Page 39

Endlessly pacing through the long, lavishly decorated hallway all night hadn’t been on the agenda this morning. It was becoming a struggle to keep my emotions contained. I had agreed to come here because it was the smartest move and safest place for me right now. That’s at least what I thought, but it was becoming quickly apparent that I’d been wrong.

Unfortunately, my being wrong wasn’t anything new. I was wrong more than I’d been right lately. I’d gotten people hurt, even killed, because of my inability to make the right choices.

It would be better for everyone else if I were far away from here. Not that I could escape here, or even this town, for that matter.

As I inhaled the air, it grew thicker with lemons and lavender. I rubbed my temples as the headache I’d been nursing grew more intense. The pain in my shoulder wasn’t letting up, either. It caused nausea to swirl through my abdomen, forcing me to swallow past the saliva accumulating in my mouth.

Rhys didn’t trust me. That was fine, since I didn’t necessarily trust him either. A lot had happened in such a short time. It made it rather difficult to trust anyone. If I were to list those I trusted without question, I could do so without fingers and toes.

Shivering against the sudden cold, I moved toward the thermostat, glaring at the room’s temperature displayed. Pressing the button, I tapped it up several more degrees, then strode into the living room. Snatching the small throw blanket from the sofa, I wrapped it around myself then settled into the recliner in front of the fireplace.

I felt as if the apartment was inside the Arctic Circle instead of the balmy eighty degrees it was set on. Something trickled down my forehead, forcing my palm up to it. A bevy of colorful words escaped my lips as I discovered my hair was drenched in sweat. I felt cold and clammy, but it was more likely I now had a fever.

“Because why not, Remington? Why not run a high fever when no one here gives a damn? They’ll probably cheer if you expire before they return.” I really needed to stop talking to myself, but I’d included myself in those I could trust.

Pathetic, but true.

I needed to see Nyx or Winchester. I needed a reminder that I wasn’t merely a burden to others. Right now, I only feel as if I’m down and out of luck. Rhys had isolated me from the outside world and from those within his household, too.

In short, I was his prisoner. A willing one, but a prisoner, no less. I’d assumed I would be able to converse with Nyota and Nyx while here. That wasn’t the case, though. It felt na?ve after actually considering it. I wasn’t a guest here. I was his prisoner.

Nyx had been shot. It left her needing time to heal. I’d accepted it. I’d known and accepted it because she was my best friend. The one person in the world I’d cut my left tit off for. My ride or die, even if she’d rather ride a dick than anything else.

Nyx wouldn’t allow Rhys to refuse her entrance if she weren’t currently busy with Acyn. It would be the only thing that would prevent her from coming. If she needed his dick or whatever his demon was doing to heal her, fine. I was fine with that. If she was leaving me here to suffer in silence alone while she merely got laid? I’d beat her with a sock and a potato.

Nyota, on the other hand, was most likely fighting for her life. Silver poisoning was a horrific way to die. It had to be horrendously worse as it progressed through an immortal circular system.

Silver poisoning burned through tissue and flesh until it reached the heart. Once there, it caught a ride with the deoxygenated blood throughout the veins in the circulatory system. When it was depleted of oxygen, it then returned to the heart.

Basically, the silver was methodical, as it ensured maximum damage through the circulatory system. It was why Silversmith silver could end the life of an immortal.

Nyota was in a fight for her life. A fight only a few immortals had ever won. In the short time I’d had with her, I’d grown attached. She was someone I thought of as a friend. One who was genuine and honestly a good person.

She may have been a Van Helsing, but she’d seen through my parentage and hadn’t allowed blind hate to lead her. Nyota had watched and listened to my actions and responses instead of doing what her brothers had done, assuming I was an enemy.

Nausea swirled through my abdomen, forcing me to shoot upright in my chair. Only, I didn’t make it into a sitting position before I watched the floor rise to meet my face. Pain shot through my shoulder as I blinked past the darkness on the edge of my vision. Each time my eyes closed, they were harder to open. My last coherent thought was that I’d let my little bullet baby down. I’d failed, meaning my child would never draw air into its lungs.

*****

The steady beeping of a monitor forced my eyelids to open as it punctured the silence. A sterile, white expanse flooded my vision. Harsh fluorescent lights forced me to lift my arm, shielding my eyes. Turning my head, I noted the light reflecting off the stainless sterile surfaces. The faint scent of disinfectants assaulted my nostrils. It offended my stomach.

I struggled to sit upright, but a hand pushed against my chest. Attempting to use my other arm to ward off the hands, I groaned as plastic protruded from my forearm.

“Easy, Remi,” Nyx chided, her face slowly becoming clearer as I blinked repeatedly. “We found you on the floor unconscious. You have a high fever and are being treated for an infection.”

“The—Bullet?” I croaked as fear for the babe rushed to the forefront. Tears pricked my eyes as heat surged to my sinuses with the threat of being released with grief.

“They didn’t find a bullet . . .” Before she could finish, sobs exploded into the sterile, whitewashed room.

