Ami stood there, her big belly preceding her. Behind her loomed Marcus and Seth.
“Seth told us what happened,” she said, her gaze taking in Lisette’s still form, as well as Zach’s desperate hold on her hand. “Are you okay?”
“Yes,” he said for the benefit of their audience. No, he told her telepathically. I’m not. She won’t wake up.
Ami hurried forward, arms extended.
Zach looked to her husband as Ami wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
Marcus crossed his arms over his chest and watched the two impassively.
Hmm. Zach leaned into her embrace and wrapped his free arm around her. Burying his face in her neck, he let her comfort him.
“I didn’t realize you two were seeing each other,” she said softly, rubbing his back.
It’s only been a few weeks. He didn’t say it aloud. The others could kiss his ass. It was none of their business. But she means everything to me.
“There’s been no response?”
“None.”
Lisette? he heard her call mentally. It’s Ami. Can you hear me?
Ami’s belly jumped against his own as the baby kicked, but Lisette remained still and silent.
Ami hugged Zach tighter. “She’ll come back to us. I know she will.”
Somehow the confident words conveyed only worry.
Ethan entered the infirmary on silent steps.
Lisette lay as still and pale as death in her bed, a mound of blankets piled atop the cold feet over which Zach had been obsessing. Her brothers slept in two of the other beds the room boasted, their wives curled into their sides. Zach . . .
Ethan stared at him.
Zach sat on the same stool he had occupied for the past three nights and days, his head on the covers beside Lisette’s hip, her limp hand clutched in his. His longish hair concealed his eyes, but Ethan thought they were closed. Something about him seemed . . . off.
Ethan looked to Seth, who slouched in a chair on the opposite side of the bed, his hand pressed to Lisette’s shoulder. That hand, Ethan couldn’t help but notice, bore a golden glow.
Ethan nodded at Zach. “Is he asleep?”
Seth shook his head. “Unconscious. He keeps pouring every ounce of energy he has into healing her, then passes out. When his strength returns, he tries again to heal her and, when his energy flags, he passes out. He tries again when he awakens. Then again.”
Any doubts Ethan had borne that Zach truly cared for Lisette flew out the window. The idea of her loving another man still cut like a knife, but at least Lisette had found someone who would give everything he had to help and protect her.
Ethan studied Seth. Frankly, he didn’t look so good. Ethan hadn’t realized Immortal Guardians could appear weary. Sure, they could feel weary. But the virus usually kept the telltale signs of exhaustion from manifesting in their countenances.
Not so with Seth. If Ethan hadn’t known any better, he would have taken one look at Seth and assumed him on the brink of collapse. Dark circles created hollows beneath his eyes. Lines creased a formerly pristine face. His long hair fell in loose, untidy waves to his hips as if he had lacked the energy or will to bind it and had settled for merely dragging a comb through it. Once.
“What about you?” Ethan dared to ask.
“What about me?”
“Can you really afford to expend the energy you are by trying to heal her again?”
Seth stared at him, his face set in stone. “What else would you have me do?”
Sighing, Ethan sank into the chair Tracy had abandoned when Darnell and Sheldon had forced her to get some rest. “I don’t know.”
Three days. Three days, and Lisette hadn’t opened her eyes. Melanie had even tried administering another double dose of the antidote today.
There had been no change other than Lisette’s heart pounding rapidly in her chest as her breath shortened. She hadn’t so much as twitched otherwise. Hadn’t murmured in her sleep. Hadn’t spoken telepathically. Hadn’t dreamed.
Ethan had heard one of the doctors Melanie had consulted over the phone ask if she thought Lisette might be brain dead.
“It isn’t possible, is it?” he asked, stomach heavy with dread.
“What isn’t?”
“An immortal’s being brain dead?”
Seth returned his attention to Lisette. “Such would be a first.”
That didn’t reassure Ethan as much as it would have five years ago.
There had been a lot of firsts lately.
Too many, perhaps.
