Why did the very thought of it cause such a curious ache within him? Ignoring the feeling, he raised his face to the familiar sky. He hadnt wanted this Imprint. Hed only saved her because he owed her a life, and he knew all too well that one of the true dangers of this world, as well as the next, was the power of an unpaid life debt.
Well, she had saved himfound him, hidden him, and then released him, but on the depot rooftop, he had returned the debt by helping her escape from certain death. His life debt to her was now paid. Rephaim was the son of an immortal, not a weak human man. He had little doubt he could break this Imprintthis ridiculous byproduct of saving her life. He would use what was left of his strength to wish it away, and then he would truly begin to heal.
He breathed in the night again. Ignoring the weakness in his body, Rephaim focused the strength of his will.
I call upon the power of the spirit of ancient immortals, which is mine by birthright to command, to break
The wave of despair crashed over him, and Rephaim staggered against the balconys railing. The sadness radiated throughout his body with such force that it drove him to his knees. There he remained, gasping with pain and shock.
What is happening to me?
Next, an odd, alien fear filled him, and Rephaim began to understand.
These are not my feelings, he told himself, trying to find his own center within the maelstrom of distress. These are her feelings.
Rephaim gasped as hopelessness followed fear. Steeling himself against the continued onslaught, he struggled to stand, fighting the waves of Stevie Raes emotions. Resolutely, he forced himself to refocus through the onslaught and the weariness that tugged relentlessly at himto touch the place of power that lay locked and dormant for most of humanitythe place to which his blood held the key.
Rephaim began the invocation anew. This time with an altogether different intent.
Later, he would tell himself that his response had been automaticthat hed been acting under the influence of their Imprint; it had simply been more powerful than he had expected. It was the damnable Imprint that had caused him to believe that the surest, quickest way to end the horrible wash of emotions from the Red One was to draw her to him and thus remove her from whatever was causing her pain.
It couldnt be that he cared that she was in pain. It could never be that.
I call upon the power of the spirit of ancient immortals, which is mine by birthright to command. Rephaim spoke quickly. Ignoring the pain in his battered body, he pulled energy to him from the deepest shadows of the night, and then channeled that power through him, charging it with immortality. The air around him glistened as it became stained with a dark scarlet radiance. Through the immortal might of my father, Kalona, who seeded my blood and spirit with power, I send you to my There his words broke off. His? She wasnt his anything. She was . . . she was . . . She is the Red One! Vampyre High Priestess to those who are lost, he finally blurted. She is attached to me through blood Imprint and through life debt. Go to her. Strengthen her. Draw her to me. By the immortal part of my being, I command it so!
The red mist scattered off instantly, flying to the south. Back the way hed come. Back to find her.
Rephaim turned his gaze to look after it. And then he waited.
Chapter 3
Stevie Rae
Stevie Rae woke up feeling like a big ol pile of poo. Well, actually, she felt like a big ol pile of stressed-out poo.
Shed Imprinted with Rephaim.
Shed almost burned up on that rooftop.
For a second she remembered the excellent season two True Blood episode where Goderick had burned his own self up on a fictional roof. Stevie Rae snorted a laugh. It looked way easier on TV.
What did?
Sweet weeping puppies, Dallas! You nearly scared me spitless. Stevie Rae clutched at the white, hospital-like sheet that covered her. What in the Sam Hill are you doin here?
Dallas frowned. Jeez, settle down. I came up here a little after dusk to check on you, and Lenobia told me itd be okay to sit here for a while in case you woke up. Youre awful jumpy.
I almost died. I think I have the right to be a little jumpy.
Dallas looked instantly contrite. He scooted the little side chair closer and took her hand. Sorry. Youre right. Sorry. I was real scared when Erik told everyone what had happened.
What did Erik say?
His warm brown eyes hardened. That you almost burned up on that roof.
Yeah, it was really stupid. I tripped and fell and hit my head. Stevie Rae had to look away from his gaze while she spoke. When I woke up, I was almost toast.
Yeah, bullshit.
What?
Save that load of crap for Erik and Lenobia and the rest of em. Those assholes tried to kill you, didnt they?
