Blood Games (Chicagoland Vampires 10)

I nodded.

“Max’s memorial will be tomorrow night at Cabot House. We’ve made a donation to the House’s charitable fund. And we did the same for Brett Jacobs—Arthur opened a scholarship fund at Columbia College and we made a generous donation.”

I exhaled. “Good. That’s good. Thank you, Ethan.”

“Of course.”

“And Darius?” I asked.

“Lakshmi arrived just before dawn to help him back to London. They left right after dusk.”

“Does she have any idea who planned this?”

Ethan’s gaze darkened. “She does not. She didn’t believe any current members of the GP were capable of it, but I think she’s still trying to accept what actually happened.”

“Several guards, seven million dollars, and a magical appliance, as you called it, capable of controlling a Master vampire. Who else has those kinds of resources?”

“And who else is brave enough to use them against the head of the GP?” I blew out a breath. “It doesn’t pay to be a member of the GP these days,” I said. I’d killed Celina. Ethan had killed Harold. Michael Donovan had nearly taken out Darius and Lakshmi, as had the unidentified vampire who had planted the obelisk and used it to control him. This wasn’t exactly the situation I wanted to drop Ethan into.

“No, it doesn’t.”

“The money’s the key. We need to figure out who stood to gain by the transfers. Did you bring the obelisk home?”

“Safe and secure,” Luc put in. “It’s downstairs in the vault.”

“I called Catcher and Mallory,” Ethan added, “told them you were all right and that you’d take the obelisk to them.”

“What about my grandfather and Brett Jacobs’s murder?”

He shook his head. “He called earlier to check on you, but we didn’t chat about the murder. You’ll need to call him as soon as you can.”

“I will.”

Lindsey walked in, a bottle of blood in hand. “I saw Delia in the hallway,” she said, offering me the bottle. “She said you were awake. How do you feel?”

“Like a River troll stepped on my head.” I opened the bottle and drained it in seconds.

“Jesus, Ethan. Don’t you feed her?” Lindsey asked, taking the empty bottle again.

“Not as often as I need to, apparently.”

“You scared the shit out of me,” she said. “Glad to see you’re up and about.”

I nodded, wincing as the move turned the pain in my head to a pounding throb. “I’m fine, except for the headache.”

“It will dissipate soon enough,” Ethan said.

“Showering her with gifts would probably help her heal faster,” Lindsey suggested with a grin, rocking back on her heels.

“She doesn’t need gifts,” Ethan said. “Although a dose of common sense would help.”

Luc clucked his tongue, smiled at me. “You save his life and get no credit. What kind of Master is that?”

“The kind that prefers his Sentinel alive,” Ethan said, reaching forward and brushing a lock of hair behind my ear.

Silence descended. Lindsey took Luc’s hand and began pulling him toward the door. “Why don’t we just let Ethan check her over?”

“We could stay and watch that,” Luc said, grinning back at us. “You know, for science.”

“‘For science’ will get you punched out by your Master,” Lindsey said.

“Party pooper,” Luc said with a grin.

When they left the room, I glanced back at Ethan, found his expression grim.

“What?”

His eyes clouded, and he put a hand on my face. “I worry for you, Sentinel.”

I put my hand over his, laced our fingers together. “I’m not fragile.”

“All evidence to the contrary.”

“I’m awake and alive. Immortality has its advantages . . . primarily immortality.”

“I know, Sentinel. And you grow stronger every day. But you are still mine to protect. And you have a concussion.”

I gave him the arched eyebrow he preferred to give me. “I’ve been stabbed, kidnapped, imprisoned, and worse. A concussion is what worries you?”

I meant to make him laugh, but his expression didn’t change.

“This is exactly what I feared would happen. That you’d end up hurt because of me, because of Darius. I have known fear,” he quietly said. “I’ve soldiered, seen men die, walked toward death’s door and gone through it. But I have never known fear like the sight of you unconscious.”

“Because I was brave enough to take a shot for you?” I asked it with a smile, hoping to clear the gloom from his eyes. But to no avail.

“Because I challenged Darius. Because of the risk you’ll be injured due to my actions.”

“I got shot because someone is greedy,” I reminded him. “And I’m also the reason we found out what was going on.” Along with Jonah, Matthew, and Horace. I’d need to give them a call of thanks. And probably send a gift basket. How did you thank a group of rabble-rousing vampires for spilling the good secrets? Maybe wine.

Focus, I told myself. “This isn’t exactly a new situation. I’ve been in danger since before I became a vampire.”

“And each time our House is called upon, the danger increases. I believe in you,” he said. “Don’t think I don’t. But I love you. And I want you safe.”

“I got hurt because I did a stupendously brave thing. Let me have my moment.”

He smiled slyly. “I suppose you are what I made you.”

“The best Sentinel the GP has ever seen?”

“The sassiest, certainly.”

“Did Darius mention anything about the challenge before he left?”

“He did not.” He picked up my hand, brushed his lips softly over my fingers. “Officially, my challenge is still outstanding. I won’t revoke it; I owe more to the House than that. And more to you.”

“Well, I did save your life.”

“Are you going to be pulling that one out for a while?”

I gave him a flat look. “And you never mention taking an aspen stake for me?”

He nodded in acknowledgment. “That’s fair, I suppose. And you got me off track. When Darius has the GP in hand again, we’ll see where he stands. He’ll have to respond to the challenge one way or the other.”