Silently he prayed this wouldn’t be another.
Lisette? Can you hear me, love?
Zach’s deep voice carried to her through the darkness, bringing Lisette some much-needed warmth.
Yes, she responded.
Why was she so cold?
Pain shot through her fingers and up her arm.
Why are you crushing my hand? she asked.
The pressure eased.
Forgive me. Soft, warm lips bathed her sore fingers with kisses. Can you open your eyes for me, sweetheart?
Inwardly, she frowned. Of course. Only, when she tried, her lids didn’t seem to want to lift. Alarm pulsed through her. What’s wrong with me? I can’t open my eyes.
It’s okay. Don’t panic.
Don’t panic when she couldn’t move or open her eyes and Zach clutched her hand to his chest like a lifeline? Easier said than done.
“She’s speaking to me telepathically,” she heard Zach tell someone. “But she can’t move or open her eyes.”
The panic multiplied.
Lisette? Seth’s bass-baritone voice filled her head.
Merde.
The chuckle that inspired carried relief, not humor. Not the response I was hoping for, but I’ll take it.
Zach? she called, fear rising.
I’m here, love.
What the hell are the two of you doing in the same room? You are in the same room, aren’t you?
Yes.
Has Seth hurt you?
A sigh. You toss two bodies through David’s bay window, and she asks if I hurt you, Seth griped.
You did what? she demanded.
She wasn’t conscious when I . . . delivered the vampires, Zach said. Then, to Lisette, he added, You were tranqed, love.
Shouts of denial pummeled her head. That’s not possible.
It is and you were, Zach insisted gently.
Is that why I can’t move?
Yes.
Why haven’t you given me the antidote?
A long pause ensued.
We did, Seth informed her. Melanie gave you double the dose. Twice. You didn’t respond.
Four doses? Fear crept in. I thought four doses would kill an immortal.
Melanie seems certain that it would, Seth acknowledged, so she administered double the dose the night you were tranqed, then waited forty-eight hours before administering it again.
Forty-eight hours?
“Her fingers just tightened around mine,” Zach spoke, voice full of excitement.
How long have I been out? she asked.
Five days, Zach answered, his telepathic voice full of anguish. Five long, terrifying days.
A thousand questions flooded her mind as energy gradually flowed into her limbs. The anvils holding her eyelids closed lifted, allowing her to pry them open. Pain pierced her head, driving her to close them once more.
“Too bright,” she muttered.
The room instantly dimmed to near darkness.
Lisette valiantly forced her eyes to open again and focused them on the man sitting at her side.
Zach’s hair was a bit of a tousled mess, as if he had finger-combed it one too many times. Shadows formed dark pools beneath eyes bracketed by lines of fatigue. And, in those eyes, she saw love. Love and fear and such stark relief that tears rose in her own.
“It’s okay,” she whispered, mustering what strength she could to tug him closer.
As he rested
his head on her chest and wrapped his arms around her, she combed her fingers through his hair. “It’s okay,” she repeated, voice raspy. “I’m okay now.”
The doorway went black as Immortal Guardians garbed in hunting gear poured through it, Richart and Étienne at the front of the pack.
Her brothers looked from her face, to her arms wrapped around Zach, and back to her face.
She tightened her hold on Zach.
Don’t look so worried, Étienne told her as they approached the bed. That’s all we needed to see.
What is?
You, weak as a kitten, looking as fierce as a lioness preparing to protect her cub.
She frowned. You aren’t going to . . . ?
Lecture you endlessly? Complain ad nauseam about your keeping him a secret from us? Rant over your falling for the one immortal Ethan claims is on Seth’s shit list? Oh, yes. We will definitely do all of that. But try to come between the two of you? He shook his head and gave her shin an affectionate pat. No. He may be even more antisocial than Roland and annoying as hell, but—after watching him with you, seeing him give everything he had over and over again in an attempt to heal you—we don’t doubt his feelings for you.
She smiled. Thank you.
