Save the Last Vamp for Me (24 page)

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“W
ould you hurry it up?”

Someone drove a knife into my arm. I shrieked, a high thin noise, and opened my eyes to be blinded by light.

“We’re losing her.”

“Do something.” I knew that voice. Logan was there. I wanted to tell him that I was tired, and ask him to make whoever was poking at my neck to stop, but I couldn’t see him.

“I am, you lump of fur. Clear.”

Fire blazed through me, jolting my entire body. The light disappeared, but not for long.

Sal glimmered into existence. “Ooh, bet that hurt.”

“Yeah.” My jaws ached. So did my throat. “What was it?”

The wrinkle-faced god shrugged, and the tropical garden appeared around us. “One of those lightning boxes they use to zap hearts.”

“Oh.” I sank down onto a stone bench. “Crap, am I dead again?”

Sal chuckled. “No, you’re experiencing a little electrical failure, and you seem to have misplaced quite a lot of blood.”

Discord
.

I looked around. “Who was that?”

“Someone who cares for you.” He grinned. “By the way, good job, kiddo.”

“You helped me.”

He gave a slight nod, just a dip of his chin. “You were going foggy. Needed a nudge.”

“Thanks.” I took a moment to rummage around in my mind. No Merriven. “How did that bastard get into my head?”

“Your shield sucks.”

Chin lowered, I glared at him. “That was helpful.”

Sal’s grin widened. “If you want to protect yourself from psychic sneak attacks, one wall isn’t going to cut it. You need to build a series of walls. Actually, I recommend a maze, scattered with alarms and traps.”

I slumped. “That sounds complicated.”

“Yes, and complicated is exactly what will save your bacon.” Sal sniffed, his upper lip curling. “Use your imagination, and spend time every day building it. Hide the map in the center, and create a guardian to defend it.”

Discord
.

“Who is that?”

Sal looked up at the sky. “Kids these days. You try to impart life-saving information, and they’re distracted by text messages.”

“Sorry. A maze, got it. Thank you.”

His dark gaze returned to my face. “Good. Like I said, be creative with it. It’s your mind, you can do anything in there you want. If you work at it every day, it’ll eventually become real.”

“Now you’re confusing....”

Discord
.

“Me.” Geeze, who was that? Who was working on me while Sal and I had our little tête-à-tête? “How can something I imagine be real?”

“Mentally real, Discordia. It’ll be real to you and anyone who tries climbing into your noggin. You’ll always be shielded. You’ll never have to rebuild it again, but,” he lifted his forefinger. “A bit of redecorating from time to time wouldn’t be amiss.”

“Okay.” I liked the parts about never being unshielded or having to rebuild my shield. “Anything else, or can I go now? I need to check on my mom.”

Sal’s face screwed up, his wrinkles tripping over each other. “The elf is tending your injuries, but you’ll be weak for a while. Don’t try using your abilities for a couple of weeks. They need time to recover too. If you do, you’ll damage yourself.”

“Why? I’ve never had....”

“Nearly every drop of blood drained and a master vamp renting space in your head? No, you haven’t. Don’t argue with your elder.” He paused. “Use the time to remember you’re not invincible. Let every ache and stab of pain remind you that you’re human.”

“Boy, that sounds like fun.”

He scowled. “It’s a lesson. Learn it.”

“Yes, sir.” I felt restless, and the voice rustled through the leaves, murmuring my name again:
Discord
.

“A little respect from my favorite psychic. It’s a red letter day.” Sal’s scowl melted when he chuckled.

Favorite psychic. Why did that phrase drip ice water into my veins? Maybe because it meant I wasn’t the only psychic he had an interest in, and why would a god be lurking around, giving psychics nudges and advice?

No good reason came to mind. To be honest, no bad ones did either. Didn’t lay my sudden worry to rest though.

Discord
.

I stood. “I have to go.”

“Yes, you do. I’ll be in touch, kiddo.” Sal waved his hand and everything went dark.

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“U
rgh.” I clawed at my mouth, choking on whatever filled my throat. My frantic movements caused dull pain and brought people running.

Alleryn’s face swung into view and he grabbed my wrist. “Stop that. You can breathe, you little twit. It’s called a breathing tube for a reason. I’ll remove it if you’ll be still.”

I narrowed my eyes, resorting to gagging to get him to let go and pull the damn thing out. Which he did. It proved to be a less-than-pleasant experience. My throat burned as I gulped in air. “Mom?”

Logan appeared on the other side of the bed, and touched my shoulder. “She’s safe. Danielle brought her to Derrick’s. Sunny’s asleep in the next room.”

Thank God. My voice sounded as though someone had sanded my vocal cords. “Merriven?”

