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"He's dying, you know," Hull said. "Zombie scratches--nasty things. Only way to help him now is to kill the zombies. I could help with that." Another small laugh. "After all, they are my zombies."
That's what Shanahan had been saying just before he died--that the sorcerer had made it into the portal.
My hair prickled as I remembered Shanahan, convulsing on the floor, dying almost instantly. Oh, God, if Hull could do that--
Wait. According to Paige, the problem with casting a strong spell was that it drained your power. The stronger the spell, the greater the drain, which is why Hull had only used a simple knockback spell on Jeremy.
And if Hull could do that to Shanahan, why hadn't he just used a spell against Clay to grab me earlier, like out on the balcony last night? Something was making him cautious. Maybe, after a hundred years in a dimensional portal, he was out of practice, or his spell power was still recharging.
"So you've been controlling them all along," I said, hoping to give Jeremy time to think. "You came out of the portal after they cleared the way."
Hull laughed. "Cleared the way? I was out only minutes after my first zombie. You were too engrossed in following him down the road to even notice. So I followed you. It seemed strange--humans pursuing the man instead of calling for help. So I cast a little spell, and discovered my good fortune. A pregnant werewolf had opened my portal."
"You weren't after me for the letter at all," I said.
"The letter has served its purpose. You're the vessel of value now."
"I am not exchanging Elena for--" Jeremy began.
"You don't need to exchange your dear girl for anything. That's the beauty of my offer. You will get both her and your boy back, healthy and sound. I'll even relinquish control of my zombies, so you can kill them and close this portal. Like the letter, they were useful enough, but they've quickly become more of a hindrance. Take them with my blessing, close the portal, heal your boy there...everything you want."
"In exchange for...?" Jeremy said.
"No," I said through my teeth.
Hull chuckled. "You already know what I'm going to ask for, don't you? I wouldn't be so hasty with your refusal, though. After all, I could take what I want now, with no deal...leave the portal open, let your mate die, let you die with him..."
"What do--?" Jeremy began.
"No!"
Hull turned the knife. At the movement, Jeremy's gaze dropped to my belly, and he paled.
"A fair exchange, don't you agree? Two lives for two lives? It's a simple enough matter to take the babes out early. You fancy yourself a doctor, don't you, Mr. Danvers? Or perhaps, if that other one isn't too upset with you, he'll undertake the task."
"They--" Jeremy swallowed, as if his mouth was too dry to form words. "The babies aren't far enough along. They wouldn't live."
"No matter. I don't need them alive. Even if I take them that way, they won't stay that way for long."
I didn't think. Couldn't think. I just reacted, howling, twisting, my elbow going up to smash--
The knife dug into my belly.
As I froze, I heard Jeremy's voice, distant, barely piercing the roar in my ears, begging me to stop, to hold still.
I stood shaking and gasping for breath. Hull laughed, but I ignored him and forced myself to look at Jeremy. Again he mouthed something, and this time it was clear: "Wait."
As Hull stopped laughing, a small crackle cut through the silence of the forest, too soft for Hull to hear.
Gaze still locked to mine, Jeremy dipped his chin, telling me yes, they were coming. His eyes were clear and calm, panic gone. Seeing that, I felt my own fear drain.
"Why offer this deal?" Jeremy asked. His voice was even again, as collected as it had been when negotiating with Shanahan and Tolliver. Time to distract, stall...and wait. "If, as you pointed out, you can take Elena and the babies now..."
"Too messy." Hull was equally nonchalant, even as blood trickled down my side. "I like things tidy. That's why I tried to resolve this without confrontation. Had you let her return to the hotel with me, you'd have saved yourself much unpleasantness. I'm sure Mr. Shanahan would have preferred that. Now, I'll settle for an offering freely given--" He repositioned the knife again, and I bit back a snarl. "--with the promise of no retaliation to come."
I could smell Antonio and Nick now, coming closer.
"But why the--" Jeremy faltered, then continued, voice as casual as he could make it. "The babies. What do you need them for? Surely not the experiment you were working on back in England."
