Blood Kin (31 page)

“Then send someone for him,” I snapped.
“Now
.
”

The healer jerked his head at the orderly. “Do it,” he ordered. Then he peered up at me. “At least put her down in one of the rooms. She’ll be more comfortable. So will you.”

I considered. Maybe the man was right, but I didn’t want to let go of Holly. She was still pale and motionless; she hadn’t stirred since I’d picked her up in the Assembly, surrounded by vampires, and carried her away from Ignatius Grey’s laughter. I’d thought at first she’d merely fainted, but surely she should be coming around by now?

If it weren’t for the rise and fall of her chest—all too obvious in that damned dress—I would’ve thought she was dead. I focused on her breathing, willing each breath to be followed by another.

“Mr. DuCaine?” the healer repeated. “She really will be more comfortable.”

“All right. But no one but Simon touches her.”

“Of course.” The healer led the way to a treatment room and I laid Holly down on the bed.

“Can you tell me what happened? Is she hurt?” He hovered near the bed, obviously wanting to do what healers did.

“I’ll speak to my brother. She has no wounds that need immediate attention.” I hoped that was true. She wasn’t bleeding at least. Ignatius hadn’t done anything to her that I had witnessed except give her the cursed blood. I felt bile rise in the back of my throat. What in the name of all that was holy had she been thinking to agree to such a thing?

Drinking vampire blood. No amount of information was worth that, was it? She was risking blood-locking or . . . I had a sudden horrible thought. She didn’t do this regularly, did she?

What if she was a Nightseeker and she’d fooled me?

Surely not. I wasn’t that stupid.

No. I was being an idiot. She was no Nightseeker. A Nightseeker wouldn’t fight so hard for her family. Holly might be a spy and a thief, but she had her own code of honor. She wouldn’t lie to me about something so vital.

A taste for the blood was a hard thing to hide. Though maybe you could for a short time. After all, I’d only known her a few days. . . .

“Guy?” Simon’s voice came from behind me. “What happened?”

“She drank vampire blood,” I said, staring down at Holly where I’d placed her. The black satin of her dress fanned over the small hospital bed. Her skin was icily pale against it. I swallowed, hard. Even if she wasn’t a Nightseeker, she had tasted vampire blood. What happened if she became addicted?

“Gods and suns,” Simon said. He came up beside me, bent down, and took Holly’s wrist in his hand. “Why would she do that? Where were you?” He twisted round to look at me accusingly, but he didn’t let go of Holly’s arm.

“Halcyon,” I said, and saw him grimace.

“Why?”

“We can talk after you deal with Holly,” I said.

“Yes, I think we will.” He focused on Holly. “Whose blood did she drink?”

“Does it matter?” I didn’t want to think of Ignatius Grey or I might have to return to Halcyon and do something exceedingly satisfying like beat him to a pulp. Of course, it would also be extremely stupid.

“Would I ask if it didn’t?” Simon said. “Who was it?”

“Ignatius Grey.” Hell’s balls. When was he going to stop talking and fix her?

“Ignatius was there?” This time it was Lily’s voice, coming from the door.

“Ignatius was the one throwing tonight’s little shindig,” I said, still watching Holly and Simon.

“Rising fast,” Lily murmured. She came over, touched my face lightly. Which meant she was worried. Lily still didn’t touch anyone other than Simon easily. “You’re hurt too,” she said, stepping back. She stayed close, watching me carefully as though she expected me to fall over.

“I’ll live,” I said firmly. The cut on my head was throbbing, but it seemed to have stopped bleeding. There was blood on my jacket and splashed across my shirt, drying red brown against the white. Head wounds always make a damned mess. I swiped at my face, with the back of my hand. It came away smeared with half-dried blood. No wonder the orderly had stared.

“What’s taking so long?” My gut twisted. Was she really hurt? What if the blood did something to her? “The blood. It wasn’t much, I don’t think. Will she—”

“She’s half Fae,” Lily said. Her tone sounded convincing, but her eyes were worried as she watched Simon work. “She’ll probably be all right.”

