Blood Kin (34 page)

The hear-me in my boot felt very hard against my skin. Atherton hadn’t discovered it in his search. It shouldn’t be noticeable in its dormant state, but who knew what Lady Bryony could or could not sense? I didn’t want to give it up.

Bryony took the charm in her hands and studied it a moment. “Nice work,” she said, rubbing it between her fingers. “Yours?”

“Yes,” I admitted.

Her eyebrows flickered upward. “You could earn a lot of money making charms this strong,” she said. “What are you doing sneaking around St. Giles?”

“My charms don’t work very well for other people,” I admitted. I avoided answering the second part of her question. I really didn’t want to faint again.

“I see,” said Bryony. “She fainted?” She directed her question at Simon.

He nodded. “Nothing wrong with her that I can see. She was worn out earlier, but we were just talking and then she gasped and keeled over.”

Bryony’s eyes darkened further. She came closer. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

I waited for the grip of the geas, but it didn’t come. I nodded my head slowly.

The dark head tilted. “Next question. Can you tell me what’s going on?”

I knew the answer to that one. Felt the geas rise within me even as I considered nodding my head again. I stayed motionless, not knowing if even a denial would bring on another fainting fit at this point.

Bryony made a curious humming sound in the back of her throat and then laid a hand on my head. Power swirled around me, invisible but turning the air around me to prickling eddies. Not warm and calm like Simon’s. No, this was more like standing on the edge of a summer storm.

“Anything?” Simon asked.

“No. But that’s to be expected.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I suspect Miss Everton is under a geas,” Bryony said. “The whole point of a geas is that it can’t be detected. They’ve been used for assassinations in the Veiled Court. Not that the assassins usually survive the experience. Those who compel them usually add a command to commit suicide at the end.”

I sucked in a breath, ice seizing my stomach. Could Cormen have done that to me? I hadn’t heard him say it, but I hadn’t understood all the Fae conditions he’d added at the end. Was I going to go through all of this and then kill myself?

Nausea swept through me and I had to close my eyes and breathe slowly not to vomit.

“Though,” Bryony added, “that is unusual. It’s more likely she was sent to find something out. Would that be right, Miss Everton?”

I risked the merest fraction of a nod. I paid for the small gesture of acknowledgment, though, when my throat tightened painfully, making me fight for air. I bent over, gasping, head throbbing.

“Don’t fight it,” Bryony said dispassionately. “Do what it wants and it will loosen its grip.”

“I was doing what it wants,” I said when I could talk again. “They stopped me.” I nodded toward Simon and Atherton.

“What do we do now?” Simon asked.

“We should hand her over to the Templars, let them deal with her,” Atherton said. His scarred face turned toward me, mouth twisted down. The sense of thunder brewing around Bryony had eased in the last minute or so, but Atherton still seemed poised to strike.

“Doing that entails explaining why we have her down here and exactly what she was up to,” Simon said.

My ears pricked up. The Templars didn’t know about this place? My stomach coiled. Gods, did Guy not know? What on earth could Simon be doing down here that he would be hiding from his own brother?

I looked at the beds, at all the sleeping patients. Who were still asleep despite the conversation being carried on in their midst. The unease in my stomach deepened. I turned back to the three who were deciding my fate.

Simon rubbed his chin. “Can you undo the geas?” he asked Bryony.

“No. Only the one who laid the geas can do that. Or perhaps the Veiled Queen. If she should choose.”

I choked again, this time from surprise. The Veiled Queen could free me? I swallowed. Somehow, doing what Cormen wanted seemed more appealing than begging a favor from the Fae queen.

“Obviously whoever sent her is interested in what you’re doing down here,” Bryony went on. “You didn’t tell her, did you?”

“Nothing was said,” Atherton replied.

“I don’t know anything,” I added, trying to work out how to minimize the damage that had been done.
Talk fast, Holly girl
. “Only that this ward exists.”

“That could be enough,” Simon added.

“I didn’t want to do it,” I said, then doubled over, retching again, as pain gripped me.

“Free will or its lack might count for something,” Simon said. “But that’s not up for me to decide.”

I straightened. “Who does get to decide?”

“Given the situation, I think you know the answer to that,” Simon said. “I’m turning you over to Guy.”