Richart cleared his throat. “Do you mind?” he asked Zach with unconcealed impatience. “We’d like to embrace our sister now.”
If anything, Zach tightened his hold on her. “I’m not letting go until I’m good and ready.”
Lisette’s smile broadened. She had no problem with that.
Even when it took Zach hours to become good and ready and finally step back.
Chapter Eleven
Lisette glanced around David’s long dining table. Only Seth and David were absent. The rest of the Immortal Guardians and Seconds in the area had long since taken their seats. Even Cliff had joined them, she was both surprised and pleased to see. It was the first time a vampire had ever been invited to one of their meetings.
Beside her, Zach shifted in his chair. This was all new to him, too. He would probably feel much more comfortable pulling gargoyle duty up on the roof. Particularly since the other immortals didn’t seem to know quite what to do with him. Zach’s tense relationship with Seth left them floundering for no other reason than this was the first time they had to wonder if befriending the new guy would alienate Seth.
Lisette didn’t think it would. Seth had said nothing of the sort in the two days since she had awakened and had even conversed with Zach on occasion. She just didn’t think Seth trusted him fully yet. The fact that Zach had been included in the roll call of this meeting was more a testament of Seth’s faith in Lisette than of his belief that Ami and Lisette had won Zach over to their side.
Étienne, seated between Krysta and Richart, shifted in his chair.
There seemed to be a lot of that tonight. No talk. Lots of restless movement.
Lisette didn’t have to guess what was on Étienne’s mind. His thoughts came through, loud and clear, without her even having to attempt to read them. As did Richart’s. Both d’Alençon brothers wore scowls and broadcasted every furious complaint they wished to lodge, though they probably didn’t realize it.
She frowned. Tonight they didn’t focus on Zach. Tonight it was all about Seth. They couldn’t forgive him for accusing her of treachery.
Hell, she had forgiven Seth. Why couldn’t they?
In fact . . . “If I can forgive Seth,” she spoke into the leaden quiet, “why can’t you?” She looked around the table. “Why can’t all of you?”
Bastien crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t see that there’s anything to forgive.”
Richart leaned forward. “He accused her of fraternizing with vampires.”
“I lived with vampires for two hundred years,” Bastien drawled.
Melanie nodded. “I fraternize with vampires every day.”
“You know what I mean,” Richart snapped.
Bastien’s eyes lit with amber fire. “Watch your tone when you speak to her,” he warned.
Melanie patted his arm. “I can take care of myself, sweetie.”
Étienne leaned forward. “He didn’t just accuse her of fraternizing with them. He accused her of leading them. Of pitting them against us.”
Bastien raised a finger and opened his mouth.
“Oh, shut up!” Étienne growled. “You were actually guilty of it.”
On Lisette’s other side, Ethan spoke. “So Seth made a mistake. Get over it.” She was happy to see Ethan had gotten over his own anger at Seth.
Cliff dared to enter the fray. “Yeah, are you so perfect?”
Ed nodded. “I agree. The possible sources of this new uprising were A, B, C, or D. When the possibilities of A, B, and C had all been explored and eliminated, that left only D. No matter how unpalatable he found it, Seth would’ve been remiss if he hadn’t looked into it.”
“He would have been better served,” Richart gritted, “looking into E.”
“There was no E,” Zach said, his deep voice startling her.
Lisette hadn’t expected him to join the conversation. Or defend Seth . . . which he seemed to be doing. She stared.
“You don’t know that,” Richart countered.
“Yes, I do. You think Seth, David, and Chris wouldn’t have come up with an E if there had been one?” He looked to Chris.
Chris scrutinized Zach a moment, then nodded. “There wasn’t an E. We covered all the bases.”
“Donald and Nelson’s mercenary army was obliterated,” Zach said, ticking the possibilities off on his fingers. “None were left alive to launch their war again. I was shackled and being tortured round the clock, so I could not have been responsible. Bastien is the only gifted one whose transformation Seth has ever missed, so it couldn’t have been some other immortal outside the fold who believed himself a vampire.”