Dallas, I dont know what youre talkin about. She tried to take her hand from his, but he held tight.
Hey. His voice softened and he touched her face, pulling her gaze back to his. Its just me. You know you can tell me the truth, and Ill keep my mouth shut.
Stevie Rae blew out a long breath. I dont want Lenobia or any of them to know, especially not any of the blue fledglings.
Dallas stared at her a long time before he spoke. I wont say anything to anyone, but you gotta know I think youre makin a big mistake. You cant keep protecting them.
Im not protectin em! she protested. This time she held tight to Dallass safe, warm hand, trying through touch to get him to understand something she could never tell him. I just want to deal with thisall of thismy own way. If everyone knows they tried to trap me up there, then itll all be out of my hands. And what if Lenobia grabs Nicole and her group, and they tell her about Rephaim? The sickening thought was a guilty whisper through Stevie Raes mind.
What are you gonna do about them? You cant just let them get away with this.
I wont. But theyre my responsibility, and Im gonna take care of them myself.
Dallas grinned. Youre gonna kick their butts, huh?
Somethin like that, Stevie Rae said, clueless about what she was going to do. Then she hastily changed the subject. Hey, what time is it? I think Im starving.
Dallass grin changed to laughter as he stood up. Now that sounds like my girl! He kissed her forehead and then turned to the mini-fridge that was tucked within the metallic shelving across the room. Lenobia told me theres baggies of blood in here. She said as fast as youve been healing and as deep as youve been sleeping, youd probably wake up hungry.
While he went for the blood baggies, Stevie Rae sat up and gingerly peeked down the back of her generic hospital gown, wincing a little at how stiff the movement made her feel. She expected the worst. Seriously, her back had been like nasty burned hamburger when Lenobia and Erik had pulled her from the hole shed made in the earth. Pulled her from Rephaim.
Dont think about him now. Just focus on
Ohmygoodness, Stevie Rae whispered in awe as she stared at what she could see of her back. It wasnt hamburgered anymore. It was smooth. Bright pink, as if shed gotten sunburned, but smooth and new-looking, like baby skin.
Thats amazing. Dallass voice was hushed. A real miracle.
Stevie Rae looked up at him. Their eyes met and held.
You scared me good, girl, he said. Dont do that again, kay?
Ill try my best not to, she said softly.
Dallas leaned forward and carefully, with just the tips of his fingers, touched the fresh pink skin at the back of her shoulder. Does it still hurt?
Not really. Im just kinda stiff.
Amazing, he repeated. I mean, I know Lenobia said youd been healing while you were sleepin, but you were hurt real bad, and I just didnt expect anything like
How long have I been asleep? She cut him off, trying to imagine the consequences of Dallass telling her shed been out for days and days. What would Rephaim think if she didnt show up? Worsewhat would he do?
Its just been one day.
Relief flooded her. One day? Really?
Yeah, well, dusk was a couple hours ago, so youve technically been sleepin longer than one day. They brought you back here yesterday after sunrise. It was pretty dramatic. Erik drove the Hummer right across the grounds, knocked down a fence, and floored it straight into Lenobias barn. Then we all scrambled like crazy to carry you through the school up here to the infirmary.
Yeah, I talked to Z in the Hummer on the way back here, and I was feelin almost okay, but then it was like someone turned out the lights on me. I think I passed out.
I know ya did.
Well, thats a dang shame. Stevie Rae let herself smile. I woulda liked seeing all that drama.
Yeahhe grinned back at herthats exactly what I thought once I got over thinkin you were gonna die.
Im not gonna die, she said firmly.
Well, Im glad to hear it. Dallas bent, cupped her chin in his hand, and kissed her tenderly on the lips.
With a strange, automatic reaction, Stevie Rae jerked away from him.
Uh, how about that blood baggie? she said quickly.
Oh, yeah. Dallas shrugged off her rejection, but his cheeks were unnaturally pink when he handed her the bag. Sorry, I wasnt thinkin. I know youre hurt, and ya dont feel like, er, well, you know . . . His voice trailed off, and he looked super uncomfortable.
