Crimson Born - Amy Patrick Page 0,42

of the way, you could become a very powerful immortal, perhaps one of the greatest. One day several millennia from now when I’m ready to pass on my crown... I want to see it on your head Abigail.”

I couldn’t help but be flattered and even touched. But my mind hadn’t changed. In fact, I was more certain than ever. I couldn’t imagine myself ever wearing a crown. And I certainly couldn’t see myself leading a community like the Bastion.

“Imogen—I mean Mother—thank you. I do appreciate all you’ve done for me. But that’s not my vision for my life. I told you before... I don’t intend to ever bite a human again.”

The glass in her hand flew across the room and smashed against the stone wall, causing it to run with streaks of blood.

But that was nothing compared to the red fury in Imogen’s eyes.

“I’d hoped after spending time here, you’d have come to your senses. What kind of vampire refuses to feed from humans?” she demanded.

“The peaceful kind,” I said. “I’m sorry. I know you must be very disappointed, but I’ve made up my mind, and there’s nothing that could change it.”

She let out a snort that was half-laugh half-growl. “You may go now—as you so obviously want to. I have another meeting.”

With a quick head nod, I turned and left the room. When I stepped out into the hall, Kannon was there waiting his turn.

“Hi,” I whispered, nodding toward the door. “Get ready. She is not in a good mood.”

“Oh really?” He laughed. “Did you play the rebellious teenager card and question her orders?”

“Worse. I told her I wasn’t going to bite any humans.”

He winced. “Oooh. That’ll do it. Well, thanks for the warning. See ya later kiddo.”

He ducked into the room, and I went to my own. I needed to pack.

I was going to get Reece released from the clinic and leave with him.

Tonight.

It was what he wanted, and now, it was what I wanted too. As he’d said, this was no place for either of us.

He was almost fully recovered, and there was no way I could stay here with Imogen’s constant pressure to become the kind of vampire she wanted me to be.

A vampire like her.

If this was going to be my new life, I had to figure out a way to live with myself. I had transformed, but deep inside I was still me.

There had to be a way to survive while also leading a life that was worth living.

20

Recruit

My heart raced as I walked down the west corridor toward the clinic two hours later, carrying a duffel bag with the few items of clothing I owned and a stash of blood bags.

This was it, the first day of the rest of my life. Now that I’d made my decision, I could hardly wait to get started.

It felt right—it felt good. And Reece would be thrilled to be free again.

He’d been right all along. He didn’t belong here. Neither did I. I wasn’t sure where exactly we did belong in the outside world, but we’d find a place—together.

Of course I’d have to persuade Dr. Coppa to release him from the clinic first.

For the first time, I hoped what Imogen had said about me was true—that I’d inherited her queen bee pheromones—or at least enough of them to influence the doctor just this once.

He looked up and smiled when I opened the clinic door.

“Abigail. I’m surprised to see you here. Have you decided to train with us to be on the medical staff? I think you’d be quite good at it.”

“What?” I shook my head in confusion. “No. I uh... I came to see Reece. I know I visited earlier, but actually, I wanted to speak with you about his progress. I really think—”

He cut me off before I could finish. “Reece isn’t here. I thought someone would have told you.”

“He’s... gone? You released him?”

“It wasn’t up to me, actually. I would have liked to keep him a few more days to make sure he’s fully recovered,” the doctor said. “He left not ten minutes ago with that Viking fellow, Kannon, and some of the other Bloodbound. They said Imogen gave the order.”

“Imogen?”

Now my mind was reeling. What was she up to?

Was she having Reece escorted from the Bastion and thrown out to punish me?

And then a different possibility occurred to me. A far more frightening one.

Was Imogen planning to start training Reece and have him take my place at the ceremony? She had turned him