Blood & Roses: Warriors of the Krieger (27 page)

Lydia and I had been waiting an hour when the
potion started working on the first patient. The screams emanating
from his hospital room were ear splitting. Nurses and doctors ran
with inhuman speed to be at his bedside. Of course, Kai was the
last to enter the room. Lydia and I remained outside the glass
window and watched the flurry of commotion in the room.

The patient, Greg Hickman, jolted upright in
the bed; as much as possible with the restraints. His chest would
swell when he would gasp for air. Greg’s unnatural growls of pain
raised the hair on the back of my neck. It reminded me of the pain
I felt during my connection to Adam. The nurses spoke smoothing
words to him; trying to calm his panic.

Dr. Mason worked feverously to sedate his
patient. He used the same size syringe I had seen at my stay here a
few weeks ago, but this one had more medicine in the dispenser.
Within seconds of the injection of Morphine, Greg’s eyes closed and
his breathing became almost nonexistence, which was normal.

Lydia and I held hands as we watched the
nurse’s work over his resting body, tucking in the covers and
fluffing his pillows while he slept. Dr. Mason and two other
physicians stood in the corner deep in a conversation I could not
hear. Kai looked relieved and that gave me hope.

“I think it may have worked,” I whispered to
Lydia.

“Let’s talk to Kai before we get too
excited.”

Kai eventually exited the room and met us in
the hallway. “He’s stable right now. We won’t know if the potion
worked until he wakes tomorrow evening. Greg’s body will hopefully
heal during his daytime resting period. Y’all should go home and
come back tomorrow evening. If this works, we’ll start treatment on
the others.”

Lydia and I gave the sleeping hybrid one last
glance before having Brilliam take us back to the estate. When we
entered the room, Dragus and Ashby were standing by the couch. They
looked very unhappy. Ashby’s face was crimped in anger and Dragus
sighed.

“Charity,” he growled. “You should have
called me.” Although Dragus was furious with me, he still snuggled
in my arms.

“I was not about to get you away from your
duty tonight, Dragus. The last thing you need to do is worry about
me. We were perfectly safe.” His fist clenched tighter behind my
back and I noticed a tick working in his jaw.

Ashby was staring holes through Lydia and I
suppressed a chuckle. The tension radiating from him was intense.
How could she think that he didn’t care for her? Lydia looked at me
then back at him, “What!”

“Are you ready, Lydia? Sunrise will be soon,”
he growled. I bet she was going to get an ass chewing just as bad
as the one I was expecting.

Lydia nodded and turned to me for a hug.
“I’ll call you the first chance I can,” she whispered.

I watched Lydia and Ashby leave and with a
heavy sigh I turned to Dragus. “Don’t you
dare
start with
me,” I accused.

“I was worried,” he growled. “You cannot go
off on your own anymore. You are now in a position that the hunters
may want to do away with you. It is very important that you let me
know where you’re going and take a guard, or three, with you when
you go somewhere.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize it would be a
problem to go to the hospital, as long as Brilliam with us.” That
was true; I never thought I would be a target for hunters until he
told me. The threat from the Lycanthropes was always on my mind. I
guess my new role also came with new dangers.

I understand the whole new life I’m accepting
as a Lady. Granted, I don’t plan on changing my life too much in
the future. I will still run my club and still do whatever is
needed at the mansion. With Lydia to help me, I don’t think it will
be a problem to hold down both jobs with any problems. Can I do it?
God, I hope so. But will Dragus be willing to lay off on the doting
and worrying for me to do my own thing? That conversation will have
to wait.

A crooked smile plastered across his face and
laughed, “You know, I could have you arrested for breaking curfew.”
Ah, so he was going to be like that.

The way his lip crooked at the corners made
my belly quiver and it sparked my frisky side. I held my hands out
in front, wrists together and smiled, “Go ahead, I’ll resist.”

Dragus growled and pulled me close. He placed
a hand on the back of my head, pressing me to his chest. “How did
the potion work on the victim?” he asked with a strained voice. It
was obvious that he was trying his hardest not to yell at me for
traveling away from the estate. I felt his wordless sigh against
his chest.

