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I slap away his hand. “Don’t brush it off. I saw how much pain you were in, Julian. Tell me what the hell that was.”
He grumbles, “A side effect of having your blood in my system.”
“Holy shit,” I breathe out. “You feel what I feel?”
“Something like that,” he answers, before running his hand over the bite on my neck.
“I’m fine, Julian. I promise.” I smile, hoping to calm his obvious nerves about my condition. Strangely, the longer I’m awake, the better I feel. I stretch my arms over my head, feeling the pull of my muscles and relishing it before that momentary relaxation turns to dread.
“Where’s Marcellus?”
“He’s detained.”
“By whom?” I croak. “Can you trust anyone with him?”
“He’s in good hands, Marina. Bash and Count Sagar have him sedated and in transport to Bellamy Manor. He’ll be held in the cellar underground with twenty-four-hour supervision.”
“What about the girls?”
“They’re in the back with Katina, Count Westoff, and his wife, Sarah. She has worked with human therapists for the past century. She’s well versed in how to handle trauma. Can we focus on you now?”
I roll my eyes. “She’s a vampire. What can she know about humans?” I bark, and Julian winces at my slight on his kind.
I immediately feel like shit. After everything he’s done for me, my attitude is uncalled for, but I can’t help it. Something inside of me is... different. Every emotion is intensifying as the moments tick by.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’ve been so worried about them, and I just want to help,” I try to explain, but it falls short. “Can you take me to them?”
“Are you out of your mind?” Maggie snaps. “You’re not going anywhere but home and to bed. Jesus, Marina. You. Died.”
“Maggie,” Law cautions, but she cuts him off.
“No, Law. I won’t lie to her. She’s different and she deserves to know the truth. All of it,” she hisses.
My eyes volley back and forth between my sister and Julian, waiting for someone to tell me what the hell is going on. He said I practically died, and she said I did. Which is it? Then there’s this matter of me being different. I can feel it myself, but what does it mean? All of their words coupled with the surge of emotions has my unease at a fever pitch.
I begin to claw at my throat as the anxiety threatens to overtake me.
“Marina, look at me,” Julian commands, grabbing both of my hands and holding them to my sides. “Breathe.”
Inhale.
Exhale.
“Good,” he praises. “Keep breathing and listen to me. Only me.” He glances over his shoulder and based on the hostile glare Maggie’s aiming his way, I can only imagine he is warning her to keep her trap shut.
Good luck, Julian.
“The vampire who bit you was part of the Council, Count Byron. I thought I had managed to change his allegiance when I rolled out our plan.” He bows his head. “I was wrong.”
“That’s who was working with Marcellus this whole time? Was he the one who was coming for Maggie?” My words tumble out in verbal diarrhea as my mind reels with the vampire’s identity. Not only was he the cause of Maggie’s leap from the cliff, but he’s also responsible for whatever changes are occurring in me.
“Where is he?” I demand, ready to tear him limb from limb.
“He’s also detained. Hewillsuffer for what he’s done, Marina. I promise you.”
My eyes close as I try to rein in the flurry of emotions that threaten to split me open—anger, frustration, sadness—all of them so potent, I feel like I’m choking on them. Maybe if I focus on one, I’ll be able to manage.
“Tell me what happened,” I grit. “Ineedto know.”
