Page 21 of Fateful Reunion

“Help me,” Ilaria begged.

8

Charles barreled up the stairs. Something had happened, and he hoped he wasn’t too late.

Zane blocked his path on the second floor landing, a gun pointed at him.

“What the fuck?”

“Where’ve you been?” Zane pressed out through a clenched jaw, his eyes glaring red.

“What have you done to Ilaria?”

He shoved the bald vampire out of his way, knocking him against the wall with a short burst of his power, and charged through the open door into Ilaria’s room. He skidded to a halt. The scene playing out inside Ilaria’s room wasn’t at all what he’d expected.

Though Grayson was armed like Zane had been, his weapon was lowered, and he was silently staring at the two women on the bed: Roxanne was holding a crying Ilaria in her arms, comforting her, caressing her exposed back, calming the pulsing mark. His mouth dropped open as he saw how the mark began to pulse more slowly, its evil weakening under Roxanne’s gentle touch. Slowly, in front of his eyes, Ilaria’s red aura turned purple, then blue, until it got lighter and lighter.

Having heard or sensed his arrival, Roxanne’s head turned to him, her eyes full of empathy and understanding.

“Your uncle is here,” she murmured to Ilaria and made a sign for him to approach.

His feet carried him to the bed, and slowly, gently, Roxanne eased herself out of Ilaria’s embrace and transferred the girl to him.

“I was so scared,” Ilaria whispered at his neck.

He stroked his hand over her hair. “I’m here now, honey, I’m here. Everything will be alright.”

She lifted her head, a ray of hope shining in her eyes. “Did you find them?”

He nodded.

A shiver went through her, and her voice trembled, as she asked a second question, “Will they help me?”

He smiled and kissed her on the forehead. “They will come for you tomorrow night.”

All the tension left her lithe body, and she sagged against him.

“Rest now. I’ll be close by.”

She nodded and allowed him to tuck her in, before rising from the bed and turning back to Roxanne. Roxanne and Grayson had retreated to the door, and Zane was now standing behind them, glaring in open hostility. When nobody moved, he motioned to the hallway behind them.

“Downstairs,” Charles said.

“Somebody has to watch her,” Zane grunted, making a gesture with his gun hand.

“No,” Charles insisted. If Ilaria sensed a threat against her—and it was hard not to see Zane as a threat—the evil in her would rise again, trying to protect itself. “She’ll be fine.”

Still Zane didn’t stand down. To Charles’s surprise, Roxanne suddenly said, “Let it go, Zane. We’ll discuss it downstairs.”

Narrowing his eyes, Zane growled, but then pivoted and marched toward the stairs.

Charles exchanged a look with Roxanne. He could see the many questions in her eyes. And finally, he would answer them all.

Moments later, he was facing Zane, Grayson, and Roxanne in the living room.

“You should have told me,” Roxanne began.

Charles blew out a breath through his nostrils and shoved a hand through his hair. “Scanguards would have never helped me if I’d told you how dangerous the situation is.”