Page 144 of Immortal Bastard (The Order of Vampires)

“Christian,” Delilah snapped. “I want to go.”

He stepped back and nodded, a cacophony of shrieking erupting as they left the two wild abominations to their own devices. They walked the long corridor in silence, Delilah’s grip tightening on his hand with each screeching howl that followed.

Dane scowled as they passed. “What did you do?”

Ignoring his half-brother, he held tight to Delilah’s hand and led her through the door. They had more important issues to address than Dane’s preoccupation with what rotted in those cells.

As soon as they made it outside, she asked, “Why didn’t you answer Dane?”

The bitter memory of his half-brother’s threats still burned. “I have nothing to say to him.”

He helped Delilah into the carriage, and they rode home in silence. The rain continued to fall, the slick roads requiring his full attention.

When they reached the house, he dropped her off at the door. “I have to tend to the horses. I’ll be back shortly.”

She went directly into the house.

The rain had finally stopped when he left the stables, but the ground was saturated. He toed off his boots and sensed Delilah upstairs. Taking the steps slowly, he braced for a fight. But when he entered the bedroom, all was calm.

The furniture was tidy, and she lay curled on her side, her soft whimper drawing his immediate concern. “Delilah?”

She sniffed.

He stripped out of his wet clothes. “You’re upset.”

Another sniffle.

He sat on the edge of the bed, but when he reached for her, she recoiled. “Delilah,” he said more firmly. “It’s been a long day. Say what’s on your mind and let’s be done with it.”

Her shoulders shook as she released a jagged breath. He pressed into her mind, only to find her blocked to him. His head cocked in surprise, unsure when she learned to do that.

“We can’t fix anything if we don’t communicate. Those are your words, are they not?”

“Some things can’t be fixed, Christian.”

Losing patience, he reached for her and pried her away from the edge of the mattress, forcing her to roll on her back and look at him. “What has you so upset?”

“Everything!” She gasped, choking on a sob. “They’re going to whip you. There’s a little girl in a cell. And a witch! Is that even a thing? And you didn’t let me speak when we were in front of the bishop, knowing I had something to say.”

“Because I knew what you planned to say. You will not put yourself on the line like that. Not for me. It’s my duty to protect you. Leave well enough alone.”

“But this is my fault! I can’t bear the thought of them hurting you! I’ll never be able to sit through that! I’d rather be the one getting hit.”

“Hush.” He pulled her onto his lap and rubbed a soothing hand down her back, urging her close. “If anyone ever laid a cruel hand on you, I’d fall into a murderous rage, and then we’d really be in a mess. By the end of the day tomorrow, this will all be over and we can put it behind us. You have to be brave. I need you to be brave for me.”

She buried her face in his neck and sucked in another sob. “Why did you make me feed like that earlier?”

He sighed. “Because I needed to keep my wits. We couldn’t afford to be distracted. I wanted us both clearheaded when we faced the bishop.”

“I don’t like that guy.”

He chuckled. “Eleazar isn’t a bad male. He has a difficult job and does it well, with honor and impartiality. Tonight wasn’t easy for him. Try not to think too cruelly of him for only doing his duty.”

She scooted back and looked up at him through reddened eyes. “We can leave. I know you love it here, Christian, but we can run away together. We can make our own laws and live however we want.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled into her tear-streaked face. “No, little one. This is the safest place for us.”

“But I don’t want them to whip you.” She covered her mouth and whimpered. “Four hundred lashes is too much.”

“I would take a thousand lashes every day if it meant keeping you safely by my side. Four hundred is nothing, my love. Your tears are injuring me far worse than a whip ever could.”

She sprang forward, wreathing her arms around his neck and hugging him in a chokehold. “I didn’t understand. I mean, I heard you. I heard Larissa. You all kept saying that terrible things would have happened if you didn’t find me, but… Until I saw Isaiah tonight, I didn’t truly understand what you meant.”

His arms closed gently around her back, and he kissed her temple. “It’s all right, pintura.”

She leaned back. “But I still don’t trust your bishop.”