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She was truly afraid now, her emotions so raw it was like she was shouting them to the room. I resisted my urge to soothe, reassure.
Brien was a tolerant primus and I believed Twilight was prepared to forgive and forget, but only if Eden showed the proper amount of contrition.
“Good.” I bit the side of her neck—no fangs, just my human teeth.
But I did it hard enough to leave a mark.
The war room was empty except for Diane. She glanced up as we passed her computer station. “Good evening, Lieutenant.”
I paused. “Everything okay?”
Her eyes slid to Eden, standing straight-backed by my side, then dropped to the blood-bond bracelet, taking it in, unsurprised. Word must’ve gotten around.
“It’s been pretty quiet,” the soldier replied.
“Good.” I guided Eden into Brien’s office.
He was seated behind his desk with Twilight standing to his left, her long hair in its usual inky braid. No Cain, for which I was grateful. He’d made his disdain for Eden clear; I didn’t need him mucking this up for her.
“Talon.” Brien shut his laptop. “Thank you for coming.”
“Of course.” I included Twilight in my respectful nod.
Brien’s gaze flicked to Eden, noting first the red mark I’d put on her neck, then the gold cuff. He met my eyes, acknowledging the message that, for better or worse, this woman was under my protection.
Eden was staring at Twilight, brow pleated.
In a short pink dress and platform shoes, our new prima appeared as lethal as a piece of bubblegum, but I’d seen her fight—the woman was good. In fact, she probably had a blade strapped to one of those lean thighs.
“A vampire,” Eden said in a disbelieving voice. “You’re a vampire?”
15
Eden
My jaw dropped. Twilight was a vampire?
“You didn’t tell her?” she asked Talon.
“Didn’t think of it,” he said.
Twilight looked back at me. “Brien turned me after you left.”
“Oh.”
“Eden.” Talon’s fingers tightened on my waist, and I realized I was gaping at Twilight, mouth ajar.
Closing it with a snap, I lowered my gaze to the polished wood desk.
But, damn. Brien hadn’t just mated with her, he’d turned her.
It was a punch in the throat. Brien hadn’t known Twilight nearly as long as Talon had known me. Plus, she was a freaking slayer.
She was one of them now, while I was still on the outside looking in. I felt like a teenager again, gazing up at the castle on the cliff, wondering what it would be like to live in it. A thrall’s life had seemed so glamorous. Parties, clothes, expensive gifts. Beautiful, broody men who’d ruin you for any other man…
No, wait, that last part I hadn’t known back then.
I wiped my face of expression, shoving my shock and hurt down deep. Otherwise, they’d all pick up on it and right now, I couldn’t bear that.