“No!” I sprang to my feet, panic flaring. I couldn’t face Guy. Not now.

“Too late for regrets now,” Simon said, shaking his head at me.

Bryony suddenly twisted toward the door, a strange expression on her face. “Truer words than you think,” she muttered.

Simon turned as well. “What—” His words cut off, his face paling as the door swung inward and Lily and Guy walked through.

Simon moved to block their path. “Lily? What are you—”

“I was looking for Holly,” Guy said. “I found Lily down here in the tunnels. She was kind enough to bring me here when I asked where you might be.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Simon said to Lily.

Lily didn’t blink. Just shook her head, red hair flicking around her shoulders, face set. Even I could tell she didn’t mean to be stopped from doing whatever it was she had decided to do. “It’s time, Simon.”

Simon’s eyes flicked from Lily to Guy. “I—”

Lily moved closer to him, put a hand on his cheek. “It’s time.”

Simon bowed his head, eyes closed. The rest of us were frozen, where we stood, watching the two of them.

“Somebody needs to tell me what the hell is going on,” Guy said.

Chapter Twenty

GUY

“I
think we’ll let Holly explain,” Simon said.

I tried to keep my temper as I turned from my brother to Holly. “Holly?”

She stared at me, eyes huge in her face. She looked scared. Scared and guilty. My hand curled around my sword hilt while I waited for an answer. I still wasn’t entirely sure where Lily had led me, through the tunnels and two warded iron doors, but it seemed I wasn’t going to like it when I found out. Any more than I liked the expression on Holly’s face.

My gut twisted. Had she played me? This woman who’d gotten under my skin? Who’d gotten me into her bed and led me into the Night World. I glanced down at the mutilated tattoos on my hands, sickened. Had it all been for nothing? All lies?

Holly folded her hands in her lap, her knuckles white. But she met my gaze. “I was spying on Simon.”

I froze. “What?” She was working against my
brother
? My hand tightened until the metal hilt bit into my skin.

“You heard me.”

“Why?” It was all I could think to ask, through the fury setting my brain alight.

She shook her head. “I can’t answer that.”

“Can’t
?
”

“Literally, can’t,” Bryony said, moving to stand beside Holly. “She’s under a geas, Guy.”

I blinked. Bryony defending a half-breed? Maybe the world had gone mad tonight. I tried to think through my need to hit something. “Someone is forcing her to spy?” The new scar on my head throbbed. “Is this because of what happened at the Assembly tonight? Is it Ignatius?” Could a Blood Lord compel her through his blood? Please let it be true. I wanted to believe she hadn’t been lying to me. That my faith in her had been justified.

“No,” Holly said.

Her blunt answer felt like an actual blow. I couldn’t breathe.
So much for faith
. I found my voice with an effort. “Then when?”

Holly didn’t answer.

Fuck. “This whole time?”

She nodded, not looking at me.

“Fucking—” I swung around to Simon. I wanted answers. Even if I had to pound them out of him. “What was she looking for?”

Simon stiffened. “I don’t—”

“Don’t lie to me, Simon. If Holly was sent here, then there’s something worth finding out. I didn’t press you when Lucius came after you, but I’m asking you now. What are you doing that has the Night World up in arms?” I looked around the room, registering the rows of beds with sleeping patients. “What the hell is this place?”

“What makes you think I’m doing anything?” Simon said.

“For someone who isn’t doing anything, you’re attracting an awful lot of attention lately,” I snarled.

Simon folded his arms, not moving. “Are you going to behave if I tell you?”

“That rather depends on what you’re going to tell me.” I folded my own arms, more to keep my hands away from my sword or my brother’s face than anything else.

He was up to something. All this time, through the assassination attempts, through killing Lucius, he’d been up to something. There was a reason he’d been targeted beyond the strength of his magic. One he hadn’t told me. The thought of Simon lying to me tore at my guts.

“Sit down,” Simon said, gesturing to a chair near one of the beds.

“I prefer to stand.”

Simon swore under his breath. He turned to look at Lily. She just nodded at him.

“Any time now,” I said as the silence stretched.

“I’m figuring out where to start.”

“That seems simple enough. Tell me whatever it is that you’re doing that made Lucius want to kill you. People have gone to a lot of trouble for you, Simon. People have been killed because of what you did to Lucius.”

