Bloodfire (Blood Destiny 1) - Helen Harper Page 0,30

but kind of also applauded myself for my genius.

“Indeed.” A muscle pulsed in his cheek. “What happens when it’s the full moon then? If his killer has not been found by that point, I mean.”

“I possess unbelievable self-control,” I lied and tried to smile at him disarmingly, although my head took that moment to suddenly start pounding with pain again so it came out more like a maniacal grimace.

He looked down at me unfathomably. I wondered if swooning onto his broad chest would be considered poor self-control. Probably should try and avoid it, I thought.

“Well, I’d better get this gorgeous girl back to her, I mean, our room, so that we can get her fixed up for this afternoon,” said Tom, rather breezily, although I could hear the note of underlying tension in his voice, before he carefully swung me round to head back for the stairs.

“Take care now,” the Alpha murmured at our backs.

I knew that he was still watching with the others so I tried very hard to pull myself up the stairs without crying out. Tom did a good job of pretending to be a gentleman rather than just providing the support I needed so that I wouldn’t fall and somehow we made it up to the landing and round the corner.

“Was that the best idea?” I wheezed.

“What?” he said innocently.

“Saying that we’re mated. And that we’re sharing a room.”

“I didn’t actually say that,” he pointed out. “He merely inferred it.”

“You said that we shared a room.”

“Oh, that. Well, maybe it’s best I did. You shouldn’t be left alone in your condition. Besides what was that about not shifting because you’re in mourning?”

“It was the best I could come up with at the time. I thought it was rather good.” I clutched at his arm as we rounded another corner. “You do realise that you’ve lied to the alpha of all alphas and you’re screwed if he takes you to London? He’ll use the Voice and you’ll be compelled to tell him whatever he wants. He’ll work out in about five seconds flat that you were lying just now.”

“That’s not going to happen now Anton’s beaten me, though is it?” Tom answered quietly.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

“No, you’re not. But it’s okay.” He pushed open a door to one of the unused couples’ rooms. “Let’s use this one.” I sagged against him in relief and stumbled inside. He closed the door behind him and sat me down on the bed.

“I’ll need to get some first aid materials. And some clean clothes.” He looked at me. “Can you wait here on your own?”

I nodded back at him and lay down, closing my eyes.

Two minutes later, the door opened again. Go away.

A brisk voice filled the space. “Mackenzie? Are you okay?”

I lifted myself up with a struggle and saw Julia. “Hey,” I said weakly, before sinking back down. “I’m fine.”

“That was stupid,” she muttered.

“I had no choice!” I protested.

“I was thinking of Anton, but you could have handled it better too.”

“How?” I asked, rising up again. “How could I have survived what he was doing? If I’d died and they’d found out I was human…,” I didn’t need to finish my sentence.

“After that display, I think the human part remains to be seen,” she said softly. “All you’ve done is proven to them that you’re the strongest, fastest member of the pack. They’ll invite you to London.”

I grunted. “Well, I don’t have to go. Apparently I’m in love with Tom and we can’t bear to be separated.”

Julia laughed, surprising me. “I don’t think he’s your type, dear.”

“What am I going to do, Julia?” I felt flooded with despair. “I can’t heal, I can’t shift, I smell funny…they’re going to work it out sooner or later.”

“They won’t. This mourning idea of yours might work.”

“Oh, you heard about that then.”

“Yes. And anyway, there’s only a day and a half to go and then they’ll be gone.” She turned to leave.

“Julia? Have they found out anything at all about John?”

A flicker of grief crossed her face. “No. It’s as you said. There’s no trace of anything. They have arranged for a mage to visit the scene and scan it though.”

Alarmed, I sat up higher still, ignoring the shooting pain in my side. “A mage? But they’ll know straightaway that I’m not a shifter!”

“And won’t care. Mages are paid to do a job and that’s what they do, no more and no less. As long as you don’t get in his or her way,