Crimson Born - Amy Patrick Page 0,46

Sometime before the Inception Ceremony.”

The ceremony that also happened to coincide with the night of Sadie Aldritch’s speech, but I didn’t mention that to Kannon.

My new plan was to go to D.C. with Kelly and Heather and persuade Reece to join us. I couldn’t risk Kannon—or anyone else—knowing which direction we’d gone.

His displeasure was evident on his face, but finally Kannon said, “Okay. You’ve got five minutes. And you know the rules. No funny business.”

“I know,” I whispered, mortified.

“Fourth door down on the left.” Kannon grinned, obviously amused at my deep blush.

Hurrying down the hallway, I rapped lightly on Reece’s door. He opened it almost immediately. From the look on his face, I could tell I’d been the last person he’d expected to see. His open expression contracted into a closed one.

“What are you doing here, Abbi?”

“I need to talk to you. Apparently stalking you is the only way to make that happen.”

His brows lowered even farther, and he steeled his jaw. “There’s nothing to talk about. You should go back to your chambers. You’re not supposed to be in this wing.”

I pressed my palm against the door to open it wider and stepped inside. “Kannon said it was okay—as long as I didn’t steal your virtue.”

Reece snorted in a yeah right way.

“What? You don’t think I’m capable of it?” I challenged. I wasn’t sure where I was getting the courage, but his question had provoked me.

No, I wasn’t the sexiest girl on the planet and certainly not the most experienced, but we’d connected that night at the bonfire. I’d felt it. And unless I was completely mistaken, he’d been interested in me that night.

Our connection had only deepened during his time in the clinic—and now he was acting like a stranger. I wanted to know why.

A reluctant smile sneaked across Reece’s face. “No actually. For one thing... I have no virtue to steal. For another... I’m Bloodbound now.”

“No—you’re still in training.”

“A matter of semantics,” he said, rolling his eyes. “The point is, nothing’s going to happen here that involves my virtue—or yours.”

I felt myself deflate, my excitement over finally getting the chance to talk to him draining away. He was acting like a different person. And he seemed... sad.

“What happened Reece?”

He stiffened and darted his eyes away but then brought them back to meet mine, almost defiantly. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean.” I twisted and gestured at his new quarters, at the uniform hanging on a wall hook. “You wanted me to help you escape. You wanted to get out of this place. And now you’re ready to sign up for a lifetime of... of... servitude to Imogen.”

He lowered his voice, as if someone might overhear us in the empty room. “Look, I know to you it must seem sudden, but believe me... it’s the right thing.”

“How can it be the right thing when we’re not even friends anymore?” I wanted so much more from him than that. I wanted to give him so much more than that. Saying it would seem pathetic though, so I didn’t.

Reece hissed a long breath through his teeth. “I’m trying to be your friend, okay?”

“Well, you’re not acting like a friend. Friends talk to each other. Friends spend time together. You’re pushing me away.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry about that. I... we can talk. We can spend time together. Just not here—and not tonight.”

“When?”

“When I’m not training.”

“And when will that be?”

“I’m not sure. Listen, I’m tired. I have to get some sleep. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow. My Bloodbound physical tests are starting. And you should go before any of the other guys see you here.”

“Why?” I shot him a sassy glance and cocked my head. “Are you worried one of them will want to be my ‘friend?’”

He scowled. “I’m worried one of them will report you to Imogen. Now go. I’ll see you tomorrow night. Maybe after the tests, we can take that sight-seeing tour you promised me.”

23

Drastic Action

I saw Reece the next night, all right, but we did not go sight-seeing in the caverns. Or do anything else together.

He gave me an excuse, claiming the testing exercises had been particularly grueling and he had to head back to his barracks to go to bed early.

Next night, same story. I was beginning to panic.

Sadie Aldritch’s speech in D. C. was only ten days away. So was Imogen’s Inception Ceremony.

I didn’t want to be anywhere near the Bastion when that took place, and I really didn’t want to