Simon’s face was grim. “I know.”

“So tell me what’s so important that you hid it from all of us.”

“Bryony knew.”

“If you think the fact that you told one of the Fae before you trusted me is going to improve my mood, then think again, little brother.”

“All right. I’ll tell you. But you have to promise to hear me out.”

“No. Don’t,” Holly said. Her voice sounded strained and she was suddenly gasping, bent over double.

“She’s right,” Bryony said. “If you tell her, then it may trigger the geas to do Lady knows what.”

Holly was still gasping, writhing in place. Part of me wanted to help her. I ignored it. I wasn’t going to be fooled twice. “What do you mean?”

“If this is what she was sent to find out about, then once she does, she will most likely be compelled to try and return to whoever cast the geas. She’ll fight.”

“She can’t fight her way past Lily and me.”

“Are you willing to cut her down?” Lily said. Her eyes were cool.

I looked at Holly, who stared back, eyes frightened as she gasped for breath. She had betrayed me. But I couldn’t kill her. “You can knock her out, can’t you?” I said to Simon finally.

“Yes,” he replied slowly, looking unhappy at the thought.

“It may be too late already,” Bryony said. “She knows about the ward.”

“I think we can safely assume whoever is behind this knows Simon’s hiding something down here. Otherwise they wouldn’t keep coming after him,” I said. “Knock her out. We’ll deal with her afterward.”

I watched as Simon touched Holly’s head and the green eyes slid shut. She slumped over in the chair. Simon lifted her and laid her on an empty bed.

I made myself look away. Ignored the fool part of me that wanted to make sure she wasn’t hurt, lying there so still. Simon wouldn’t have hurt her. And even if he had, I shouldn’t care. “Talk,” I said when Simon came back to us.

“You still have to promise to hear me out,” Simon said stubbornly.

“I’m not in a promising type mood.” I heard the drawl in my voice. Involuntary this time. My grip on my temper was slipping. I gritted my teeth.

Simon let out a breath. “A few years ago I was coming to the hospital, very late. I’d been sent for. I was passing that alley near the east gate and I heard something.” He paused, frowned as though trying to find the right words.

“When I went to look, I found someone who’d been wounded. Burned very badly. He’d lost his sight. So I took him in.”

I didn’t like his tone. Or the lack of information. “Wounded by who?” I asked.

“Lucius, as it turns out.”

I felt my hands curl again, reaching for my sword. I couldn’t think of many people who’d be likely to survive torture by Lucius. No, that would take more than human strength. “Are you telling me you rescued a vampire?” I heard my voice rasp, hoping my guess wasn’t true.

Simon nodded. “Yes. He was hurt. It’s my job.”

Hell’s fucking balls. For a moment the room seemed to close in on me. A Blood. He’d rescued one of those who’d killed our sister. Only my idiot brother would take in a wounded Blood. One who’d escaped from Lucius’ tender mercies.

All because of his fucking healer oaths. I tried to remember that those oaths were a good thing. And that to Simon they were as serious as the ones I’d sworn to the order. The ones everybody thought I’d forsaken to chase after Holly. Who had been lying to me all this time.

Don’t think about her
. I couldn’t afford to think about her or the fact that she’d left my bed to spy on Simon. One betrayal at a time. “So this patient is who they’re after?”

Simon squared his shoulders. “No.”

Perfect. There was more. “Go on.”

“I knew that Atherton—that’s his name, Atherton Carstairs—would be safer if nobody knew he was in the hospital. So I brought him down here. These are the old quarantine wards that aren’t used anymore.”

“Without anyone knowing?”

“Initially. But as he recovered and we started talking, I had to tell Bryony.”

“Why?” What was there to discuss with a Blood? “Why didn’t you send him away from the City?”

“Because he’s on our side,” Simon said.

I almost choked. “Our side?”

“He told me that there were those among the Blood who didn’t agree with Lucius and the way he was running things. That they wanted change. Wanted a more peaceful relationship.”

A bark of laughter escaped me. “Peace? With the Blood? I doubt it. Unless they want us peacefully subdued. We’re food to them, Simon.”

“Not to all of them.”

“Don’t fool yourself. You have more reason than most to know what they do to humans.”

“Not all of us are that way.”