“He eventually had to be sedated. Lydia and I
are going back tomorrow to see if it worked. Then if we have
positive results,” I paused to take a deep breath. “I’m going to
find Adam.” It was hard, but I stood my ground. I stepped back
risking a look into Dragus’ eyes and winced, they were red and he
was mad. I took an involuntary step back. Here comes the lecture in
three…two…

“This is where I draw the line! You will
not
go into those woods alone!” His voice thundered through
the mansion. I’d even be surprised if Lady Michelle and Lady Elise
hadn’t heard it. I waited for him to calm down and then I waited
some more. Once the blood drained from his eyes I continued with my
argument.

It was extremely hard but I managed to keep
my voice calm, but I did, “I’m going whether you like it or not,”
he started to speak; I stopped him with one finger in the air. “I
promised him and so it shall be, Dragus.
End
of argument.
I’m going to bed.”

He started to protest, but I silenced him
with my hand again. If this had been one of those children’s
cartoons, I would have seen steam shoot out of his ears. (Sorry, I
love Tom & Jerry.) I knew my argument was won, because he knew
I was right. Adam would only come to me and not the
Krieger
.

Satisfied with myself, I found my pale blue
silk gown – that was now becoming my “mad at Dragus outfit” – in
the dresser and quickly changed for bed. Dragus stood by the couch
like a statue watching my every move; never saying a word. I slid
into the bed and closed my eyes. Secretly hoping I didn’t wake up
in the dungeon. Knowing this place, it probably had one.

My first thought was to make sure I was still
in our bed and not in some underground cellar. I sensed Dragus was
very close; the magnetic pull was all but vanished. Cool hands
traced a pattern down my arm and I knew that he knew I was awake.
Reluctantly, I opened my eyes to find his staring deep into
mine.

“Good Evening,” I grumped. Just because I
died during the day, doesn’t mean that I forgot I was mad at
him.

“Evening,
mi amado
,” he smiled. “Are
you well tonight?” Translation: Was I still mad at him? I think he
secretly enjoyed that I could bring him to his knees; I know I
did.

“I’m fine,” I lied. He can’t keep me from
going out today. Lydia and I were going to the hospital first thing
to check on Greg Hickman. If the potion worked, then we’ll
immediately go over to my house to find Adam.

Dragus followed me into the bathroom as I
turned the water on in the shower. I walked over to the linen
closet and removed two oversized towels from the shelf. When I
turned around, he was standing there, still watching me with
intense eyes.

“I’m not leaving until after I am showered
and dressed. You don’t have to watch my every move.” I said through
clinched teeth.

“I need to know what your plans are Charity,”
he paused. “I understand your willingness to help, but I will not
leave you unprotected. If you don’t want me there, please take
Brock or William with you.” He caught me off guard. I was prepared
for his me-warrior-you-woman attitude or even a night in the
dungeon, but this was unexpected.

“If it makes you feel better, I will take
both of them with me.” Dragus breathed a sigh of relief and stepped
into the shower. “As much as I hate driving right now, with what
happened with that Lycan attacking the Hummer, I’m glad to have
Brilliam with me. They have been trained well. You should be
proud.”

He lathered up a washcloth and started making
his way toward my back. “I like to think that my training program
is working. And thankfully it is,” he whispered. “Why didn’t you
tell me you were shaken up by that werewolf the other night?”

“It’s nothing, Dragus. I just don’t want to
go through that again.” I wasn’t completely giving up on going
outside, but I sure didn’t want to experience that again. Once was
enough for a lifetime.

After Dragus and I fed, Lydia showed up with
Ashby. Dragus met them in the foyer, while I sat on the brown suede
couch in the living room. Lydia dashed over and sat next to me. She
looked frustrated.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, taking her hands
into mine.

She pointed her chin toward Ashby and crossed
her arms across her chest, “He chewed my ass last night, about
going away from the estate even with a guard. He acts like
I’m
a Lady of the
Krieger
and I’m not!”

I had to bite my lip to keep from smiling. I
knew Ashby liked her by the way he watched her. Tonight he was
looking exceptional in his
Krieger
button down shirt. Were
those new jeans? I think I even smell a soft hint of cologne, or is
that a musky aftershave?

