The tether that showed no mercy.
Now he had been asked to stand between disaster and the one person who steadied the entire damned clan.
Rhen moved to the foot of the bed and stopped.
The tether gave him more information than touch ever could.
No pulse beat beneath Veya’s skin. Her breathing continued from habit, shallow and measured, while the bond carried the faint, stubborn thrum of her altered body stabilizing.
The fever had broken days ago.
The transition had not finished settling.
She was conscious more often now, but far from safe.
Far from controlled.
Rhen was not stupid enough to leave her unattended.
He crossed to the door and pulled it open.
“Mary.”
The vampire head housekeeper appeared almost immediately, as though she had been waiting beyond the edge of sight.
She probably had.
Mary had served the clan longer than some of the fortress walls had stood. Calm as stone. Efficient as death. Loyal without requiring praise for it.
“Yes, sir?”
“Get the night medic.”
Mary’s attention shifted briefly toward Veya.
“The medic remains in the medical wing.”
“Then bring her here. She stays inside with Veya.”
Mary dipped her head.
“Understood.”
“You remain outside the threshold. If anything changes, you send for me immediately.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rhen’s gaze hardened.
“No one crosses that threshold except the night medic. Anyone else waits for my word.”
“As you wish.”
Rhen looked past her into the corridor.
“Dax.”
He did not need to raise his voice twice.