I’d lost my child.

Nothing else mattered.

Not my health, or if it was failing or recovering. Guilt slammed through me, then gripped my chest, shredding my lungs with razor sharp claws as it nicked the empty space where my heart should’ve been.

“The babe’s fine, Love,” Rhys assured, but it didn’t register until he cupped my cheek, turning my face to his. Pressing his forehead against mine, he repeated it louder. Relief flooded my system. It caused my body to tremble violently as he kissed my cheeks, pushing hair away from my face.

“Oh, that bullet!” Nyx groaned before rolling her eyes. “I’d be a crying, sobbing mess with you if you’d lost our baby.” The nonchalant way she said it had Rhys growling, even as he rose, placing his palm against my abdomen possessively. “You donated one thing I couldn’t give my girl.” Rhys awarded Nyx with a look of confusion. It forced her to elaborate on what she meant. “I lacked a magical stick to throw up in her vagina. She’s pregnant now, so you can leave. I’ll be a damn good daddy.”

Rhys’ eyebrows shot up on his forehead before he rubbed his palm down his face. The tension left his shoulders as he snorted. “I can have you removed at any time, Nymph.”

“You could. Though, she’d be pissed off at you if you did. Didn’t you warn me not to upset her?” Nyx’s lips curved into a victorious smile as Rhys released another loud, irritated sound.

Rhys’ hand moved, causing a new sound to enter the room. My forehead creased as I turned, staring at the mountain of monitors behind him.

“That’s our child’s heartbeat. Strong and healthy, as is its mother.” Rhys’ words caused my throat to constrict. Stepping aside, he pointed to a monitor that had an outline of white within inky, dark liquid.

Confusion creased over my forehead as I tried to interpret what he was showing me.

“What the hell is that?”

Rhys chuckled before he placed his finger on the monitor, then slowly dragged it over the screen. “This is Bullet’s face. He or she is currently infatuated with their fingers. The babe hasn’t stopped sucking on them since they got the monitor in place.”

A smile pulled at the corner of my lips as tears broke free, trickling down my cheeks. Wonder washed through me as I studied the babe, who was sucking three fingers at once.

“Holy shit,” I whispered as the realization of being pregnant struck me. I’d known I was pregnant, but this made it real.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, making my head nod in agreement.

“Our baby’s absolutely perfect.”

It wasn’t until I chanced a glance toward him, needing to judge his response to the baby, that air stuck in my lungs. Azure eyes sparkled with wonder as Rhys held my eyes. Swallowing past the lump forming in my throat, I released a shuddered puff of air from my lips.

“Absolutely lovely.”

“I think she’s referring to the baby, not herself, Sperm Donor.”

“I assure you I never donated shit. I deposited our child in her womb myself. You may be the godmother, but I’m the father, Nymph.”

It took effort to not allow myself to feed more emotion into what his words had made me feel. Rhys wanted our child, sure. He didn’t want me for more than I could do for him. I was the key to him becoming the king of all immortals. More so than he already was, anyway.

“Is it a boy?” I figured like most men he’d want a son.

“I wouldn’t allow them to check the sex of the baby. That’s a decision you and I should make together. As its mother, you are the one who will make the choice.”

“The father makes that choice,” Nyx pointed out. “Your balls determine what sex the baby is when it releases sperm—”

“—Not that choice, pretty nymph,” Acyn interrupted, forcing my eyes to where he stood leaning against the threshold of the room. “Come, it’s feeding time. You’ve been out of bed entirely too long waiting for her to wake up. You’ll undo the healing we’ve accomplished if you starve your inner goddess.”

Cole, Arryn, Mikel, and another Van Helsing male all hovered just outside the hospital room. My focus shifted to Cole, feeling instant relief as a soft smile lifted over his lips as his dark head dipped in silent reply.

“You need to rest too, Sunshine. You gave us quite the scare.” Cole’s tone was gentle but chiding as he stepped back, allowing Acyn to slip out of the room.

“Nyx,” I called to her back as she moved to leave. Turning, she offered me a sheepish smile.

“I’m healing. Promise, Remi. I had extensive damage,” she stated, then strode back to me, sliding her arms around me, holding me tightly. “I miss you so Christ on crackers much.”

A clap of laughter exploded from my lips, which caused pain to ignite in my shoulder blade. “That’s not how that is used.”

She snorted as she pulled away, peering down at me. “We had this talk. I can use it however I want to so long as Bullet’s first word isn’t dick or I need cock. Remember?”

“The fuck?” Rhys blurted. His outburst caused another bubble of laughter to escape. “Bullet’s first word will not be either of those things.”

“See, the name is catchy,” Nyx exclaimed, tossing her hands up. “Doesn’t matter how random the name is, it sticks. It’s our little silver Bullet. Deal with it, Van Helsing. The name stays.”

“Out.” Rhys’ outburst had Acyn strolling back into the room. He bent down at the waist, grabbed Nyx around the hip, then lifted her over his shoulder.

