Bound to Blackwood (16 page)

Polite conversation was not Lena’s forte. With nothing more to say to the awful woman, she rose from her seat to stand by the window. At least from there she could comfortably see the large back garden and the door to the sitting room. She hadn’t forgotten that without Kaden, Thorn’s safety was down to her. He was a proud warrior so she hadn’t brought it up with him, but it didn’t make it any less true.

She mentally checked her weapons inventory — four throwing knives, two on each leg at thigh and ankle; six bladed stars; two semi-automatic pistols and four spare clips of small calibre armour-piercing rounds all neatly arranged on her utility belt. Her long sword was in its specially made scabbard down her spine.

The guns were her only concession to her elevated status. She liked to be up close and personal when she did her killing and she thought guns were cheating. Kaden always teased about that. He couldn’t understand how a Vampire so young could be so old-fashioned. He also couldn’t beat her in a fair sword fight, so she thought there were a few sour grapes in amongst all the teasing.

She looked back over at Thorn. From this position, she could only see the back of his head and those massive shoulders as he leant forward to talk to Larissa. He kept his voice low, but Lena could hear every word. Thorn was filling Larissa in on the conversation they'd had with Roarke at the pub.

Larissa leant forward making the whole scene look all the more intimate. As she smiled and batted her eyes at Thorn, the internal lava Lena had managed to keep at simmering point for the last few hours suddenly ignited. The blood roared around her head as Larissa brushed a loose lock of hair away from her face. The noise in her head was so deafening, Lena could no longer hear what was being said.

She watched Larissa say something that made Thorn laugh. Larissa joined in, her eyes all asparkle with amusement.

Then it happened. Larissa reached out, playfully brushing Thorn’s arm.

A menacing growl sprang forth uninvited. It was so unexpected, it took Lena a second to realise the sound was coming from her.

Larissa snatched back her hand as though she’d been bitten. She met Lena’s gaze with a silent “Oh” before shooting back in her chair.

Lena managed to silence the growl as Thorn turned around, but she knew her lip was still curled. She stared into Thorn’s eyes, now the colour of the midday sun. She assumed he was angry, but the
expression on his face didn’t match the emotion. Unless she was very much mistaken, Thorn Blackwood was looking at her in wonder.
 

Chapter 8

Kaden literally fell into bed. His chest heaved with the effort of simply breathing. His entire body was racked with pain as he tried to lay still, concentrating on not passing out.

It was not in his nature to ask for help. Ever. He stared at the medical equipment surrounding his bed, the red alert button seemed to grow larger, until everything else became invisible. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to push it.

His breathing was just about under control when he sensed someone hovering outside the room. He knew instantly it wasn’t Soraya, but annoyingly, he found he had to concentrate that bit harder before discerning it was Mercury. That hadn’t happened to him in over five hundred years.
Damn it.
 

“What do you want Mercury?“ he all but growled at the Vampire still lurking in the hallway.

“Thought I’d come an' see 'ow you are,” Mercury replied, his voice holding a slight tremor.

Kaden felt his brow knit. Mercury was not normally nervous; he’d have to care about himself first.
Holy Mother of Fae, do I look that bad?
 

“So, 'ow are ya?” Mercury made his way through the door.

I feel like my blood is on fire and I’m in constant agony.
“Fine. Can’t wait to get out of here,” Kaden replied.
 

Mercury looked visibly relieved as his shoulders loosened and he let out a sigh. “Glad to hear it, Boss. Wouldn’t want you to lose your touch or anythin',” he said, wonky smile returning to his otherwise grim looking face.

“So, what’s been happening? Lena done anything else stupid?”

Mercury gave a short, sharp laugh in response before flopping into the easy chair at the side of the bed. “Yeah, that was a turn up wasn’t it?”

“You think? Where is she anyway?” He knew she was somewhere in Surrey and he knew Thorn was with her. Beyond that, he didn’t have a clue and it really pissed him off.
Some Keeper he was
.
 

“She and Thorn 'ave gone to Norton. Greenshire gave us his mission dispatches, so they’re retracing his steps,” Mercury explained.

