“He kept it from you because he had yourbest interests at heart. He was putting your needs ahead ofhis.”
“So what do you want from me? Why are youhere?”
“Aiden would kill me if he knew I was here,and I’m not just saying that, but I refuse to let him go without afight.”
“Go where?” she croaked.
“It’s either death or insanity, he mighteven become a Savage without you. Right now, he’s too far gone tocare what happens to him, but I know that before this happened, hewould have chosen death over becoming a Savage.”
“Too far gone?” she croaked.
“Yes, but I’m hoping you can save him.”
Ethan’s gaze fell on her arm when sheabsently scratched at it. Her itching pulled the sleeve of herbaggy sweater back to reveal the bandages beneath. They were stillmostly white, but some of the wrappings were stained pink with herblood. At least, she’d stopped tearing at her hands as badly, butonly because she couldn’t keep them hidden like she could herarms.
Ethan gripped her wrist tenderly. “May I?”he asked and gestured at her arm.
“Yeah, whatever.”
He pulled her sleeve up to inspect her armbefore turning his attention to her other arm. More, pink-stainedbandages covered that arm. She saw a flicker of concern cross hisface before he pulled her sleeve gently into place and squeezed herhand.
“I don’t know why, but I can’t stop,” sheadmitted.
“Did this start when you separated fromAiden?”
“The night he left to kill Carha I feltitchy, but it’s becoming worse with every passing day.”
“Humans can love us,” he said kindly. “Manyof them feel an instantaneous attraction too. My mother did to myfather, my wife did to me, but it’s not the same as what a vampirefeels for their mate. Vicky and Abby informed me you have somevampire DNA in you.”
She wasn’t surprised they’d talked abouther. She’d seen how close the siblings were with each other. “Ido.”
“You feel the bond to Aiden too. Not asintensely as a full vampire would, but it’s there, and not havingAiden near has distressed you.”
“My skin feels like I’m atwenty-four-year-old shoved into my ten-year-old sized body.”
Ethan squeezed her wrist before releasingher. “It’s worse for Aiden.”
“Is he one of thosethings?” The ideaof Aiden being anything like those monsters who had attacked themand killed Walt and Glenn made her skin itch far more than it everhad before. “Is that why you’re here?”
“I’m not sure what he is now, but he’s morelike one of them now than he is one of us.”
Maggie gulped. She’d seen Aiden losecontrol, seen him pulverize other vampires, but this sounded somuch worse.No, not my Aiden. I won’t allow it.
“Where is he? Will you take me to him?”
Ethan smiled and rested his hand on hers.“Yes.”
CHAPTER 47
Maggie leaned back to survey the squat,concrete building. A handful of windows faced her. Behind one ofthe glass planes, a light revealed the bars covering the window.Blue, concrete walls were visible beyond the bars. When Ethanpressed a button, a buzzer sounded on the other side. A clammysweat coated her body as she gazed at the metal door before herwith a sinking suspicion.
Maggie had no idea where they were as Ethanblindfolded her as soon as they’d left her apartment and settledinto his car. The lessening of blowing horns and passing cars as hedrove alerted her when they left the city, but they’d traveled forat least an hour before arriving here, where he’d removed herblindfold.
A high, barbed wire fence surrounded theproperty; the red lights on top of it indicated it was electrified.Beyond the fencing, she saw only trees. There were no otherbuildings and no distant lights.
She focused her attention on the simple,concrete building again.It can’t be.
The door suddenly pushed open, and Vicky’shead popped out. Like a fish flopping on dry land, her mouth openedand closed when she spotted Maggie. Then she turned her attentionto Ethan before glaring at Maggie.