“Not dead yet, for some reason, but he’s in custody. Derrick’s custody.”

She’d listened. Good, even if I didn’t understand the impulse that had me yell at her not to kill him. I’d figure it out later. There were more important questions. “Where?”

Logan frowned. “Merriven?”

“No.” Gah, this conversation was going to take forever, with the ban on using my abilities. Telepathy would’ve been easier.

“Oh. This is Alleryn’s clinic in the sidhe. We brought you here.”

“We?”

Logan nodded. “When Danielle came in with Sunny, and they told us where you were, I knew if things went bad, you’d call for Leglin. I asked him to take me with him.”

“Thanks.”

He smiled. “Just returning the favor.”

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A
broken arm, three cracked ribs, the hole in my neck, and nearly successful exsanguination were my total injuries.

I slept all day Saturday, and through the night, waking Sunday morning to an obscenely cheerful Alleryn walking in with a tray and IV bags. “Good morning. How are we feeling today?”

“Don’t know about you, but I’m hungry, my ribs are stabbing me, and my arm hurts. This itches.” I pointed at the bandage on my neck. “And I want a bath.”

“Eat your breakfast.” Alleryn deposited the tray on the rolling table and pushed the table in place over the bed. He began changing the IV bags, one of which was blood.

“Where does an elf get a supply of blood from for his private clinic?”

“A pushy, growly bodyguard.” He checked the lines. “Just finished drawing it. He’s eating. You should be too.”

I lifted the cover from the plate. Cheesy quiche, bacon, and paper-thin slices of honeydew melon rolled into bite size pieces. “Yum. How’s my mom?”

“Better than you are. She didn’t break anything.” The elf pulled a chair over to my bedside and sat. “Dehydration, hadn’t been fed during her captivity, bruising and abrasions from being restrained. She’s exhausted.”

Fork halfway to my lips, I looked at him. “Dehydration?”

“Not from being fed on. She wasn’t bitten. They didn’t give her enough water.” He pointed at my breakfast. “She’s remarkably unharmed, physically, considering the circumstances.”

I took my waiting bite. The quiche was wonderful, a blast of sharp cheese with hints of spinach and herbs. “Mentally?”

Alleryn smiled. “It was a traumatic experience, but she’s in good spirits. Sunny is a resilient woman.”

“That’s awesome.” Best news I’d had in a few days. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“How much do I owe you?”

Alleryn’s expression turned solemn. “That’s a dangerous question to ask an elf.”

“But a necessary one.”

He nodded. “Yes.”

“So?” I prompted, steeling myself for the answer.

“I think the highest of prices: trust and friendship.”

I ate a few bites, trying to think my way through that. “Why those?”

“You are one of a small number who tread the line between humanity and supernaturals, as we’ve been collectively labeled. You’re one of the few of those in this city with true power.” A faint smile appeared on his face. “You also possess a good heart. I would rather be counted as a trusted friend to you than an annoyance or enemy.”

Take that at face value, or ask more questions? He had done a lot for me in the past, as Dr. Allen. Kate was dating him, and her familiar was okay with it. “You’re not going to ask me to kill anyone, are you?”

“I have no such plans.”

“Okay, we can be friends then.”

Alleryn chuckled. “Wonderful.”

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T
he requested bath didn’t happen because I fell asleep after breakfast, and didn’t wake until a gorgeous, raven-haired elf woman brought my dinner. “Thank you.”

She inclined her head with a small smile, and left. I wondered if she understood or spoke English while checking my tray.

“Hey.”

Looking up from the artful arrangement of sliced prime rib, snow peas, and Julienne potatoes, I found Logan standing in the doorway. “Hi. Want to keep me company while I take my medicine?”

“Sure.” He smiled and walked in to sit down. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.” I held up my left hand in illustration. “And shaky. But my throat feels better.”

“Good. After you eat, Sunny wants to see you. I’ll help her walk over.”

That didn’t sound good, after Alleryn’s report. “Is she worse?”

“She’s doing great, but a little shaky too. I’ll feel better, being on hand just in case.”

“Oh, okay.” I dove into the meal, eager to see Mom. “I don’t mean to be rude, but shouldn’t you be with Terra?”

Logan grinned. “Teague hasn’t seen any signs of other shifters, and your Pit Crew has been guarding the shop’s door during business hours. Terra’s having a lot of fun there, and David said he didn’t mind them staying longer.”

Well. Good to know I wasn’t wrong about the safest place to stash people. “I owe David big time.”

“He’s a good guy.”

Good night, the prime rib parted under my fork like butter, and was melt-in-my-mouth perfection. I swallowed, wondering if I could ask for seconds. “Alleryn roped you into donating again. I’m sorry.”