Crimson Born - Amy Patrick Page 0,49

was barely above a whisper.

“Do you have any clue how tightly wound these guys are?”

“Tightly wound?” I repeated.

He lifted a suggestive brow. “Horny.”

“Oh.” I’d never heard the term before—it wasn’t used in my Amish community, but Reece’s tone and expression gave me some clue.

I tilted my chin higher in defiance. “So? What if they are? You’re not interested. And it’s not your job to protect me.”

He sulked but didn’t argue. Instead he said, “Maybe it’s them I’m protecting.”

“Them?” I cast a sardonic glance over the group of huge, shirtless men bulging with muscle. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Is it?” He lowered his voice further. “Do you know what Imogen would do to a Bloodbound who breaks his vows?”

A quick flash of the public execution scene crossed my mind’s eye.

“We serve the queen—and only the queen,” he said.

“They serve the queen,” I corrected. “You haven’t taken your vows yet.”

“The point is, it’s not fair for you to come in here looking like... that. It’s too tempting—for them.”

“Well now is it ‘we’ or ‘them’? You can’t seem to make up your mind.” I scanned his severe expression, the tense posture. “Is there any chance you might be... jealous?”

His angry face shuttered, going impassive again. “Of course not. You have every right to be with anyone you want to. I’m just showing concern—as a friend.”

“I see. Well thank you for your concern... friend. And don’t worry, your ‘brothers’ are safe from me. There are plenty of other men to choose from here.”

I pushed the towel from my shoulders and walked away but not before catching the murderous expression in his eyes. He was furious with me.

Goody.

Of course I had no intention of hooking up with or even flirting with any of the vampire males in the Bastion. No, I had a better plan.

If anyone was “tightly wound” it was Reece. I had a feeling it wouldn’t take too much more to unwind him. And his extreme protective reaction had given me an idea.

The next evening, I asked for an audience with Imogen, and she granted it.

“Have you come to say goodbye?” she asked in a brittle tone as I entered the throne room.

Approaching her, I bowed respectfully. “No, my queen. I wish to stay.”

Her tone brightened a bit but still held an edge of suspicion. “That is good news. I sense there’s more to it than that though.”

She was onto me already, so I didn’t beat around the bush.

“I have a request. I want to stay at the Bastion... but I’d like to be allowed more freedom. If I could go to the surface, I’d be so much more content. I miss seeing the stars and breathing the night air. I want to go walking in the fields and the hills. I grew up spending a great deal of time outdoors, and these past few months underground have been difficult. I’ll be careful. I’ll stay away from the settled areas.”

She gave me a smile of oh-is-that-all? relief. “Of course. I understand, and I’m happy to grant your request.”

“Thank you my—”

But she wasn’t finished yet. “I’ll put only one restriction on it,” she said. “You must never go alone. You’ll always be accompanied by one of my Bloodbound—for your safety.”

Yes. She thought she was preventing me from making a break for it. But she’d done exactly as I’d expected. Exactly as I’d hoped.

“Yes, of course. That is most generous. You’ve made me very happy.”

I bowed again and turned to go before she could add any further stipulations—or tell me which Bloodbound I could take with me. She stopped me before I reached the door.

“Abigail.”

Oh no. I turned to face her again.

“I’m glad you’re happy, little one. I hope you’ll choose to embrace all that is available to you here and eventually accept the full benefits of your birthright as my daughter.”

By that of course she meant, I hope you’ll decide to turn a human during the Inception Ceremony.

Naturally, I had no intention of doing that. I didn’t intend to even be here that night.

Giving her one more bow and a quick, “Thank you, Mother,” I turned again and darted from the room, breaking into a jog punctuated by the occasional happy hop.

I was in a hurry.

I had to go find my new bodyguard.

24

Bodyguard

There were too many clouds to see the stars.

Still the fresh October air was cool in my lungs, and the breeze felt heavenly on my skin. It carried the fragrances of dogwood blooms and tart crabapples and woodsmoke from a far-off campfire.

Somewhere close by fall