“Makes sense, I suppose. And the rest of you?”

“Oh don’t worry, the Steward 'as given us orders,” he replied.

A week ago, Mercury’s reply would have been dripping with disdain. Now though, Kaden could sense only playful sarcasm. This indeed was a revelation. Kaden arched his brow at the Guardian. “Orders?”

“Yeah. She’s got Sky, Ryver and me working on the archives.”

Kaden heard himself gulp before he could stop it. He was itching to get to them too, but given what happened to him the last time they went after the archives, he hated the thought of any of his Guardians meeting the same fate. He especially hated the thought of them going out without him to Keep them safe.

His brow furrowed again. He hadn’t sensed anyone but Thorn and Lena leaving the compound.

“We’ve been in the Command Centre almost non-stop for the last two days,” Mercury continued, oblivious to Kaden’s worries.

Relief wrapped around Kaden like a warm security blanket. At least he hadn’t completely lost his mind, though he still had no clue what the Guardian was talking about. Confusion must have shown in his face as Mercury looked surprised.
Shit.
Kaden hated being out of the loop.
 

“Ah. Yeah. Lena actually 'ad a good idea.”

Mercury filled him in on Lena’s plan of finding the Fallen archive servers. Even he had to admit it was a sound idea. He cursed himself for not thinking of it first, but found some comfort in the realisation that nobody else had thought of it either. “Any report back from Lena yet?”

“Only that they’re at the local coven waiting to question someone. House Bowman, I think she said.”

“Ah yes, the indomitable
Maluth
Larissa,” Kaden replied.

“You know her?”

“Only enough to know I don’t care for her.”

Mercury laughed. “If you don’t care for 'er, I’d love to know what Lena thinks of 'er.”

Kaden grinned back at the Guardian. Mercury was right. Lena would hate Larissa Bowman on sight.

Pain seared behind his eyes and he barely contained a groan. If Mercury’s startled expression was anything to go by, he knew he failed in his attempt not to grimace.
Fuck. What in the name of Blackwood was going on?
He was a warrior and Keeper of the Watch. He’d been in this god-damned clinic for nearly a week and still felt like hell.
 

“Listen, Boss, you look done in. I’m gonna make a move.”

“Nah. Just pissed off being stuck in here. Waste of fucking time is what it is.”

“Yeah I know. Orders is orders though.” Mercury was probably aiming for jovial rhetoric but he missed the mark.

The realisation that, in all likelihood, he looked worse than he felt only served to exacerbate the grimace Kaden still hadn’t been able to shake. Mercury made his exit and Kaden closed his eyes against the overhead lamp that now seemed far too bright. His head hurt, his back ached. He thought about turning over but found he couldn’t muster the energy.

He heard more footsteps in the corridor and, for a moment, he thought Mercury was on his way back. He was mistaken. The footfall was light and soft and the nearer the sound got the more at ease he felt. Soraya was on her way.

Thank you, Faerie.

Every time Soraya visited, all the agony paled into insignificance. When she was with him he felt… What did he feel? Brilliant? Magnificent? Glorious? All the above?

Her very presence was the balm he needed.

She always bought all sorts of medical paraphernalia with her. She tested this and that, gave him supplements he couldn’t even pronounce. She made sure he ate regularly,
fed
regularly. All that didn’t matter though.
 

As Soraya laid a delicate hand on his forehead, he felt a peace he never knew existed. Kaden sighed and instantly regretted it as Soraya snatched her hand away. He cracked open an eye to watch her pretending to re-tie her hair, looking embarrassed.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I thought you were sleeping.”

“No, just resting.”

“I’ll go then.”

“No!” Kaden shouted at her and Soraya’s beautiful eyes widened.
Damn it Kaden, you’re an imbecile.
“Sorry. It’s just…” He tried to find the words but failed.
 

“It’s just what?” Soraya asked, her surprise now replaced with genuine concern.

What was he going to say? That she made him feel like a warrior again, simply by walking into the room?
Genius plan.
What actually came out was, “It’s very isolated down here. I enjoy your company.”
 

