I can’t share the truth with Holly, not when my entire life is made up of lies. The weight of it slices me on the inside and severs muscle and tendon from bone. I’m bleeding out, only no one sees it.
“The vampires didn’t want me to heal. There’s something about their saliva. They can either help close the wounds they make or not. They’ve slowed down healing for me,” I make up on the spot.
As sheltered as Holly is, will she ever figure it out?
“So vampires had you, andhesinglehandedly got you out. He saved you and bandaged your wound. Am I hearing this correctly?”
My cheeks flush at her question. “He did. I thought for sure out of anyone you’d believe me. He’s a good guy.”
“I’m not questioning you, I’m just trying to understand.” Holly’s expression goes flat. “You never want to talk to me anymore.”
Well, crap, there goes my heart. It twists painfully because, out of anyone in this messed up world, Holly has always been there.
“And when you go off and mate with Jrue, I’ll never get to see you. You’ll move to a place of your own. I know this is a smaller community but it’s super isolating sometimes. You’re the first-born. I’m…I don’t know what I am but I know I miss you.”
It’s another example of what’s wrong with this place and these people.
“It’s going to be fine.” Twisting to hide the bite marks, I use my other arm to hug her. “You’ll see.”
“It’s not fine and it doesn’t matter how many times you say it. Whether you actually got that bite from the vampires or not, you disappeared,” Holly says. “We had no idea where you were! Mom cried all the time and Dad was hardly ever home. He sent so many search parties out to find you.”
“And finally Jrue did.”
My false chipper tone isn’t fooling Holly the way it does anyone else. Sisters are always the exception, aren’t they?
I keep my arm around her shoulder and settle us both on the mattress again.
“Life is changing, Mandi. You’re changing. I’m not sure I can keep up with it. Now you’re home with this bitten wolf and you’re going to bat for him. It’s not like you,” Holly bursts out. “You’ve always played by their rules. You told me it’s the only way we stay safe.”
Or maybe it’s exactly like me to finally stand for something.
The claim is right there underneath everything I’ve said to blow her off. So is the truth.
Holly doesn’t know about my being moonlocked. She doesn’t know about the dangers of the moon-mad wolves on the prowl because she thinks the move here made us untouchable.
I unclench my jaw, tongue working over my teeth.
And the moment before I cave and spill everything, the door bursts open.
We lurch to our feet in unison before I recognize Grayson on the other side. He’s wearing the same stolen flannel from the cabin but the sleeves are shredded from his scratching.
He glances around the room before his eyes land on me.
“I’ve been trying to find you.” His voice is deep, gravelly, grinding over each syllable. “Your father hasn’t made it easy. I tracked your scent.”
Concern and panic mix in a dizzying cocktail. “Are you okay?”
I rush to him, brushing my fingers over his sweat-soaked clothes and the new bruises on the side of his face. In addition to the dirt from our trek yesterday, there are welts and patches of bluish purple near his lip and temple.
What the hell did they do to him in the pen?
“Dad must know something happened between you. Like I said, I heard him talking.” Holly stands near the bed, cautious but curious. “You’re being too obvious about the way you care for each other.”
I expect Grayson to automatically blow her off but he leans to the side, his eyes fluttering closed. “Talk to me,” I say. “What did they do to you?”
He tracked me here. My pulse quickens.
He recovers and straightens, sucking in a breath. “Can I talk to you in private, Mandi?”