Stevie Rae knew she should say something. After all, she and Dallas did have a thing together. He was sweet and smart, and he proved he understood her by standing there, looking all sorry, and kinda lowering his head in an adorable way that made him look like a little boy. And he was cutetall and lean, with just the right amount of muscles and thick hair the color of sand. She actually liked kissing him. Or she used to.
Didnt she still?
An unfamiliar sense of unease kept her from finding the words that would make him feel better, so instead of speaking, Stevie Rae took the baggie from him, tore open the corner, and upended it, letting the blood drain down the back of her throat and expand like a mega shot of Red Bull from her stomach to energize the rest of her body.
She didnt want to, but somewhere deep inside her, Stevie Rae weighed the difference between how this normal, mortal, ordinary blood made her feeland how Rephaims blood had been like a lightning strike of energy and heat.
Her hand shook only a little when she wiped her mouth and finally looked up at Dallas.
That better? he asked, looking unfazed by their strange exchange and like his familiar, sweet self again.
Could I have one more?
He smiled and held another baggie out to her. Already ahead of you, girl.
Thanks, Dallas. She paused before slurping down the second one. I dont feel totally one hundred percent right now. Ya know?
Dallas nodded. I know.
We okay?
Yep, he said. If youre okaywere okay.
Well, thisll help. Stevie Rae was upending the baggie when Lenobia came in the room.
Hey, Lenobiacheck out Sleeping Beauty finally waking up, Dallas said.
Stevie Rae guzzled the last bloody drop and turned to the door, but the hello smile shed already put on her face froze at her first glimpse of Lenobia.
The Mistress of Horses had been crying. A lot.
Ohmygoodness, what is it? Stevie Rae was so shaken by seeing the usually strong professor in tears that her first reaction was to pat the bed next to her, inviting Lenobia to sit with her, just like her mama used to do when shed hurt herself and come crying to be fixed.
Lenobia took several wooden steps into the room. She didnt sit on Stevie Raes bed. She stood at the foot of it and drew a deep breath as if readying herself to do something really terrible.
Do you want me to go? Dallas asked hesitantly.
No. Stay. She might need you. Lenobias voice was rough and thick with tears. She met Stevie Raes eyes. Its Zoey. Somethings happened.
A jolt of fear zapped Stevie Rae in the gut, and the words burst from her before she could stop them. Shes fine! I talked to her, remember? When we were leavin the depot, before all that daylight and pain and stuff caught up to me, and I passed out. That was just yesterday.
Erce, my friend who serves as assistant to the High Council, has been trying to contact me for hours. Id foolishly left my phone in the Hummer, so I didnt speak to her until just now. Kalona killed Heath.
Shit! Dallas gasped.
Stevie Rae ignored him and stared at Lenobia. Rephaims dad had killed Heath! The sick fear in her gut was getting worse and worse by the second. Zoeys not dead. Id know it if she was dead.
Zoeys not dead, but she saw Kalona kill Heath. She tried to stop him and couldnt. It shattered her, Stevie Rae. Tears had started to leak down Lenobias porcelain cheeks.
Shattered her? What does that mean?
It means her body still breathes, but her soul is gone. When a High Priestesss soul is shattered, it is only a matter of time before her body fades from this world, too.
Fades? I dont know what youre talkin about. Are you tryin to tell me shes going to disappear?
No, Lenobia said raggedly. Shes going to die.
Stevie Raes head started to shake back and forth, back and forth. No. No. No! We just gotta get her here. Shell be fine then.
Even if her body returns here, Zoey isnt coming back, Stevie Rae. You have to prepare yourself for that.
I wont! Stevie Rae yelled. I cant! Dallas, get me my jeans and stuff. I gotta get outta here. I gotta figure out a way to help Z. She didnt give up on me, and Im not givin up on her.
This isnt about you. Dragon Lankford spoke from the open doorway to the infirmary room. His strong face was drawn and haggard with the newness of the loss of his mate, but his voice was calm and sure. Its about the fact that Zoey faced a grief she could not bear. And I do understand something about grief. When it shatters a soul, the path to return to the body is broken, and without the infilling of spirit, our bodies die.