“But if she truly looked like Lucy, he would keep tabs on her, wouldn’t he, Gabriel?” Thomas asked.
Gabriel nodded slightly.
“This is the best option,” I pleaded. “Elias could have let me die, but he didn’t. He formed the connection on purpose. I think he wants my help.”
“Why would you try to help him after what he has done?” Inola asked softly.
“Gabriel was lost once. Elias is lost as well. If this works, your lives won’t be in danger because you won’t have to try to kill him anymore.” I looked at Gabriel. “We can’t just hide here forever.”
“We can,” Gabriel disagreed.
“He’ll find us eventually,” Thomas said.
Gabriel sighed. “So you are siding with her? Figures.”
Thomas shrugged. “There is no harm in at least trying it her way.”
Inola crossed her arms against her chest. “I’m not so sure. No matter what we try, I do not see this ending well.”
“I’ll try to talk to him and—”
Suddenly, Gabriel was right in front of me. He trapped both of my wrists in his hands.
“Are you insane? Need I remind you about what he has done to you? Have you forgotten you’re not physically or emotionally stable enough right now to even leave this house?” Gabriel said angrily.
“I know this isn’t going to be easy, but the connection is weak and might fade soon. I need to know what he is feeling. I need to know if he truly wants help and—”
Gabriel shook me slightly. “Don’t make me Control you, Kara! I do not want to, but if I have to do it to make you stop this nonsense, I will.”
Cold shock flew down my spine, and I felt my lips go white. Gabriel’s pupils dilated when he registered the fear in my eyes. His grip on my wrists lessened, and he pulled me carefully against him.
“Please don’t look at me like that,” he whispered into my ear. “Don’t start being afraid of me again.”
Thomas came closer to us. “Gabriel, come with me. We need to talk,” he said. Thomas winked at me, but there was no reassurance in the gesture.
Inola studied Thomas before putting her hand on Gabriel’s shoulder. I didn’t miss the silent communication that I knew had taken place between them.
“Gabriel, go with Thomas. I will stay with Kara,” Inola said.
Gabriel sighed, planting a kiss on my temple before he left my side. He glanced at me once with worried eyes before following Thomas out of the bedroom.
Inola planted me on a chair. “Let’s take a look at your shoulder. It is time to change the dressing.”
I took off my tank top to make it easier on her, feeling no embarrassment in front of her. She had bathed and dressed me more than once already—like the time Elias had ripped the old man’s heart from his chest right in front of me, and I had hit my head on a rock running away from him.
I shuddered. Did I really want to try to save someone who had done something like that? Gabriel had killed many people in his lifetime, but only for blood. He had never torn someone’s heart out of their chest. . . .
Inola came out of the bathroom with the bag containing first aid supplies.
“Ready?” she asked.
I nodded and remained quiet while she did her work. Her touch was gentle, but the wound burned, and the pain ran deep.
“I know it hurts, honey. I’m so sorry. It is past time for your pain medicine.”
I put my tank top back on when she was done. She handed me two white pills and a glass of water. I clutched the pills, making no move to take them.
“Kara?” Inola prodded gently.
“He threatened me.”
She closed her eyes briefly and worried at her bottom lip with her teeth. “He is terrified, child. He didn’t mean it.”
I swallowed the pills and set the glass down before cracking my knuckles. “He did mean it. You know he did. Don’t try to lie to me.”
“Gabriel would never do anything that wasn’t in your best interest.”
“That’s a matter of perspective,” I muttered.
She studied her hands before speaking, and her next words were very quiet. “He loves you.”
I nodded. “I know he does. I’m starting to think he loves me too much.”
I looked to the heavy drapes that hid the sun and wondered what Gabriel and Thomas were discussing out in the living room.
“Inola, what are they talking about?” I asked.
She picked up the first aid bag and went toward the bathroom. “Thomas is trying to get Gabriel on your side.”
My eyes narrowed. I didn’t miss the fact that she hadn’t turned to face me while answering. I waited for her to come back out of the bathroom.
“So I can trust them? And you too, right? All of you will try to help me in a non-confrontational way?” I asked.
Her face was unreadable. “Obviously, we will not go weaponless, but of course you can trust us.”
I stared at her black eyes. They were cold and fathomless.
Every instinct in my body was screaming at me. Never, never completely trust a vampire. Not even Gabriel.
Especially not Gabriel.
***
Gabriel and Thomas joined us after a half hour, and I was more uneasy now than before they had left the room.
Inola had hardly spoken to me after changing my dressing. Her eyes had stayed on the wall, silently communicating with Thomas, and through him, Gabriel.
I meticulously studied the vampires who were now my family. Gabriel sat beside me on a black couch, and Inola and Thomas sat across from us in velvet armchairs.
Inola’s face was blank, but her eyes were soft whenever they rested on my hurt shoulder. I knew Inola would choose whatever outcome held the highest chance of survival for us, regardless of the consequences.
Thomas looked like he always did, unbothered and relaxed, and that was unhelpful. His hands rested behind his head, and his eyes were trained on the ceiling. There was no telling what was running through his mind—only Inola truly knew.
Gabriel was like I thought he would be. His
