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They had to kill her.

The tension that swept the room was tangible. She would come to kill me. I was sure the same thought went through their heads. They’d known her much longer than me, but she was vengeful. If nothing else, that was clear.

I leaned over Peter’s slack face, my hand hovering over his hair.

We’d get him comfortable and settled for when he woke up. I wouldn’t give up hope. Imogen was a problem for another day.

FORTY

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Screaming reached my ears.Sydney? I focused on her words. “Peter’s awake.” The one time I leave the bedroom we’d set him up in to go shower. I hurried up to the third floor, passing Sydney where she stood at the base of the stairs. She yelped and stumbled back as I zipped past her.

The door was wide open, and I burst inside.

“Peter,” I breathed. Then I was by his bed. He flinched and his fangs extended from his gums. He grunted and lifted his fingertips to his mouth.

“What, the fuck?”

I clamped both hands on his face and lifted it up to me.

“Thank God.” I sobbed, tears falling from my eyes. “Bastien was right.” I brushed the long strand across his forehead back from his eyebrow.

His eyes widened and he gasped.

“What the hell is wrong?” His hand touched my wet cheek, and he lifted his hand close to his face, looking at the red tint staining his fingers.

He groaned and gripped his throat.

“It burns,” he hissed. He shook his head. In a sudden move, Peter’s eyes turned red, and he lunged.

Bastien shouldered past me, taking the brunt of Peter’s attack as he sank his fangs into Bastien’s arm.

Bastien scowled.

“I-I am so sorry,” I breathed, my hands hovering over my mouth. Peter closed his eyes tight, his nails digging into Bastien’s arm so hard it caused blood to trickle down his arm.

“It is okay, Little One, I’ve fed.” I paced from one corner of the room to the other. There were no windows in his bedroom. The bed was smaller than mine, but the wooden frame had swooping carvings similar to mine.

Sydney stood at the threshold of the door nibbling on her lip.

“Is he going to be okay?” she whispered.

Peter gasped, yanking back until he was flat against the headboard.

“Cat?” he croaked. “What’s wrong with me?” I rushed back to the side of the bed.

“No, stay back,” he choked out, putting a hand out and yanking the blanket up. Why did he need to do that? He had pants on—oh. My eyes widened and I dropped my hands.

“Go. Get out,” he hissed.

I helplessly looked to Bastien.

“Go, Little One, I will explain things to him.”

Peter wouldn’t look at me. I slowly backed up, biting my lip so hard I drew blood. I hovered outside of view of the open room.

“Go,” Peter snapped.I was already out here!Sydney came running out, tears welling. She slammed the door and ran past sniffling. Oh, he was talking to her. I staggered back, until my back was against the wall. I slid down until my butt was flat on the ground.