Page 67

“I’m going to ask your friends to step out while I examine you⁠—”

“No, can they stay? Uh… I don’t need to get naked or anything, do I?” Though I’m in a hospital gown, so clearly someone’s already seen most of my body.

“No nudity,” she promises. “Mostly these will be cognitive tests, though if you hurt anywhere other than your ribs, head, and knees, we’d like to know where.”

I sigh. “You’re going to shine a light in my eyes, aren’t you? That’s what they do on TV.”

Her mouth twitches. “Only for a few seconds.”

“Let’s get it over with, then.”

When Samantha and Lisa eventually leave, Anna and Clive crowd around the bed.

“Where’s Tristan?” I ask, trying not to sound as needy and fretful as I feel. I’m sure he’s busy, what with having to deal with the fallout of killing another vampire. Vampremacy are probably going to use this against him. Still, it would have been nice if he’d hung around until I woke up.

“Downstairs,” Anna tells me. “Jes and Alan got here about forty-five minutes ago with the stuff they found at Geoffrey’s place. He’s talking to them now, but he’ll be back up here soon. Pierce is in the lounge two doors down, keeping an ear on everything.”

I blink a few times, trying to make that make sense. “Why isn’t he in here?”

She glances at Clive. “We weren’t sure if you’d want him to be.”

“We didn’t know if waking up to a vampire in the room would distress you,” Clive adds, and I remember our conversation right after I woke up.

“Thanks, but it’s okay. Could you ask Pierce to come in? I want to know what happened.”

Anna shrugs. “If that’s what you want.”

A second later, there’s a light tap on the doorframe, and Pierce leans in. “Hi. Are you sure⁠—”

“Please get in here. My head hurts too much to have this argument thirty times.”

That gets me a round of frowns. “Remember what the doctor said about the morphine button,” Clive lectures. “Pain control is important for your ribs so you don’t risk lung issues.”

“I remember,” I promise and dutifully push the little button. The doctor assured me it wasn’t possible to overdose myself, and I’m sore from all the prodding she did and the thinking she made me do. “Okay, so tell me what happened last night. Geoffrey took me from my grandparents’ house—has someone called them, by the way?” I might only have met them once, but I already know they’re the kind to worry.

“I spoke to them while we were bringing you here, and then Anna called with an update once the doctor had seen you,” Pierce assures me.

“I also just texted to let them know you’re awake, and they’d like you to call when you’re feeling up to it,” she adds.

“Thank you. Everyone’s okay, right? Geoffrey didn’t hurt anyone when he took me?”

“They’re fine—angry, but fine. From what I’ve heard, your grandparents have roused the Association and every feeder family around the globe. Kidnapping a feeder is a stupid thing to do. Kidnapping a feeder from an influential family like yours goes far beyond stupid.” Pierce shakes his head. “Doing so when the feeder is at his family home, surrounded by other contracted feeders… well, that’s the kind of thing that destroys lineages.”

I think about that. “Does it also destroy sociopolitical movements?”

He shrugs. “In this case, I’d say yes. Geoffrey was the face of Blood Reign, and his death would have been a hefty blow to their momentum in any case. His death under these circumstances paints the whole movement with tainted colours. Three of your cousins who were there last night are contracted to vampires who don’t appreciate having their feeders put at risk, even tangentially. The vampires who formerly had contracts with your aunts, uncles, and grandparents maintain fondness for them and dislike that humans under their protection were subjected to a violation of their safety. That’s a lot of vampires who collectively wield a great deal of power and now have a strong grudge against Blood Reign. It would be difficult to gain the kind of support they need—or any.”

“Good,” Clive mutters, but I frown.

“Then why did Geoffrey do it? From some of the things he said, he hated feeders. Why would he risk destroying his chance of getting rid of the institution of feeders?”

“It would seem he hated me more.” Tristan’s voice flows over me like a cool shower on a hot day, making all the sharp edges of the world retreat with a soothing balm. I look over to where he’s standing in the doorway, looking way more rumpled than I’ve ever seen him. Even with messy hair and wearing someone else’s clothes—because there’s no fucking way I believe those jeans and T-shirt are his—he’s still the most put-together, elegant man I’ve ever met. Aka the stick is still firmly lodged in his arse.

I’m so glad he’s here.

“Nice outfit,” I say. He shudders lightly, glancing down at himself.

“I apologise for appearing en déshabillé. My clothing was bloody.”