I whirled, my sword out of its sheath before I could stop myself. The vampire pushed himself away from the wall. How the hell had I not seen him? I raised the sword, prepared to lunge.

“Guy!” Lily caught my arm, her fingers iron against my skin. “Stop. Simon’s right. Atherton is on our side.”

“None of them are on our side.” I lowered my sword, knowing that Lily and Simon were both stupid enough to try and get in my way if I attacked the vampire.

The vampire came closer, hands raised in a gesture of goodwill. As the light moved across his face, I saw the scars that covered his skin, the empty places where his eyes should have been. Simon hadn’t been exaggerating the part about him being badly hurt.

“We do not all want to live in strife,” Atherton said. “Don’t forget we were human once too. We do not need to kill to feed.”

“Plenty of you do.”

“Many of us don’t.”

“No,” I said, hands curling tighter around the sword. “You just feed them your blood so they die anyway.”

Lily’s hand gripped my arm tighter. “Atherton is telling the truth, Guy. I know. I lived in the Blood Court, remember? Not all the Blood treat humans badly.”

I looked down, staring into her gray eyes. “How can you say that, after what Lucius did to you?”

“Some of them choose to be different. You once told me that it’s the choices we make that are important, isn’t that right? Not who or what we might be but how we behave?” Lily said softly.

I pressed my lips together. I had told her exactly that. But the Blood were not the same. They were killers. Preying on the stupidity of humans. I looked from Lily to Simon. My brother. Who had hidden a vampire down here all this time. One of the race that had killed our sister.

Simon seemed to know what I was thinking. He shook his head at me. “Atherton is different. And if he can be, then I have to believe that others can be too.”

Madness. “You always were an idealistic fool,” I ground out. But Simon hadn’t finished telling me the story. Lily and Bryony were watching him expectantly. I needed the rest of the story. Needed to know how deep a hole my fool brother had dug for us all. “What happened next?”

“Atherton healed. I told Bryony he was down here. He claimed haven, so Bryony let me reinforce the doors and the wards so no one else would find out.”

Haven laws. Sometimes I thought them one of the most ridiculous parts of the treaty. They meant that anyone could claim sanctuary, could escape the reach of the law or the retribution of those they’d sinned against if they were willing to stay within the walls of Haven indefinitely.

For some they were a true refuge, but there were those who didn’t deserve a bolt-hole. I didn’t know how Simon put up with it, sheltering some of those who must have claimed haven here. Of course, the cathedral and the Brother House were Havens too, but as far as I knew no Blood or Beast Kind had ever sought haven at either place. We only attracted humans.

“So you built a nice little Blood nest for your tame vampire,” I snarled. This story was not going to end anywhere good. I could tell that much from the bleak look in Simon’s eyes as he spoke to me. “Then what?”

“About six months later, we had a young man brought into the hospital by his family. They’d taken him out of the warrens. Bought him actually, from one of the Blood who was tired of him.”

“Blood-locked?” I asked, stomach twisting. The locked were beyond saving. The addiction was fatal. Nothing could change that. Those who made the choice—Edwina amongst them—to enter the Night World understood that risk. They chose to pay the price. The way it should be. God gave us free will. To be good, to live a right life was a choice. It was hard work. And sacrifice.

“Yes. Fairly far gone. Not eating. He would have died in days.”

“Would have?” I questioned. My guts twisted. I really didn’t like where this was going. “Simon, what in hell’s name did you do?”

“I thought there was a chance to heal him,” Simon said, eyes flashing at me. “To find a cure.”

“There is no cure for blood-locking,” I snarled.

“Not yet.” Simon gestured around the room. “But look around, Guy.”

I gazed around the room, at all the beds filled with sleeping patients. Who slept on, despite the argument raging around them. An unnatural sleep. “Simon, what did you do?” Please, God, let it not be what I was beginning to suspect. A cure for something that gave the Blood rights over the humans who fell under their sway. That could throw the whole balance of power in the City into mayhem. No wonder Lucius had wanted Simon dead.

Simon’s eyes blazed. “I helped them. All these people. They’re blood-locked. But we’ve kept them alive with Atherton’s blood. And when Lucius died, some of them woke up. We’re almost ready to send them back to their families. We’re on the right track.”

It was all I could do to stand still, not to go over and shake him as I longed to do. “But why?”