, he saw the human was still breathing. Two more blood transfers and then three horrible days. That’s how long it would take before Byrne would know if his pain-in-the-ass best friend was going to live or die.