“You’re half Fae,” I pointed out. “Lucius addicted you.”

“Not the very first time,” Lily said. “How much did Ignatius give her?”

“A few drops, maybe more. But I don’t know if this is her first time,” I ground out. “Simon?”

Simon was still bent over Holly, doing whatever it was sunmages did. “She fainted. I’m going to wake her up.”

I took a half step forward, stopped when Lily put her hand on my arm. I shook her off. “Is that safe?”

“Guy, this is my job, remember?” Simon sounded exasperated.

I clenched my hands, still overloaded with adrenaline and the need to hurt something. “Yes. Sorry. Do what you think is best.”

“Good. Why don’t you go and let Bryony look at your head?”

“I’m not going anywhere until I know Holly is all right.”

Simon and Lily exchanged a look, smiles blooming on their faces.

“Don’t go getting ideas. She got hurt on my watch. She’s my responsibility.” That was all it was, I told myself firmly. I couldn’t afford anything else.

“Whatever you say, big brother,” Simon said. He laid a hand either side of Holly’s skull and closed his eyes for a moment.

Holly sighed softly and her eyes fluttered open. She looked sleepy, smiling a little as she caught sight of me. “Hello.”

“Hello,” I said. Relief made my knees sag. I braced myself on the bedstead.

Holly’s smile turned to a frown. “Why do you have blood on your face?”

“Holly, you’re at St. Giles,” Simon interrupted. “Do you remember what happened?”

Her frown deepened. Then her eyes widened abruptly. “Ignatius. Oh
gods
.” She buried her face in her hands. “Oh gods. Don’t look at me.” Her voice was muffled, half-choked. I took another step toward the bed. Lily moved faster than me. She went to the bed, fished a handkerchief out of her pocket, and tucked it into Holly’s hand.

Holly’s fingers tightened on the square of linen, but she didn’t lift her head.

“Holly, it’s all right,” Simon said. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I did. I was st-stupid.” Her voice trailed away on a sob.

Definitely crying. I wanted to help but didn’t know how. Not with Simon and Lily in the room.

“The Blood are treacherous,” Lily said soothingly. “The important thing is that Guy got you out of there. You’re safe now.”

“They hurt him,” Holly said. “Because of me.”

She was worried about me? Something strange twisted in my stomach. I moved closer still, but Lily shook her head. Simon waved me away.

“Holly, I need to take a look at you,” Simon said, as the sobs grew noisier. “Lily will take Guy to Bryony. She’ll heal his head. Everything’s going to be all right.”

HOLLY

“Am I going to be blood-locked?” I asked as the door closed behind Guy and Lily. I was propped up against a pillow, Lily’s handkerchief still clutched in my hand. I’d gotten the tears under control, but horror and shame still twisted in my stomach, making the room swim. Worst of all, beneath the disgust, I could feel satisfaction sliding under my skin, as though I’d recently left a lover’s bed.

It made me feel slimier than the geas ever had. I’d drunk vampire blood. I’d
come
from drinking vampire blood.

Simon drew up a chair. “It’s unlikely. The Fae don’t get blood-locked.”

“I’m only half Fae.”

“Yes. So we’ll watch you for the next few days.”

I twisted the handkerchief. I didn’t have a few days. Guy needed to know what I had learned. And I needed to figure out how to get to Cormen. Behind the Veil, Ignatius had said. Which meant he was in Summerdale. He had my mother and Reggie somewhere in the bloody Veiled Court. I had to get them out. Though how exactly I was going to do that—face him down on his home ground where human law didn’t apply—I had no idea.

“What happens if I am?” I asked. I knew the answer. There was no cure for blood-locking. The cravings grew stronger and stronger until they consumed everything else. Until you died.

“Let’s cross that bridge if we need to,” Simon said.

It should have made me feel better, but I couldn’t help feeling unclean somehow. I had drunk blood. Ignatius’ blood. And it had felt good. I clenched my teeth so I wouldn’t retch, breathed through my nose a few times until I was sure I could speak.

