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My mind really has taken an odd turn on that front.
He coughs loudly. "What do you want me to do?" he asks, probably realising I hadn't told him the first time, just started stripping off.
"I need you to cut, here." I draw my fingers over the cross on my left shoulder. The one the guild gave me at six. "Why?" he asks, but takes out his own knife and a lighter nonetheless. Good. That means he's going to do it. I can get used to having men around who do what I tell them to, and when I tell them to do it.
"I think they may be putting trackers in us."
Silence hangs between us as that sinks in.
"Shit."
"Which means they know where the den is." More tears threaten, but I choke them back. I can't believe I put so many people in danger.
To my surprise, Bram just laughs.
"I'm pretty sure they already knew where the den was."
"What? How?"
"There's been a rumour going around for years that someone high up is in league with the hunters."
"What? Who?" I splutter, taken aback about the whole thing. It can't possibly be true? Can it? Why would any of the vampires want to help the people whose sole mission in life was to kill them all? It doesn't make any sense to me, and I was a hunter until very recently. Though, to be honest with myself, now I was out of their control, not a lot of what the guild does makes sense to me anymore. I have more unanswered questions than ever, and no one who knew any of the answers. Except Eric. I guess he might be able to answer some of them. But right now, I'm not convinced going to him is that safe.
"We don't know, that's why it's only a rumour."
"There must be theories. And doesn't Dimitri know?" He strikes me as the kind of man who knows everything that goes on in his home. I highly doubt he'd let something like someone working with the guild pass his notice.
"Of course there are. Pretty much everyone is suspected, from Eric to Remus." He studies my face as he says the last name, and I look away despite myself. "I see," he murmurs, disappointment threading through his tone.
"Not like that," I reply, pushing thoughts of Remus to the side. I'll explore those once we're all safe again. "He was the first person to be nice to me at the den. Really, he's the first person who was ever really caring towards me. That leaves an impression," I point out.
"I suppose," Bram replies, but he doesn't sound like he believes that. Interesting. And potentially confusing and concerning for when I have both of them in one place. I don't have feelings for either of them. Attraction to both. But feelings? I'm going to deny that one to the ends of the earth.
"Just cut me open, and then we can get going." I sigh. Exasperated by his messing. If he just got on with it, and stops obsessing over whatever is going on in his head, then we'll get out of here much faster.
"Is it weird to say with pleasure?" He smirks as he asks, and I smile back. That's much better than broody and jealous Bram.
"Yes, now get on with it."
"Do you want anything for the pain?"
"We don't have anything," I point out. Other than our weapons, we have nothing. Which may cause us some problems in a bit, but I'm honestly trying not to think about it.
"Oh, right."
He brings the knife up to my skin, and I close my eyes, trying not to think on what was about to happen. It'll hurt. I know that, but I'm still trying to brace myself. I sing a song I don't know the name of in my head, hoping it'll focus my brain on something other than the sharp knife about to cut into my skin.
The plan fails. I inhale sharply as the blade slices through skin. Lucky for me, Bram keeps it sharp, and thought to steralise it before he did anything. I can feel the slight warmth of the metal where he ran the lighter over it. A trail of blood trickles down my arm, but I ignore it.
"You okay?"
"Just get on with it," I reply, though deep down I'm appreciating the concern.
"This will hurt more," he warns me.
"Yep." There's nothing I can do about the pain. If I'm right, and I'm convinced I am, then the pain will be worth it once that thing is out of me.
Bram goes silent as he wiggles the blade around inside my shoulder. "Got it," he says eventually, and with a flick, he removes whatever it is that's within me.