“Isn’t he so romantic?” she gushed then waved goodbye.

Snorting, I shook my head. “Maybe in an oafish sort of way, I guess?” As I watched, Nyx blew a kiss before she began using Acyn’s butt cheeks as drums. “Wow. Serious couple goals right there.”

“Not happening.” At Rhys’ reply, I turned back, unable to stop the bewilderment from playing over my face. “You are not using my ass like a fucking air drum.” The fact that he’d said it with a straight face had me wondering if he was serious about the matter.

“I was being sarcastic. Just so we’re both entirely clear on the matter.” I didn’t want to pretend his ass cheeks were air drums, did I? Deep in consideration, I tipped my head to the side, considering what he’d do if I did just that to him. A wide, smug smile lifted the corners of his kissable lips. “Just so we’re clear. That was a no, right?”

“I said that didn’t I?”

“You did,” I conceded, but my eyes slid back to the monitor and my eyes became watery once more. “We created that, Van Helsing.”

“You are doing the lion’s share of it. I merely gave you a seed, but you are making it grow. How do you feel?” he asked, voice rough as if emotion was making it hard for him to speak.

“Weak.” Admitting that I was vulnerable wasn’t as easy as it should’ve been. I didn’t want to lie to him. I’d pretended to be fine. Obviously, it hadn’t panned out for me. “I passed out. Didn’t I?”

“I sent Nyx in to visit with you. She and Acyn found you unconscious. He carried you here, where the healers fought to break the high fever. It took two days before it finally broke.”

“Two days?” Confusion fluttered through my mind as I tried to understand how I’d lost days.

“Two full days for the fever to break. It took another day for you to finally wake up.” My brows shot up at the shock of how long I’d been in here. “The wound was infected. It was slowly poisoning your blood system. It is ironic how similar the reaction is to Nyota’s,” he explained.

The blood drained from my face as his smile faltered. “Is she okay?” Rhys’ face went blank, concealing all emotion.

Inwardly, I shrank from the way he shut me out again. I was merely seeking to help him in saving Nyota from suffering or perishing. Silently considering how best to explain what they needed to do, I watched his eyes slowly narrowing on me, as if he was seeing inside my mind.

“We need to clean her blood, like a dialysis machine would. You can’t heal her from the outside unless you can remove the silver through magical means. You can’t though. It’s Silversmith silver, right? So, the only one who could remove it would be a Silversmith. It would need to be the Silversmith who created it in the first place.” Rhys’ eyes narrowed on me, then slid to the monitor before returning. “The Silversmith who forged the metal could remove it from her system. I can’t. I wasn’t the one who forged that silver. Everything I forged was unleashed on the knights who tried to kill me at my house. I didn’t have time or a forge big enough to unleash the sheer amount of silver that was used in that bomb.”

But I’d felt a familiar taste of my silver when it had unleashed against Nyota and myself. If I was right, they’d use either a similar silver or discarded silver to make it look as if I’d planned the attack myself. Whoever it was, they’d wanted me to take the blame for the assassination attempt on the Van Helsing bloodline.

“The silver used, as far as we can tell, was from E.V.I.E. and brought here with the intent to kill me. It wasn’t meant to kill Nyota or you. That bomb was placed in the corner of the room where my chair at the head of the table sits. It had been accidentally moved earlier in the day by the maids to clean the room. Whoever detonated the bomb intended it to kill me. I thought it was more of Illeron’s bullshit. The thing is that it couldn’t have been my brother, not unless he intended to die along with me.”

“It wasn’t me.”

Rhys’ dark head bobbed in agreement. “It wasn’t you, but it was your silver, Love. Unfortunately, you’re not strong enough to remove your silver from her blood,” he revealed.

The finality in his tone sent ice rushing through my bloodstream. My silver was killing Nyota. “If you’re right, then I have to try.” Swallowing past the lump in my throat, I fought the tears pricking my eyes, searing them.

“Our child or Nyota. Choose which one you’ll sacrifice. Hell, you may end up dying beside her if you attempt it in this weakened state,” he snapped furiously.

“I can’t just sit around and do nothing. She’ll die.” Turning his head, he stared at the screen, refusing to meet my gaze. “Rhys, she’s your sister.”

“I don’t need you, of all people, reminding me what is at stake here,” he snarled, then groaned when I flinched from the rage he’d revealed briefly.

Closing my eyes, I fought against the twisting of my heart. “At least allow me to try to save her.”

“I won’t lose the two of you for a maybe. Maybe you succeed in saving her, but you lose our child. Maybe you die too, Love. I’m bound by honor to protect you. That means I must make hard choices. I’ve made the choice already. You’re not strong enough to save her. We’re done discussing this.” Rhys spun on his heel, strolling toward the door. Once he reached it, he bowed his head, turning toward me just enough that I could see the tears swimming in his eyes. “She’s asked to be able to say goodbye to you. When the time comes, I’ll retrieve you so that she may have her last wish,” he muttered, then vanished from sight.