Page 91 of Bitten Vampire

“I know she’s family. I know you love her.”

“I do. We all do. This will be hard. Looking back, Simone was an obvious target. My father always uses whoever stands closest to me. It’s his modus operandi.” He kisses my cheek. No speech is needed; as soon as I said her name, his posture—shoulders bowed, eyes bleak—speaks for him. He is devastated.

I had known Simone only briefly, yet I liked her; I had hoped we might become friends. I have precious few friends.

Friends… my insides leap. I hope House is all right. Later, I shall reach out and see whether I can sense even a trace of her. She is not exactly human, yet I must try, though doing so will send me sliding once more down the slippery slope of using my magic.

I’m never going to win, am I? Not now that I’ve opened Pandora’s box. The gift is too tempting and I’m not strong enough to resist.

“Get Simone up and secure her to a chair,” Valdarr orders when we get back into the room. Someone has tucked a pillow under her head. “Bind her.”

They hesitate—they don’t want to do it. But he is their leader, and in the end, they obey.

In a few minutes Simone will wake, and they will see for themselves.

“Check her pockets. You will find her phone.”

The unspoken question hangs in the air:How do you know?

Harrison searches her suit coat and produces a compact, password-free phone.

Even though they discovered the hidden phone, they still do not quite believe me. I have already decided I do not have to justify myself or explain anything. As long as my vampire believes me, I could not care less what anyone else thinks.

I am done trying to prove myself.

“You won’t find much on it,” I say, “but she’s expecting a call. She planned to reveal our location.”

James turns to Valdarr. “My liege, please explain.” He glares at me; his confusion has evaporated and switched back to hate.

Valdarr just shakes his head.

Poor guy keeps asking for answers, and I feel kind ofbad. At first, I suspected James. I watched him, and a part of me wanted him to be the bad guy. But he is loyal.

When Simone wakes, we all stand before her. She blinks groggily, then strains against the ropes.

“What’s happening?” she slurs. “Harrison?—”

“Is it true?” Harrison asks, voice cold. “Did you betray us?”

The shock on her face looks genuine. “Why would I betray you? You’re my clan—my family! What has she told you? She’s lying! She’s used magic to trick you. My liege, there’s no mate bond. She’s a witch; that’s how she turned. She’ll kill us all and take our clan.”

Valdarr growls—a low, warning sound—but the others still glance at me as though I’m the villain.

“He left you,” I say, studying my nails. “While you were fighting that woman and her clan, he slipped out the back like a coward.”

“He didn’t do it on purpose,” she snaps, baring her fangs. “He left because his life is more important.”

Silence falls. Everyone stares at her.

She tilts her head back and sighs. “Let me go. Knocking me out and tying me up is childish. If anything happens to me, he’ll kill you. Well, he’s going to anyway, but he’ll make you suffer.”

She tugs at the restraints. “Let me go, and I’ll give you a five-minute head start before I call in the cavalry. Face it, you’re on the losing side.”

Harrison steps forward, voice quiet and hard. “Why, Simone? Why did you do this?”

Her eyes widen; a slow smile spreads across her face. “I love him.”

“Our liege?” James frowns.