Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

M y heart beat an uneven staccato as I tried to calm my raging emotions. Cass and I glanced nervously at one another as Rene settled into the back seat of the limo and she closed the door. The vehicle jerked forward, and our tires spit gravel behind us as the tension in the air pressed down on my chest like a vise. The soft glow of the moon cast an eerie shadow on his mottled cheek, making his pale skin appear even more ethereal. But tonight, it wasn't his otherworldly beauty that held my attention; it was the devastating transformation unfolding before me.

As the limo rallied through the coven forest, my eyes remained glued on his skin. The effects of the vicious compound that was turning his body to stone were painfully apparent. Ursula had slowed the process, but it continued to spread like a smoldering fire consuming its power source. His perfect, handsome features were now frozen in a partial state of paralysis. The cold, gray surface of his skin looked like it had been carved from marble, each feature permanently etched in place.

Icy fingers squeezed my heart, and my breath caught in my throat. The vampire overseer, the man who ignited a fire within me that I had given up on, was fading before my eyes. The pain hit me like a freight train, and I could feel the tears welling in my eyes.

I reached out with a trembling hand before my fingers brushed against his rigid cheek. The unyielding, smooth surface sent a shiver down my spine and panic surged within me. A meltdown would not help Rene, and I took a stuttered breath to calm myself. For all my new magic, my inexperience left Rene vulnerable, and the guilt crashed over me like a tidal wave.

In that agonizing moment, I realized the depth of my feelings. He wasn't just a powerful vampire, or a creature of the night. While I wasn't ready to admit to those feelings, they were very real, and I couldn't imagine being in any clan without him. The devastation on Cassara's face informed me she felt the same. My world was slipping away and taking him with it.

As the limo bounced down the dirt road, every second felt like an eternity. I squeezed Rene's hand, desperate to retain our connection. "Don't leave us, Rene."

He stared at me with a mixture of regret and wonder. "I will be able to withstand the infection for a couple of days. I have slowed blood flow to my body and am in the process of redirecting the damaged tissue to non-imperative organs."

Cass hissed. "This is a cluster fuck of epic proportions. I failed you and I promise that if you die and we go to war, that I will take a thousand of those bitches down before they get me."

My hand trembled over Rene's. There was a reason that everyone feared Cassara. She had given me her trust and friendship and I had enjoyed her fun sense of humor, but this was the vengeful killer that the rest of the world saw. The monster that slipped from the shadows to relinquish those who preyed on the innocent of their lives. "He isn't going to die. We will find the antidote."

Cass huffed. "There is no way to hide this from the clan, Raven."

"We don't need to. In fact, we should enlist their help."

Cass shook her head. "You don't understand. I wish our world was like that, but it isn't."

I stared at her tortured face and huddled close to Rene until we reached the mansion. We exited quietly and there was an audible gasp from the older vampire standing by the door when we entered.

The chatter in the foyer ceased instantly, and every vampire in the large room stared in shock at Rene. While he had been able to halt the progression of the stone patches on his face, his hands were gray and his fingers appeared to be carved from stone.

Val approached Cassara with a face like a thundercloud. "What the fuck happened? How is this possible?"

Cass blinked slowly. "Brigid attacked while I was outside. She used her shroud to get past me or she was already inside, but she used the compound on Rene. If he dies, it's open season on the witches, but Ursula has a death order on Brigid and has excommunicated her from the coven. If anyone gets any information on her location, you tell me immediately." She had raised her voice so every vampire in the room heard her, though she hadn't needed to with their extra-sensory hearing; she was emphasizing her anger, and nobody moved until Dimitri, threaded his way through the crowd with a look of disbelief, when he saw Rene.

"How is he alive? Can he fight the compound killing him?" He spoke to Cassara as if Rene were no longer able to speak for himself.

Cassara's lips pursed. "He is fighting it, and we will look for the antidote. Ursula inferred there was one. She attempted to halt the progression of the disease."

Dimitri's eyes sparkled, and his shock turned to interest. "We must call a clan summit immediately, before he dies."

Rene moved so fast, my hair blew into my face. He held Dmitri by the throat with his arm extended. "In my weakest hour, you are no match for me, Dimitri. Any other vampire would be dead minutes after exposure. You should be more interested in finding a cure so the witches don't exterminate our entire species than concerning yourself with the next overseer. I guarantee you there are far more appropriate contenders from the other clans than you."

The other death dealers ran into the room with their weapons drawn. They extended their spears and aimed them at Dimitri. Cass stepped in front of them and stared at the suspended clan leader. "Until Rene dies, he is in charge. If you issue another order like that, I will stake you and bathe in your blood."

Dimitri held Rene's wrists as his feet dangled in the air. "I apologize for my outburst. I fear for the clans and if you fall, then we will be in complete disarray. The witches will annihilate us without an overseer. Our unity is what makes us strong. No single clan could withstand this kind of war."

Rene lowered him slowly to the ground. "That is true Dimitri, but I put contingencies in place for my death centuries ago."

Dimitri coughed when Rene released his neck. "What contingencies?"

