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18
Tarnley
The day Bronywyn spelled me to be able to day walk, I’d been happier than I had in centuries. The ability to feel the warm sun as it beat down on my shoulders—as it shined upon my face—it had all been so much that I’d spent an entire day, sunrise to sunset, out in it.
An entire day soaking up the bright rays of the sun I had hid from for so damned long.
But now, as the first golden rays of the day shine through the window and onto my face, I feel nothing but pain.
Guilt.
Longing.
And, my least favorite of the emotions currently plaguing me, fear. Not for me, of course. No, I’ve made peace with what’s in my future, but for Bronywyn. For those I’ve come to know as friends. When I’m gone, it will be one less person standing between the witch who’s lost herself and death. One less person between her and everyone else gunning for her life.
I’m not sure which side I’m most fearful for, but the loss of any of them is too much to consider.
I try to sit, but the instant I attempt a movement, pain shoots through my gut, burning me from the inside, and I wince, breathing ragged as I lie back down in bed, heavy lids drooping. It takes mere moments to get my breathing under control, but those heartbeats feel like years in the midst of the agony.
“Tarnley?” Elijah calls through my apartment, and I can’t even muster up the strength to let him know I’m in my bedroom.
“If she came back here and killed him—” Rainey trails off as they step into my room. Her eyes widen, and she rushes forward alongside Elijah. “What happened? Did Bronywyn come back?”
Elijah shoves my blankets to the side and checks me over for injury. I shake my head, the movement bringing even more crushing agony over me. Sweat slicks my skin, and with the covers aside, I can see my chest barely rising and falling. As a made vampire, I don’t need to intake nearly as much oxygen as everyone else, but I do still need some. Lungs shutting down? That will be a problem not too long from now.
“What is happening to you? Is this because of the bond?”
“Yes,” I manage.
“We need to find that witch,” Rainey says as she turns away from me, pulling her phone out. A few moments pass before she lets out a breath and says, “Del, get to Tarnley’s as soon as possible.” She glances back at me. “As in, right fucking now. I’ll explain when you get here.” Ending the call, she shoves the phone into her pocket. “She’s on her way.”
“She can’t do anything,” I choke out, my throat burning.
Rainey offers her wrist. “Bite me.”
“Won’t work.”
“He needs Bronywyn’s blood,” Elijah says, looking sadly at me. “Or the bond will kill him.”
“Does she have any left at the clinic? Didn’t she store some when Delaney was dying after her little non-vacation to Faerie?”
That had been the first place I’d looked the moment I realized Bronywyn was probably not coming back. I’d torn the place apart in search of her blood and come up completely empty-handed. “No. Already checked.”
“Shit.”
“I’m going to go grab you some water,” Elijah offers, ducking out of the room and leaving Rainey and me alone. I like the hunter, despite my intense dislike for her faction after they murdered Allison. Truth is, she and her family are nothing like the hunters I’d crossed paths with over the centuries.
They were different, killing only when necessary, and never taking pleasure in the death of another living creature. They live to protect the humans, shielding them from the supernaturals who do not value life as they should.
Elijah’s mate takes a seat on the edge of my bed. “You doing okay? About Bronywyn, I mean, not physically. Physically, you look like shit.”
Never one to sugar coat, Rainey always tells it like it is. “I’ll be fine. Probably won’t have to care about it much longer.”
She doesn’t crack a smile, doesn’t grin, nothing. Just stares down awkwardly at her hands. “I know we’re not super close, but I really don’t want to lose you. You’re a good man, Tarnley.” Now she smiles. “For a vampire that is.”
Elijah comes in with a bottle of water, a blood bag, and an empty glass. My mouth waters even as I know the blood inside will not satisfy the cravings plaguing me. My body needs Bronywyn’s blood, and nothing else will satisfy.
Still, I don’t tell him that. My brother in everything but blood would drag the witch here if he could. But after what I witnessed last night, I’m not so sure he would survive it.
