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I start to shake my head again, but then stop. I do recognize one of them. I point to one of the guys Parker took down. All three of them have shifted back into their human forms, and one of them has a very familiar face. “That guy was in Skinny’s having dinner when we were. He was teasing me about dating Rook. I think he was trying to piss off Parker and Henry. He left before us. He must have called his buddies for help. But why they’d want to attack us at all, I don’t understand. We didn’t make him mad or anything.”
Nick sighs. “They were rogues.”
“What?”
“Packless werewolves.” Nick points to the guy he killed. “I’ve had trouble with that one before. When rogues attack unprovoked, it usually means they were hired to do it. Rogues often work as mercenaries.”
My stomach rolls at the implication. Someone hired rogue werewolves to turn me? Or possibly kill me? Why would someone want me dead now? And who would hire wolves to do it?
I come back from my thoughts when Henry hisses loudly. He’s glaring at me with red eyes. “Why do I smell you on him?”
Um…because he kissed me, I think. But no way am I telling Henry that. He’d shit a brick.
“NORA!”
I don’t like being yelled at and snap back. “It’s none of your damn business why!”
He growls at this and places his hands on Parker’s head. I wince. I’d forgotten he could just look at Parker’s memories if he wanted. His eyes stay open, but they gloss over and go unfocused as he sifts through the night’s events in Parker’s mind. When he gets to our totally hot and disastrous kiss, he stiffens, snarls, and then digs his fingers into the wound on Parker’s side. Parker wakes with a jolt and screams in pain.
“Henry!” I rush over and try to stop Henry from hurting Parker, but he’s too strong for me. I kneel beside him and yank on his arm. “What are youdoing?”
“Killing him,” Henry growls. “Slowly and painfully.”
His claws are extended, and he’s deepening the wound in Parker’s side. I pull again on his arm and am unable to move it even a millimeter. “Henry, stop! Please!”
“He deserves it,” Henry says, but he pulls his hand back and frowns at me.
Parker quickly sinks back into unconsciousness. I’m actually relieved by that. His cries of pain are not something I will forget anytime soon.
“He saved my life, Henry,” I murmur.
Henry replies just as softly. “He kissed you.”
“That’s not a reason to kill him.”
“He betrayed me.” Henry sounds devastated by that. He stands up and looks down at Parker with sad eyes. “Iwarnedhim. He has wanted you from the very first night he brought you to me, butIclaimed you. You were supposed to bemine.”
“And what I want doesn’t matter?” I scoff.
Henry meets my eyes with a solid gaze. “It should not matter to him. I am hismaster. He is supposed to obey me with unwavering loyalty.”
His gaze falls to Parker again. His remorse shocks me. Parker’s actions have genuinely crushed him. “He was my best vampire,” he murmurs. “My favorite.” Shaking his head, he looks at me and his expression turns bitter. “For you, I won’t kill him, Nora, but his life is in your hands now.” He starts heading back to his car, wiping his hands with a handkerchief he pulls from the pocket of his suit. “Let him know, if he wakes up, that he is dead to me. He is no longer a member of my clan.”
I jump to my feet. I’m actually thrilled that Parker is out of Henry’s clan—though he’ll probably be upset by that—but I can’t believe Henry is just walking away. “You’re just going to let himdie?”
Henry shakes his head. “He has hurt me deeply, Nora. I will not save a traitor. I will not kill him, but I won’t spare his life, either.” His bitter smile turns scornful and hateful. “Good luck saving him in time. He’s got maybe minutes left.”
With that, he sends a quick glare to the disapproving Nick and heads for his car. Tears of anger well in my eyes as I follow him. “You selfish bastard!” I scream as I kick his stupid tires.
Henry sighs at my immaturity. “Do call me if you ever need anything. Perhaps you’ll give me a chance once Parker is out of the picture.”
The nerve of the man! Riled with rage, I kick his side passenger door, leaving a dent that is going to cost him a pretty penny to fix. “Never, you asshole!”
Henry makes his displeased, pinched sour-lemon face and says, “Good-bye, Nora,” as he climbs into his car. Hopefully it’s the last time I ever have to see him. I flip him the bird as he drives off and then rush to Parker’s side. His heartbeat is so faint.
“Help will be here in ten minutes,” Nick tells me, crouching down beside me. “The FUA has a few vampire friends in other clans besides Henry’s.”
I shake my head. “Parker doesn’t have that long, and you know it.”