Rene rolled his shoulders, and the sound of stone grating against itself echoed around us. "You will find out when I leave this world, but I assure you that you won't like it."

Dimitri's eyes widened, and his face held a mixture of fear and surprise. "It won't happen again. I apologize. Your... condition is concerning."

Cass motioned to the stairs. "Rene, let's get you up to your suite."

Rene grabbed my hand and turned toward the stairs. While his face remained impassive, his anger rolled off him in waves. Dimitri had waited more than ten seconds before basically declaring Rene unfit to rule all the clans. Two thousand years of knowledge and power were worthless to the Shadow Bone leader. As if he believed he was better equipped to withstand a supernatural war. How inflated could one ego be?

Cass darted ahead of us and opened the door to the suite, holding it until Rene and I were safely inside. Val and Quinn entered before she closed the door and the three leather-clad death dealers stood like sentries, regarding their leader.

Rene released my hand and sat down on the bed. He held up one hand and turned up his palm. Every finger was completely gray and looked like a perfect statue. "Cass, I need you and the death dealers to look for Brigid. I do not require guards in my personal suite."

Cass pointed at the door. "Did you see what happened down there? Dimitri is like a fucking vulture. He's practically drooling at the opportunity to replace you. If he calls for a vote of no confidence, we are all doomed."

Rene smiled, but a part of his face didn't react like it should. "Trust me, Cassara. This is not the first time a clan head has attempted to overthrow me. It has simply been some time since it happened. Even if I am confined to a bed, the clan is about to realize the true extent of my power and the fate that awaits them if I die."

Cass looked less sure of herself. "That sounds bad."

Rene shrugged. "It would be more challenging for you than most, but for much different reasons."

Cassara looked like she wanted to ask more, but Rene's eyelids drooped. "Get some rest. I will do as you ask, but one death dealer will remain in the mansion at all times. You call if you need him."

"Agreed," Rene said.

Cass opened the door and Val and Quinn filed out before she exited and closed it. I moved to sit on the bed beside Rene, but he lay down and pulled me beside him. I was nestled against his body and despite the grisly transformation, he felt warm to my touch.

His fingers traced my back, and I was glad I couldn't see them. "I have imagined my death many times, but never like this. The irony of turning to stone when I have lived hundreds of years feeling as if my heart was just as cold as any statue is not lost on me."

I place my hand on his heart. "You aren't cold, Rene, and you aren't going to die. I will do everything in my power to ensure you beat this thing."

He stared at the ceiling for some time. "There is only one way to boost my power. You are not ready for it."

I leaned up on one arm. "You know a way to reverse the effects of this compound?"

"Yes. Without an antidote, the only way to counteract this poison is for me to bond with you. Even though you are a vampire, you were exposed, and your power made you immune to its effects."

I couldn't deny what he was saying. I felt the sparkly dust touch my skin, but there was no reaction. "Is there any other way?" With all the surrounding betrayal, I wouldn't lie to him. He was right. I wasn't ready to commit to anyone let alone the most powerful creature on earth.

"Not that I am aware of. Ursula seemed to think there was an antidote, but she didn't know what it was. I am pretty sure she is looking as we speak. She understands the consequences of my death better than the Shadow Bone clan."

I pursed my lips. "Dimitri mentioned something to me about bonding. May I ask you some questions?"

"Raven, you never need permission to ask me anything. No matter how difficult the subject, I will tell you the truth."

"Dimitri said that if you bond with a member of Shadow Bone you are required to take a wife from each of the other clans. Is that true?"

His eyes flickered red. "It is, but I've already taken steps to rectify that issue. Certain concessions were put in motion the moment I met you. All I can ask is that you trust me."

"I do, but I need time to think about the bonding thing. Nobody should be forced into a decision of that magnitude, but I guarantee we will find an antidote. I have an idea. In this, I need you to trust me."

Rene turned his head to meet my gaze. "I do."

"Good. Tell me about the bonding ceremony. Is it like a wedding?"

He smiled slightly. "In some ways. It is performed on a full moon by a specific priest, if you will. But the attendees are those the bonding couple hold dear. It is a distinct honor to be invited to such an event."

I smiled. "I bet you have been invited to a lot of them over the years."

"Admittedly, as overseer, I have witnessed the ceremony on many occasions. There was little joy for me, knowing I would never have what they did. You changed everything. If this is the end of my life, then I want you to allow Cass to help you. Learn the beauty our world has to offer and enjoy it to the best of your ability. You are a gift to not only this clan, but our entire species."

I touched his face, and my fingers trailed to his chin. "Don't talk like that. You are not going anywhere. You promised to trust me."

"With my life," he whispered.

I leaned down so our lips touched. The kiss was slow, and my heart leaped with emotions I was not ready to explore. He was everything I ever wanted, and I was losing him. My hand slipped to his hair, and I clutched the silky strands as if I could hold him to me forever. When I finally released him, his gaze met mine with the same fire and passion he always had when in my arms.

"Consider my proposal. I want you no matter the circumstances. Whether it is for a day or a century. But I don't want you to think I want to bond with you because I was infected with the compound. I have been leading you toward this from the moment I walked into the human morgue. I love you."