“Oh!” She looked flabbergasted.

Had he really just asked the Princess to keep him company because he was lonely?
Yep. Dullard
.
 

A shy smile broke out on Soraya’s delicate face. “Well, alright then. I find I enjoy your company too, Keeper.”

Kaden smiled back and Soraya discarded her equipment to sit in the easy chair.

“So,” he said.

“So,” Soraya replied.

Well, this was awkward.
“Um. What have you been up to?” he asked, not having the slightest clue what else to say.
 

“Actually, I’ve been doing some research,” she replied, her voice still delicate, but full of confidence.

“Research? On what?”

“You."

His brow shot up in astonishment. “Me?”

“Well, your blood work to be precise.” She laughed a soft, feminine laugh. Kaden thought it was the most wonderful thing he’d ever heard.
Warrior indeed!
 

“And where have you got to?” He had no doubt in his mind that he wouldn’t understand anything too technical, but she seemed so enthusiastic, he found he wanted to hear what she had to say, regardless.

“Well, you are something of an anomaly.”

“Figures.”

She laughed again but her brow creased as she replied. “I’ve managed to isolate the anticoagulant, but I’m still analysing it.”

Kaden nodded.

“I think it's some kind of thrombolytic rather than a general anticoagulant. Either way, the chemical make-up isn’t something I’ve seen before, so it’s definitely new. What puzzles me, is why it’s still affecting you. Your prothrombin should be much improved by now.”

“Uh huh.”
Nope, not a clue.
 

“Sorry. What I mean is that your blood plasma is still showing decreased levels of clotting.”

“Which means?”

“Well.” The frown marring her beautiful forehead deepened. “Essentially, your blood tests look almost the same as they did when Thorn bought you in.”

“Right.”
Shit, this didn’t sound good.
 

“They’ve improved slightly, because your wound is healing, but...” She looked down at her pink crocs instead of maintaining eye contact.

“But, not quick enough.”

“No. Not quick enough,” she agreed, glancing up at him again from beneath her long, black lashes.

Kaden puffed his breath out in a long sigh. “So, where does that leave me?”

“Well.” Her mouth tilted upwards again in a small smile. “For the moment, it leaves you right here.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” He meant it too. He didn’t want to leave.

“It's not all bad news, Kaden,” she said softly, mistaking his frown for something other than the confusion he felt. He really was happy to stay.

She laid her hand on his arm to comfort him. That small touch made him forget all his worries. “I’m working on whatever it is the Fallen shot you with.” Her voice carried the hint of disdain at the mention of the Fallen and Kaden couldn’t blame her. “I’m confident I can find a way through this.”

He didn’t doubt her in the slightest.

“In the meantime, you need to feed.”

She passed him what looked like a more substantial version of a McDonald’s take away drink, complete with lid and straw. It wasn’t the usual packaging for a blood box, but whatever. Kaden took the cup and took a good lug on the straw.

What hit his taste buds was nothing he’d ever experienced. Ambrosia, nectar, manna from heaven, they all had nothing on this. The sweet coppery taste that had undercurrents of peach and nutmeg was extraordinary. And the effect?

Sweet Glory of Faerie.

It reached every part of him instantly. Soothing, yet invigorating at the same time. This was no ordinary blood. It was an elixir.

He could feel his weary body reacting to it like a warrior finally returning home after a ferocious battle. As his now elongated fangs throbbed and begged for more of the sweet liquor, he could almost hear his insides sighing in relief. He had never tasted anything like it in all his thousand years. Ever.

Once the initial rush subsided, he saw Soraya’s beautiful golden eyes searching his face, his body and finally resting on his mouth. His fangs pulsed hard, sending a shiver right through him.

He cleared his throat, offering her the cup. His voice was raw and his speech slurred since his fangs were still on full display. “You should try this. I don’t know what you’ve done, but this is incredible.”

“I can’t.” Her voice was quiet and she shifted in the chair.

“Why not?”

“I just can't,” she said, her eyes now firmly fixed on her feet.

His fangs retracted a little, his brow creasing. Something was wrong.