“What’s wrong—what’s wrong with Koda?”

Aric pulled me to him. I didn’t realize how fast my heart was beating until I tried to slow my breathing. The night had sucked, but it wasn’t over. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching and waiting to strike. “Don’t be scared, sweetness,” Aric said. “Koda was shot in the eye. Martin is just digging the bullet out of his brain.”

Oh. Is that all? My stomach did a flip-flop, and I felt faint. I could have done without that visual.

Aric eased me back down. Next to me, Emme and Taran were fumbling with some packages. Taran straightened my arm. “Hold still, Celia. I’m going to start an IV. You need fluid.” She shuddered when she took in my face. “And considering your face is as white as Emme’s butt, you’re going to need some blood.”

Aric rubbed his sternum. “You’re giving her your blood?” he asked, sounding oddly pleased.

Taran stopped what she was doing. “Aric, look at her. I don’t have to check her labs to realize her hemoglobin and her hematocrit are low.”

He rubbed his chest. “No, you’re right. Do what you can to help her.”

I flinched when Taran started my IV, but it was nothing compared to the pain Koda was experiencing next door. I was glad I was horizontal when I heard something crunch, followed by the howl of a furious beast.

—
The small amount of blood Emme had drawn from Taran was running into my vein when Gemini prowled into the room. He’d found scrub pants to wear, but hadn’t bothered with a shirt. His dark almond eyes fixed on her. “Hi,” he said quietly.

Her shoulders tensed. She’d heard him yet she refused to glance in his direction. She busied herself drawing Emme’s blood to give to me. While she appeared to be concentrating, I knew her enough to sense her sadness. Gem stared at her for a moment longer before speaking to Aric. “Genevieve, Delilah, and Betty Sue are here.”

Taran scowled and tugged the cuffs of her long gloves upon hearing Genevieve’s name. I couldn’t blame her for getting upset. Her failing power, the condition of her arm, and the end of her relationship with Gemini had fractured what remained of Taran’s confidence.

It also didn’t help that Genevieve had the goods to make Miss Universe question her hotness. Genevieve’s fair skin, large blue eyes, and long wavy black hair bordered on perfection. She reminded me of a life-sized ceramic doll, if the doll came complete with a perfect figure, elegant mannerisms, and power so strong you could taste it. We’d only interacted a handful of times, including this last time in Malaysia. But each time, her beauty gave me pause, and each interaction had been uncomfortable and memorable.

Aric’s attention briefly passed to Taran before he kissed my bare shoulder. “Ask Genevieve in. I don’t want to leave Celia,” he said.

Gemini nodded and stepped into the hall, beckoning Genevieve forward. “He’s waiting for you,” he said.

She entered the room. Tonight, she’d chosen a deep purple velvet gown that brought out her eyes and delicate skin. Gold ribbons crisscrossed at the bodice, making her breasts appear fuller despite her lithe frame. Part of her hair was up in a twist, while the rest dangled in perfect waves around her cheeks. The yellow talisman typically affixed to her long staff dangled from a chain around her neck. Save for Halloween, most people would have looked ridiculous in this getup. But most people weren’t Genevieve.

I rubbed my face and tried to smile. Good thing I don’t look like hell or anything.

Genevieve’s eyes widened when she caught sight of my oh-so-attractive and blood-smeared appearance. “Hey, Genevieve,” I muttered. “What’s new?”

She smirked at me as Delilah and Betty Sue filed in. “Not much,” Genevieve said. “But it seems like you’ve had quite the evening.” To Aric she said, “How can I help?”

“You’ve seen the mess outside?” he asked. Genevieve nodded. “I need you to clean it.”

Genevieve smiled. “Considering you wouldn’t permit my coven to guard Shah, it’s going to cost you.”

“You’ve already made it clear to me and the Alliance that you’re not in agreement with this decision. But for the time being, that’s where he’ll stay….” His voice trailed off when I stiffened against him. “Celia, what is it?”

I was hoping he wouldn’t ask me, especially in front of everyone else. “Shah’s here,” I admitted.

“What?” everyone asked at once, although Taran threw in a few swearwords for emphasis.

I pushed my hair from my eyes. It was then I realized it was caked with body fluid. I dropped my hand away and tried to wipe it on the sheet. “I don’t know. He just appeared.”

Genevieve raised an elegant brow. “Why do you keep referring to Shah as ‘he’?” she asked.

It seemed Genevieve, like many others, continued to see Shah as an “it.” “Because that’s what he is,” I answered, growing impatient.

I watched her, Delilah, and Betty Sue as if someone had nudged me to pay attention. “He appeared in my hands when the first group of vamps arrived. They seemed to think I had him—or at least seemed to feel he’d appear to me if called.”

“And did he?” Betty Sue asked, although it seemed more like an accusation.

“Yes. He did.” There was no sense in lying, but I wasn’t loving Betty Sue’s presence all of a sudden.

Delilah glanced nervously between me and Betty Sue. “Where’s Shah now, sugar?”

I adjusted the sheet against me, wrestling with whether to disclose his whereabouts. I had no claim over Shah, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of duty to him.

“Celia?” Aric asked, his eyes scanning the group. “You have nothing to be afraid of, just tell us where he is.”

That’s what Aric thought, except I couldn’t ignore the strange unease that filled me and whispered a warning. I finally spoke, mostly because I didn’t think I had a choice just then. “I shoved him into a drawer at the nurses’ station. He should still be there.”

“So you were the last to touch it?” Genevieve asked. She didn’t sound as accusing as Betty Sue. That didn’t mean I liked her question.

“Well, yes, but it wasn’t intentional. He appeared in my hand—” And like magic, Shah materialized in my open palm.