Page 22 of Immortal Bastard (The Order of Vampires)

“Can I see it?”

She huffed but turned back into the barn to show him. Adam's tools were scattered about, but no one else was in the barn.

The cabinet was more of a hutch, tall and wide. He could picture her decorating it with her favorite things and that made him smile.

“It’s nice,” he said, truly admiring Adam’s fine craftsmanship.

She admired the drawers and the paneling with unmistakable pride. It was rare to see her covet such things. He liked the way her fingers traced each detail, touching the raw wood almost sensually.

Her hand fisted and she scoffed. “What is wrong with you?”

“Huh?” Too late, he realized he wasn’t guarding his thoughts.

Shaking her head, she snapped, “I can smell her all over you.” She sniffed and drew back. “And someone else.” When he took a step forward, she mirrored it with a step back. “Don’t.”

He scowled. “I didn’t do anything.”

“Well, you sure thought about it. And with her stench all over you!”

Her words only triggered another vision, this one a memory of Magdalene last night, except he wanted to see Gracie in his bed, so his brain naturally transposed the image. She shoved him and he banged into the hutch, whacking his elbow. “Ow!”

“Pig!” She pivoted and stomped out of the wood shop.

Adam appeared, looking back as his sister stormed off. “I see you two are up to your usual antics. Did you need something?”

Dane sighed. “I need a favor, from your wife.”

He stilled. “What kind of favor?”

“The witch—”

“No.”

“She’s hurt—”

“I said no.”

“They burned her, Adam.”

“She tried to burn my father alive.”

Frustrated, he snapped, “You’re an empath! Where the hell’s your compassion?”

Adam pinched the bridge of his nose and finally gave him his full attention. “I was there, in the meeting today. It was terrible.”

“Why didn’t you stop them?”

“What kind of authority do you think I have?” Removing his hat, he swept a hand over his hair. “Some want her executed, others want her kept alive. It’s an ongoing debate and my opinion has little to do with the outcome.”

“They’re doing more than burning her. She has bruises all over her body.”

He frowned. “How do you know?”

“I saw her…when I was visiting Cybil.”

Adam eyed him skeptically. “Talk to Eleazar. If the bishop permits Anna to visit her and provides the necessary precautions, I’ll allow her to go. But I intend to accompany her.”

“Go where?”

They both turned and found Annalise holding a tray of food at the entrance to the barn. “Ainsicht,” Adam said, moving to greet his wife with a kiss. “We were just talking about you.”

“So I assumed, until I heard the word allow.” She looked at Dane and smirked. “Sometimes Adam forgets that I’m my own person, capable of making my own decisions. What did you need, Dane?”

“The witch—”

“Absolutely not.” Cain glared from the door. “I told you to leave her out of it.”

“Out of what?” Anna asked.

Cain shoved off the wall and entered the barn. “Caring for the plebe. Her feet are injured and Dane stupidly thinks you’ll risk your own safety to care for someone who tried to kill our father.”

“What happened to her feet?”

“Nothing,” both brothers snapped.

“They burned them!”

“What?” Anna’s face contorted in horror. “Who?”

“The Council,” Dane explained.

“Why?”

“To see if she would use magic.”

“That’s barbaric! What is this, the Salem witch trials? Adam, you have to do something!”

Her husband rubbed his temples.

“Does anyone care that this woman tried to kill our father?” Cain barked.

“She’s barely an adult, Cain. Show some compassion,” Anna snapped back.

“All right, enough.” Adam held up his hands, defusing the debate. “Anna, I will speak to Eleazar and request that he let you examine the girl, but only in my presence and the presence of other guards.”

“I can’t believe they burned her,” Anna muttered.

“That’s not all they did to her.”

“Enough,” Adam snapped, his eyes darkening with unspoken threats.

“What else did they do?” Anna turned to him, but he hesitated. “Dane? Tell me.”

Both Adam and Cain glared at him. But Anna wasn’t like the other females on the farm. She was originally mortal. She wasn’t sheltered. She’d heard worse things on the evening news.

“Someone’s using her body.”

“For wha—Oh, my God.”

“Annalise, language!”

“Not now, Adam.” She looked up at Dane. “Are you saying someone raped her?”

“I don’t know. But she has bruises up to her thighs.”

Cain shook his head. “Let’s just walk through this. You three clowns go marching into the bishop's office demanding guards and entrance into the witch’s cell. Our dear sister, Larissa, will sense something’s up and no doubt get involved, leaving Eleazar no choice but to grant your request, despite his better judgment.”

“She’s not dangerous,” Dane argued, prepared to admit that he’d been in her cell only minutes prior and no harm came to him.

Cain held up a silencing hand. “Then Dane will make the accusation of sexual assault and what will be the next question?”