Chris nodded. “We checked to be sure.”
“Every other telepath in the area was accounted for at all times,” Zach continued.
“Lisette was accounted for, too,” Richart said. “She was right here . . . with us.”
“Actually, she wasn’t. Not here at David’s, anyway. Lisette’s behavior of late has been outside the norm for her. It’s my fault. She didn’t want Seth—or the rest of you—to know we were seeing each other. But, as much as I hate to admit it and as much as it chaps my ass to defend Seth, it did breed grounds for suspicion.”
Lisette thought Seth’s mouth would have fallen open had he been there.
Zach stared at the brothers. “You just don’t like anyone maligning your sister in any way, even if accidentally. Seth apologized. Lisette moved past it. I did, too . . . somewhat.” At her repeated urging. “Now you should as well.”
Étienne started to rise. “Who the hell are you to tell us—?”
Krysta locked a hand around his arm and held him in his seat. “Étienne, I love you. But I think you’re being a little hardheaded about this.”
That didn’t go over well. “How can you say that?”
“Honey, I tried to decapitate you when we first met. In fact, technically I tried to do it twice. You forgave me for that, but you can’t forgive this?”
His brows drew down in a deep V. “You thought I was a vampire. Of course, I forgave you.”
She smiled and patted his arm. “That’s right. I was operating on the only information I had at the time. As was Seth when he confronted Lisette.”
Jenna looked to Richart. “And you forgave John for telling me he thought we should wait for the sun to rise, then shove your ass out the door.”
Richart’s eyes widened. “John said that?” he demanded.
Jenna bit her lip. “I, uh, I never told you about that?”
“No.”
“Then, yes. He did.”
“When?”
“The night you accidentally teleported to our living room, covered in blood, with your fangs out and eyes glowing, then collapsed.”
“Oh. Well, t
hat’s understandable. He thought I was a vampire.”
She raised her eyebrows. “And was operating on the only information available to him?”
The two brothers sighed and sank back in their chairs. “Fine,” the twins said in unison. “We’ll apologize.”
“Good,” Zach said, then addressed the table at large. “The rest of you . . . I can read your every thought.” He narrowed his eyes at Ethan. “Except for you.”
Ethan gave him a sarcastic salute.
Zach shook his head. “You all find the notion that Seth could believe one of you guilty offensive. Well, guess what. One of you is guilty. Maybe not one of you at this table. But one of the Immortal Guardians. Likely two. Only a telepath could have buried the vampires’ memories. And he or she had to have had help slipping in and out of North Carolina undetected.”
Grim faces all around.
“So get a grip. Cut Seth some slack. And think what it must feel like for him to believe that men or women he has offered safe harbor for hundreds or thousands of years have now turned on him and you and are waging this new war that holds more potential than ever of destroying one of you. He’s doing everything he can to keep you safe and doesn’t need to deal with your bullshit on top of that.”
Under the table, Lisette took his hand and rested their twined fingers on her thigh.
The front door opened. David strolled in, closing and locking it behind him with a thought. “I couldn’t have put it better myself,” he said as he joined them. He speared Zach with a look as he took his seat at the head of the table. “Nor could I be more surprised that Seth’s staunchest defender tonight is you.”
“What can I say?” Zach said, deadpan. “I’m an enigma.”
“Indeed.”
And he tried to keep the peace, Lisette knew, for her sake, not out of any love for Seth.
Beside David, Darnell drew out his cell phone.
David halted him before Darnell could dial and addressed those present. “No accusations or recriminations will be spoken this night. Am I clear? No one here is without fault. Seth does a million things right every day and has done so for thousands of years, far longer than any of you can imagine. Not one of you would exist today, were it not for the things he has done right. Denouncing him for making a single mistake is nonsensical. So get your shit together before he arrives. And marshal your thoughts.”
Night Unbound Page 20
