“There’s being careful, and there’s ignoring her ability to look after herself. It would insult and hurt her to refuse her request to come along. You wouldn’t expect any of the others to do that in such a situation.”

Jared nodded. “It might be good for her to face the asshole that stole her life.”

Good for her? “Like Coach pointed out, he’ll be pissed at Imani.”

“And we’ll be there to make sure he doesn’t try to act on it,” said Sam. “Honestly though, I sincerely doubt he will. He’s allegedly very intelligent. That alone should stop him from attacking a member of the legion.”

But we couldn’t know that for sure. And that lack of certainty didn’t sit well with me. If I couldn’t be confident that she was safe, I wouldn’t function. Maybe I could convince her to stay behind, maybe if I just talked to her—

“Don’t, Butch.” Sam, apparently having guessed my intentions, shook her head. “It would insult her, and I really don’t think you want to do that. Protecting her means also protecting her feelings.”

Yes, it did, but I wanted to keep her safe. I didn’t want to take any chances with her life. “She’s important,” I bit out.

Sam’s face softened. “I know she’s important to you. I don’t pretend to know what you feel for her, but I know it’s strong and intense. That doesn’t mean you get to interfere in her decisions. If you had claimed her as yours when you had the chance, she’d have made compromises. I repeat, compromises. Not have given you your own way. And although I don’t like to interfere in people’s personal lives—”

Jared snorted.

“—I will say now that you were a dumb dick not to claim her. She’d have taken you as you are, Butch. That’s a special thing. But in return, you’d have had to take her how she is.”

I’d take her any way I could get her, and I would claim her, but that was between me and Imani. “While we’re at Lazarus’ home, I’m with her every second. She doesn’t leave my side.”

“She won’t be leaving your side because you’re there as her shield in case Marco tries to harm her. You have to promise me right now that you won’t lunge at him unprovoked. I know this situation will be bloody hard for you—being around Jared’s Maker was a pain in my arse.” Which was partly why Sam had killed her. “But it will be even harder for Imani. Put her feelings before your own.”

“Fine,” I clipped. But I almost hoped that Marco did something to provoke me just so that I’d have the perfect excuse to kill the fucker.

CHAPTER SIX

(Imani)

Prisons could be very beautiful.

After Marco dumped me on Lazarus, this had been my prison for ten whole months. I hadn’t exactly begrudged Lazarus for keeping me here until I was in control of my bloodlust, and it wasn’t like I’d had any other place to go. Although he’d never harmed me or done anything but make me feel welcome, the feeling of being trapped hadn’t been one I’d enjoyed.

Concealed in the shadows of a nearby forest, Max said, “Wow. This place is fucking amazing.”

It really was. With its tall walls, high towers, and thick turrets, the medieval dark-stoned fortress was a sight to behold. Lazarus had long ago claimed the castle that was comfortably situated on a moated island. Many had tried to penetrate and steal it; all had died in the process. The castle wasn’t just astounding, it was a military piece of art.

“A gilded cage is still a cage,” said Ava. She was right.

With the exception of the guards at the arched gates, the castle always looked deserted. Jared had teleported us to the forest as opposed to the bridge, as he had wanted to first get a feel for the place.

Paige asked in a low voice, “Is it hard to be back here?”

I’d thought it might be, but it oddly wasn’t. Maybe it was because I wasn’t a prisoner this time round. Or maybe it was because I wasn’t alone. “I’ll be fine.”

As Sam and Jared talked quietly, Butch came to my side and said, “Stick close to me. I don’t trust Marco around you. I need to know, to see, you’re safe.”

I looked into eyes glittering with protectiveness. Before I could respond, Paige was speaking.

“I’m her partner, so just why would she stick with you?”

Butch was suddenly face to face with Paige. “I can protect her better than you, and we both know it. So that’s what I’m gonna do. Don’t get in my way.”

I was about to tell them both to stand down when Sam spoke. “Butch, I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again. I know this Marco thing will be awkward as shit, but don’t attack him unprovoked. If he acts like a dick, you can growl and snarl and whatever. But don’t lose control. Be smart.” When Butch didn’t argue, Sam nodded her approval. “All right, let’s get moving.”

She and Jared left the shadows first. The rest of us walked in pairs behind them. The vampires guarding the bridge recognised the mated couple immediately and, appropriately deferential, waved us all through the gates. Jared teleported us straight to the entrance of the castle, startling the guards there. They parted like the red sea, a mixture of awe and fear in their expressions. Yeah, well, everyone knew that Sam and Jared were crazy.

Stepping through the archway, once again surrounded by all that gothic elegance and the scent of lavender, I should have been transported into the past. I should have been hit by the feelings of helplessness, despair, and confusion that had haunted me here when my human life was so callously stolen from me. There was none of that at all…as if those feelings had all belonged to someone else. Maybe they had. I was a different person now. Stronger. Harder. No longer lost and afraid of what I was.

I recognised the vampire rushing toward us as Pierce, who closely served Lazarus. He’d been good to me; a sort of uncle-figure who had taught me a lot about the history of vampirekind and what it meant to be a Keja. The image of elegance, he bowed to Sam and Jared. “You do Lazarus a great honour in visiting his home.” I knew Sam would be grinding her teeth—she hated the bowing-thing.

Pierce peered around them, spotted me, and beamed. “Imani!” Moving to me, he took my hand and kissed it. Beside me, Butch stiffened. “You look radiant. Lazarus and Annalise are thrilled that you agreed to come. Let me say, on behalf of all our nest, we’re very proud of you for earning a place in the legion.”