“Lords of hell,” I muttered. For almost the first time in my life, I wished I were full Fae. Smart enough to stay out of trouble.

Simon patted my arm. “Don’t worry. Other than humans, I’ve never come across anyone who was instantly addicted. Just make sure you don’t do it again.”

“I wasn’t exactly intending to do it this time.” I didn’t want to explain how I’d gotten myself into this mess. It was too complicated. I rubbed my forehead. Trying to think through the ache in my head and heart. How was I going to get into the Veiled Court? How could I get Cormen to see me?

By bringing him what he wanted
.

Fuck. I’d forgotten. Simon. I made myself focus. Yes. There. I could still feel my charm at his side. So he hadn’t discovered it and discarded it. It was still there. Still working. I had to take it back. Ideally, I’d leave it for longer, but who knew if it would last? Or if I’d get another chance to be alone with Simon.

My stomach twisted suddenly, and the urge to reach over and grab for the charm rose within. I fought the sensation, but the geas fought back, the twisting sensation changing to biting jabs of pain as I resisted.

I knew it would only get worse. Which meant I really had no choice at all. I had to do what it wanted. Go after Simon’s secret.

Simon who was Guy’s brother. Guy who had saved me. Who trusted me. They all trusted me.

And I was going to have to betray them.

Lords of hell. I felt exhausted, as though Ignatius had drained my blood rather than the reverse. Sick with what I had done and what I was going to do. I had no idea if I could summon enough power to glamour Simon.

I had to take the chance. I straightened, pushed my hair back from my face, and winced as the pain jabbed again.

“Does anything hurt?” Simon asked, leaning closer. “You didn’t hit your head when you fainted, did you?”

“How would I know?” I asked.

“Good question. Do you feel dizzy?” He peered at me. “Perhaps I should take another look.” The pain eased a little as the distance between us lessened.

Now. This time the urge was irresistible. But still I worked to keep control. The geas had no concept of subtlety or safety. Maybe if I hadn’t been brought back to the locus of its need, I could have staved it off. But it was too strong.

“Simon.” I put my hand on his arm, flesh to flesh. I bit back the tears. I didn’t want to do this. But I had to.

I gathered myself and threw the glamour at him. He froze and for a moment I thought I had failed. But then his face went vacant and relaxed.

“Simon, you won’t remember this,” I ordered softly. “But I need you to reach into your pocket and give me your charm.” He did as I asked, face still dreamily empty. Lady help me if Lily came back now and saw what I had done. I didn’t have much time. I doubted Bryony would take very long to heal Guy’s wounds.

The charm was still warm when Simon handed it to me and I tried not to fumble as I worked at disentangling my charm from his, whispering words of power to speed my fingers and unwind the binding I’d wrought on them. Not to mention keep Simon happily glamoured. It seemed to take forever, but eventually it was done.

I gave the invisibility charm to Simon. “There, you can put it away again now.” I tucked my charm into the evening bag, which had somehow made it back from Halcyon with me. There was no way to trigger it now and see if it had recorded anything useful. I would have to wait.

Later tonight. I could see if I’d gotten what I’d come for, if I had a way of getting the information Cormen wanted. If he’d retreated to Summerdale, then my options were rapidly narrowing. I didn’t want to help him, nor did I trust him to release my mother and Reggie if I did.

I still wanted to find a way to ruin his plans.

If I could.

If not—if I couldn’t find them or if I couldn’t resist the geas—I still needed backup to make sure Cormen could be persuaded to release them when I did bring him Simon’s secret. Either way I still needed Guy’s help.

Needed to keep on betraying him.

Right now I didn’t know if I hated my father or myself more.

First things first. I released Simon from the glamour. “My head doesn’t hurt,” I said, continuing our previous conversation as though nothing had happened.

“Indulge me,” he said with a smile. “That way I can reassure my brother your brain is perfectly intact.”

“After tonight, I don’t think your brother cares all that much whether or not my brain—or any other part of me—is intact.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Simon said.