Fractured (Deep In Your Veins, #5)(40)

“Not alone,” stated Butch.

“I agree,” said Jared. So, at his order, I was accompanied by him, Sam, Butch, David, Ava, and Salem through the castle and out to the massive courtyard.

David frowned. “They’re having a rock concert?”

I smiled. “It would seem so.”




(Butch)



Spotting Lazarus and Annalise in a VIP box, Imani mouthed, “Where’s Eleanor?”

They both pointed to the front row, near the stage. Imani shot them a smile of thanks, and then we all pushed our way through the crazy throng of dancers. Eleanor gave her a huge hug and seemed disappointed that Imani wasn’t staying, but whatever explanation Imani said into her ear had the other female nodding in understanding.

After she gave Eleanor one last hug, we all began to retreat through the tight crowd. I cursed when someone knocked into me, causing me to stumble and—in the process—separate from Imani. With a growl, I shoved my way through them, easily catching up to her since she’d come to a halt. “Keep moving, we—”

A violent tremor wracked her body. “Butch…”

I spoke into her ear. “Baby, what’s wrong?”

Turning, she blinked up at me. “I don’t know. Something…”

“What?”

“Something pricked me in the arm.” She swayed, eyes glazing over in a truly creepy way.

I examined the arm she held out just in time to watch a tiny red mark fade away.

“I don’t feel good.” Her knees buckled.

“Shit.” I lifted her, cradling her against my chest. “Hold on, baby.” I carried her to where Sam, Jared, and the others were waiting. They all stiffened at the sight of Imani in my arms.

“What’s wrong?” demanded Sam.

“No f*cking idea,” I rumbled.

Lazarus and Annalise appeared at my side. “Oh my God, what happened?” asked Annalise, face creased in concern.

“I don’t know,” I replied. “She said she felt a prick in her arm. Now her eyes are misty, she can’t stay on her feet, and the occasional tremor runs through her.” I watched Lazarus take an almost unconscious step back, head shaking slightly in denial. “What do you know?” I growled.

“We must get her inside.” In vampire speed, Lazarus led us all to a parlour. “Please lay her on the sofa so I can examine her.”

I was hesitant to release her but I did as he asked. I stayed at her side and kept my hand on her hair, needing to touch her.

“Imani, where exactly did you feel the prick?” he asked, an urgency in his tone that was freaking me the f*ck out. She shuddered, but she didn’t answer him. He waved his hand in front of her eyes, but they were unfocused and her pupils didn’t respond.

“She felt it in her left upper arm,” I told him. “When I looked, there was a small red mark fading away.”

His eyes flew to mine. “How small? Like an injection site?”

Come to think of it… “Yeah.”

Annalise gasped, hand flying to her chest. “Lazarus, you don’t think…”

“Think what?” snapped Sam.

Lazarus’ expression crumpled as a tremor again assailed Imani from head to toe. “Yes, Annalise, I do.”

My frustration mounting, I advanced on him, invading his personal space as I jabbed a finger at him. “You need to explain what the f*ck is going on.”

As if he didn’t have the strength to support himself, he sank into a plush chair. “You remember I told you about my many attempts to create a cure for vampirism?”

“You said they haven’t been successful.”

“My last serum came very close,” Lazarus told me, but there was no excitement in his voice. “We tried it on four people. Unfortunately, the serum didn’t work in the way that we’d hoped.”

Something about his tone made the hairs on my nape rise. “What do you mean?”

“It is designed to reverse the transition we all endured as we changed from human to vampire. As such, they have to re-experience the pain and bloodlust they suffered during that transition before they are once again human.”

My fists clenched, and I barely resisted the urge—no, the need—to punch something. “You think Imani’s been injected with that serum?”

Lazarus swallowed. “It is possible.”

“She’s going to be human again?” asked Ava.

“Not necessarily,” replied Lazarus, regret staining his eyes.

The vague answer made me growl. “What happened to the four volunteers?”

“The result differed from person to person. But in all cases, the transition didn’t fully reverse.”

Leaning into Salem, Ava bit her lip. “What happened to them?”

“The first was Pierce’s cousin,” said Lazarus. “Mid-way through the transition, he weakened until his strength became that of a human. He no longer craved blood. His gift faded. But he also aged at a dramatic rate until his body was that of a hundred year old man. He died of heart failure.”

A chill scuttled up my spine. “Fuck.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. My breath coming in short, soft pants, I asked, “What about the other three?”