I didn’t want to give her any more reason to
doubt his feelings or get her hopes up either way, so I didn’t
comment on her statement. “Dragus wasn’t happy either. We agreed to
have Brilliam go with us again tonight.”

“That sounds fine to me,” she paused. “What
did Dragus say about Adam? Or did you tell him?”

“I told him that if this worked, I was going
to go to my house and try to contact Adam. He wasn’t very happy
about it. Dragus doesn’t want me out there alone.” Which now that I
think about it, he’s right. I’ll admit that I was a little stupid
thinking I would be safe there. Adam won’t come if the
Krieger
are there. We are going to have to come up with a
plan to get the potion to him
and
keep the
Krieger
away.

Ashby came into the living room, followed by
Dragus. It was easy to tell they were not happy about
something.

“Lady Charity,” he bowed. “Dragus and I have
discussed your desire to contact Adam and administer the potion. We
cannot allow you to be put in that situation. It’s just too
dangerous.”

I sighed heavily and stood facing the
warriors, “You know that he will only talk to me. He is scared of
you. There has got to be a way to get him out of the forest.”

“Do you have a plan?” Lydia asked, raising a
delicate eyebrow at me.

“No, not yet,” I shrugged. “We don’t even
know if the potion worked. I need to get over to the hospital.” I
looked over at Dragus. He was leaning against the door frame. His
face was hardened and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Brock and William are ready to depart for
the hospital. You and Ms. Lydia please be careful tonight.” Dragus
was in his police mode, giving orders. I wasn’t mad at him, because
I knew this was the way he worked.

I saw Lydia roll her eyes and I had to laugh.
Dragus’ smile was a little smug, knowing he was in charge. I
shouldn’t be so hard on him. This is his job and has been for a
very long time.

Ashby’s phone rang and he stepped out into
the foyer to answer. I had to stifle a giggle when Lydia almost
broke her neck to check out his ass.

Dragus paced around the living room,
periodically stopping to rub his thumb against his chin. That was
his way of thinking. I felt his emotions and knew he was confused,
but determined.

“What are you planning, Dragus?” I asked,
skeptical.

“Everything I consider, places you in the
middle and I’m not comfortable with it. You may need to be there to
get him to come to us,” he murmured.

“You know that I have to be there. That’s
what I’ve been telling you,” I answered, tossing my hands in the
air like a frustrated child. His beautiful yellow eyes looked me
over and he finally threw his hands in the air as well.

“I give up! No matter what I say, you are
going to be there. Will I ever be able to change your mind and make
you stay here at the mansion?”

“Nope,” I laughed. “You know I’m right.”

Before Dragus could throw another tantrum,
Ashby returned from the foyer and his face looked grim. “Bastian
and Powle have found six more victims. They’re going to be at
Sacred Heart in the next few minutes. I’m sorry Dragus, but we need
to be going. We need to get to the station for a meeting.”

Dragus scooped me up into a tight hug and
whispered in my ear, “Do not go to your house until we have a plan.
I will help you help Adam, but you’re going to have to compromise
with me.”

I place a swift kiss on his cheek and smiled,
“I will wait until we have a plan. I promise, Dragus.”

He leaned in and ran his nose along the
bottom of my jaw and over the vein in my neck. After a deep inhale,
he growled low in his chest and whispered, “Mmm, blood and roses
baby.” Then he released me quickly and with a wink, he turned for
the door.

Now that he was satisfied with our agreement,
Dragus and Ashby left for the office for a meeting before going to
the hospital. Lydia and I waited patiently for Brilliam to come
inside.

I leaned back on the couch and thought about
my life over the past few days. The Lycanthropes were waging a war
against the vampires. They had bitten so many vampires I’ve lost
count and those vampires were changing into a type of hybrid. My
home was almost destroyed. Thankfully a female
Nachtmann
was
sent to my home during the day and removed all of my clothes from
my room.

I was now First Lady of the
Krieger
. A
role I was nervous about taking over, but knew I had to jump in
with both feet. Dragus and I had bonded and will soon go through
our
Joining
ceremony.