There was a long pause, then V laughed. "You know, I can't see anything... even when I open myself up, even when I volunteer for it, I'm blind. I'm future-impaired." He glanced at his body.
"But I'm still a fucking nightlight. I'm like one of those goose lamps, you know, the kind you plug into the wall that glow?"
"V-"
"You're a good Irishman, right?" When Butch nodded, V said, "Irish, Irish... let me think. Yeah..." Vishous's eyes sobered, and in a voice that cracked, he said, "May the road rise to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rains fall soft upon your fields. And... my dearest friend... until we meet again may the Lord hold you in the palm of His hand."
In one powerful surge, V sprang backward off the ledge into thin air.
Chapter Forty-three
"John, I need to talk to you."
John looked up from Tohr's chair as Wrath came into the study and shut the door. Going by how grim the king looked, this was very serious, whatever it was.
Putting aside his lesson on the Old Language, John braced himself. Oh, God, what if it was the news he'd dreaded hearing every day for the last three months?
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Wrath came around the desk and moved the throne so it faced John. Then he sat down and took a deep breath.
Yeah, this is it. Tohr's dead and they've found the body.
Wrath frowned. "I can smell your fear and sadness, son. And I can understand both, given the situation. The funeral is going to be in three days."
John swallowed and wrapped his arms around his shoulders, feeling a black whirlwind spin around him and take the world away.
"Your classmate's family has asked that all the trainees be present."
John jerked his head up. What? he mouthed.
"Your classmate, Hhurt. He didn't make it through his change. He died last night."
So Tohr wasn't dead?
John scrambled to pull himself back from one brink, only to find himself looking over the edge of another.
One of the trainees had died from the change?
"I thought you'd heard already."
John shook his head and pictured Hhurt. He hadn't known the guy well at all, but still.
"Sometimes it happens, John. But I don't want you to worry about it. We're going to take good care of you."
Someone had died during the transition? Shit...
There was a long silence. Then Wrath propped his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. As his glossy black hair slipped over his shoulder, it brushed his leather-clad thighs. "Listen, John, we need to start thinking about who'll be there for you when you go through the change. You know, who will feed you."
John thought of Sarelle, who the lessers had taken along with Wellsie. His heart clenched. She was supposed to have been the one he used.
"We can play this one of two ways, son. We can try to line someone up on the outside. Bella knows some families who have daughters and one of them... hell, one of them might even make a good mate for you." As John's body got tight, Wrath said, "I've got to be honest, though-I'm not really into that solution. It could be hard to get an outsider to you in time. Fritz would have to pick her up, and minutes count when the change comes. But if you want-"
John put his hand on Wrath's tattooed forearm and shook his head. He didn't know what his other option was, but he was damn sure he didn't want to get near an available female. Without thinking, he signed, No mate.
What's my other choice?
"We could have you use a member of the Chosen."
John cocked his head to the side.
"They're the Scribe Virgin's inner circle of females and they live on the other side. Rhage uses one, Layla, to Page 287
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feed from because he can't live off Mary's blood. Layla's safe and we can have her here in the blink of an eye."
John tapped Wrath's forearm and nodded his head.
"You want to use her?"
Yeah, whoever she was.
"Okay. Good. Good deal, son. Her blood is very pure and that will help."
John eased back into Tohr's chair, dimly hearing the old leather creak. He thought of Blaylock and Butch, who had both survived the change... thought of Butch especially. The cop was so happy now. And big. And strong.
The transition was worth the risk, John told himself. Besides... like he had a choice?