Page 45 of Hitched to the Vampire King
“That’s the difference between amateurs and professionals,” I said. “And I don’t mean that unkindly. It’s just a fact. Avery did the best with what she had. But we’ve been doing this for years. We’ve perfected the process. Not only that, but we slayers have our own network that we can tap into. Avery didn’t have access to any of our resources.”
We both glanced at the werewolf in question and watched as she pointed at the map, then made a comment to Sam.
“How do you think she’s doing?”
My mouth twisted as I considered Lucy’s question. The stark fear on Avery’s face when I’d suggested she accompany me to the warehouse told me everything I needed to know. She was far from okay. “I think she’s keeping herself busy rather than dealing with her emotions, but maybe that’s what she needs right now. We don’t know her. We aren’t her friends. So who are we to say?”
“Hmm. And how about you?”
“What about me?” I mumbled.
“Well,” she said softly, “you haven’t exactly been upfront about how you’re doing. I mean, the organization you dedicated your life to has essentially put a warrant out for you, put another hit on your mate’s head, and killed one of your best friend’s. I can’t imagine you’re all too happy with them right now.”
Understatement of the year.
When I didn’t respond, Lucy pulled her legs off my lap and sat up, tucking her feet beneath her butt. “Come on, Maddie. You just said that Avery should speak with someone. Don’t you think you should do the same?”
I half-shrugged, not exactly eager to open this can of worms. Not right now, anyway. “How will talking help?”
“Well, it can’t hurt. You forget, Maddie, I know you. Big sister here, remember? You always put on a brave face, but everyone knows you’re hurting. We can literally smell it.”
Of course, I was hurting. I’d just lost one of my best friends. But I absolutely refused to derail our plans or our mission. We had to stay focused. I would grieve after I killed Adrian and took down the council.
“Jaden and Josh are hurting too, you know,” Lucy added.
Oh, I knew that all too well. And not only because I could smell their pain. I knew just from looking at them that they were near their breaking points. The council had already stolen one important person from them, and if they got their way again, Jaden and Josh might lose another. They weren’t just hurting, they were terrified.
“You know, for someone who’s spent all day on the phone, you’re awfully chatty,” I deflected. I needed to steer this conversation away before I started crying.
Lucy scoffed. “Nice try. But seriously, Maddie. You aren’t alone in this. You have us.”
“I’m well aware,” I stated drolly.
“We’re family. We take care of each other, and not just physically. We tell the truth, even when it hurts.”
Sighing, I rested my head on her shoulder and glanced out the window. Sunset was merely minutes away. “I appreciate your concern, Lucy. But I can’t focus on me right now. We’ll mourn Chris when this is finished, and we have more than a few seconds to spare. In the meantime, my attention needs to be on this job. It’s the only thing that’s keeping me from falling apart right now.”
“Just promise me you won’t sweep your emotions under the rug and forget to deal with them. Repression never helps anything.”
“Sure, Luce. I promise,” I replied, knowing full well that she would hold me to it, come hell or high water—whateverthateven meant.
We fell into a comfortable silence, one that almost lulled me to sleep. Lucy eventually nudged me and asked, “How long till he’s awake?”
I didn’t need to ask to know who she was referring to. “Not much longer now,” I said. “A few more minutes at most.”
Together, we watched as the last of the sun’s warmth vanished beneath the horizon, casting the world in an eerie hue of dark blues and purples.
“Do you know how you’re going to handle this?” she questioned, referring to Aimee’s upcoming interrogation.
I blew out a heavy breath and considered Lucy’s question. Since we met, not a single night had passed where I hadn’t gone to him at sunset to be there when he woke. It’d become our routine. He would wake to find me sitting by his side, greeting him with a smile and sometimes, a little nudity. It felt odd not to go to him now. But Aimee had asked me not to speak with him before she could, and I’d agreed. I didn’t like it one bit, but I knew it had to play out this way. She’d never trust him otherwise.
“I’ll take that as a no,” Lucy said when I didn’t immediately respond. “Just remember, Aimee is Sam’s sister. She’s important to him. Please don’t do anything that could drive a wedge between the two packs.”
“I’ll do my best,” was all I said. So long as Aimee kept her questioning from turning into accusations, we had nothing to fear.
A few moments later, I felt that familiar nudge deep in my gut, that silent whisper against my senses that told me my mate was awake. I wasn’t sure when exactly I’d developed this particular sense, but it had quickly become one of my favorite quirks of our relationship. Almost like fate had given us a direct line to one another, a mystical bond that joined us.
“He’s awake?” Lucy asked.
