Addict (Hunter #2)(63)

Marcus’s fangs had come out and his fingers had sprung claws, but he took a step back. “He needs to stay away from my Hunter.”

“You need to listen to me,” Gray growled back, his eyes that shade of violet that let me know he was getting close to the edge.

Donovan shook his head. “Everyone calm down. I read over the files Owens managed to smuggle out of that clinic. I don’t understand all the medical jargon, but I get the gist. Some * demon is playing around with drugs. This drug, called Brimstone, damages the impulse center of the brain leaving some intensely powerful creatures without any impulse control. That’s so bad for us I can’t begin to describe it. Now, I could go to the demons and yell and scream and try to enforce our contracts…”

“It won’t work, Your Highness,” Hugo interrupted. “Unless His Grace has been forcing the drug on vampires, there is nothing we can do. The contracts we have in force at the present time are only between vampires and demonkind. You’ve used that to your own advantage by designating a non-vampire Nex Apparatus.”

Donovan sighed and ran a hand over his hair in a deeply weary gesture. “I know that, Hugo. Look, we can discuss the ins and outs of my decision making later. Right now, I’m going to let the lieutenant call his father to see if there is any way we can save her arm.”

Marcus stepped back up. “No. If you think for one second I will allow my charge to sign a contract, you’re out of your mind. I’ll take her from this place, and you won’t see us again.”

Then he was off, yelling in rapid-fire Italian. The room was a powder keg again.

“Hey!” I was sick of the fighting and upset that no one had even bothered to ask my opinion. It was my arm and my soul after all. “Shouldn’t it be my choice?”

The men turned to me. Donovan didn’t look like his answer to my question was going to be yes. For that matter, Marcus didn’t seem super interested in my opinion either.

Henri was the voice of reason. “Yes, dear. What do you want to do? I’ll clear out the room if you like. This is my hospital, and I’m king here.”

I closed my eyes and laid back. “Get rid of them, Henri, so we can get this done. I’m not signing a contract.”

Marcus’s hand reached out and squeezed mine.

“Kelsey, baby, I wouldn’t ask you to do that.” When I opened my eyes, Gray was kneeling beside me.

“The lieutenant is the only one putting anything on the line, Owens,” Donovan said bluntly. “I would never allow you to sign a demon contract. Sloane believes he can bargain with his father.”

Gray’s violet eyes beseeched me. “I can convince him. It won’t cost you a thing. Please, let me do this for you.”

I was overwhelmed with his suggestion because I knew the truth. It might not cost me, but it would absolutely cost someone. Demons don’t heal a person because they’re looking to fill their karma banks. I had to believe if Gray could work a deal, he would owe his father something awful.

“If the lieutenant believes he can broker such a deal at no cost to my charge, then I agree. Hugo can go with him to ensure that there is no possibility Kelsey could be held accountable.” Marcus stared down the lieutenant.

“No. No one is signing anything.” I couldn’t sign my soul away. I wasn’t about to let someone else do it. I certainly couldn’t allow Gray to do it.

An aristocratic sigh hit my ears, and I realized there was someone standing at the door. Alexander Sharpe stood in the doorway with a superior smile on his face. “Oh, so much drama over one little limb.”

“We don’t need your input, Alex,” the king said sharply. “Henri can handle this on his own.”

Sharpe was dressed in his usual dark suit, the tie perfectly knotted. “Oh, I apologize for interrupting. I was under the false assumption that the doctor was going to hack that arm off our lovely Nex Apparatus’s body. If he knows how to save the limb, then I’ll leave you in his capable hands.”

“Stop.” No one could mistake the king’s reluctance. I got the feeling he’d almost rather I signed a contract than have to deal with the former serial killer. I was kind of with him on that one. Still…

“You can save the limb?” Marcus didn’t mind dealing with Sharpe.

Sharpe walked in, and his eyes flared at the sight of my arm. He didn’t flinch the way the others did. He seemed almost fascinated by the black, shriveled thing. He paid careful attention to the place where the dead flesh met the living. I sat quietly under his stare, though it made me uncomfortable.

After a long, silent exam, he sighed and nodded to the king. “Yes, Your Highness. I can save the limb without involving the lieutenant’s father, though I will need the lieutenant himself.”

“Whatever you need.” Gray was on his feet, offering himself up.

“The Hell plane is going to eat you up,” Sharpe said with a shake of his head. He turned back to the king. “I’m going to need counsel before I go any further. Mr. Wells, if you don’t mind?”

Hugo sighed and followed the vampire outside to conference with him.

“Kelsey, I’d still rather bring in my father.” Sloane was quiet but resolved. He ignored Marcus’s low growl. “I know it will work. I don’t trust that vampire. We can’t know he isn’t plotting something.”