Death's Servant(35)

A harsh bark of sound rips from the concerned man. “Cover story? There is nothing we could contrive to explain this horrendous imprisonment.” He hangs his head in frustration. “If I could go back in time and volunteer my life to save theirs, I would, without a second thought… but we’re way past wishful thinking and have been for a very long time.”
Mistrust colors the gaze of his crying wife. “Can we trust her?” she asks, turning her imploring eyes to me, obviously uncaring of voicing her concerns in front of Dria. “Why would she help us?” She looks to Dria, her moist gaze holding a fierce resolve. “We don’t know you. Vampires have never helped our kind before.”
Dria stands and moves to the window, gazing at the lost souls standing near one another for comfort. “That’s not entirely true. Vampires have stepped in to help other supernatural species in the past.” She shrugs, as if our discussing her morality doesn’t affect her. “Unfortunately, many more of us have stepped in to abuse them as well. I don’t blame you for being wary.”
The urge to do something wells inside me, and before I have a chance to think about what I’m saying, the words tumble out. “I vouch for her.” Three heads whip around to stare at me. “She won’t harm your wolves, or you. I swear it on my life.”
Silence fills the small space for the span of a few heartbeats. Dria’s expression holds one of surprise while the alpha’s holds confusion.
“And why would your word matter?” Cliff asks. “This is the first time I’ve met you.”
“Because I volunteered to be her vampire servant and I can read her mind through our bond.” The lie spills out between us, Dria’s eyes narrow at my blatant fabrication. Hell, there’s no way they would know I’m not truly bonded to her yet, or what that bond may or may not share. At the couple’s shocked expression I add, “Yeah, that’s right. I volunteered my life to her—to save your pack. If you don’t trust her, trust me. I stand by my words—she holds no ill will or plans to deceive you in her thoughts.”
Cliff nods once and stands, extending his hand to me. I rise and clasp his skeletal grip in my own. “From one alpha to another. I will put my faith in you.” He glances in Dria’s direction. “And that means in her, too.”
Dria walks to the couch and takes a seat. “Good. Glad that’s cleared up. This is going to take a while.” She looks to Kristin. “Can you bring the first Were in and I’ll get started? You’re all welcome to stay and watch, as long as you’re quiet.”


The hours tick by slowly, and the sun rises while she works. To everyone’s surprise, the sun doesn’t slow her down. Dria’s pace is relentless. One after another she sits with each wolf, holding their hand in silence while she repairs the holes Cecil’s forced compulsions created. She explained that she’s slipping into their minds, the physical contact making it easier, and re-knitting the very fabric of their consciousness to make the savaged Weres whole again.
Rafe and the healed Weres have been busy while she works, removing anything of value from the house—including the car keys of all the vampires who drove here and the numerous stacks of cash locked away in Cecil’s safe. Five years is a long time to be missing, and the group has no residences to go home to. The money will at least support them while the pack gets healthy and tries to pick up the pieces of their lives.
By the time Dria works on the tenth Were I visibly see her strength waning. None of the wolves here are strong enough to donate blood, so I step forward. Unsure how to proceed, I bare my wrist to her.
“Here, it looks like you need sustenance to continue.”
Hunger lights her gaze, drawing her need closer to the surface. She shakes her head and tears her eyes from my pulsing wrist. “No. I’m fine.”
“You’re not. I can see you’re getting tired, Dria. Why won’t you drink from me?”
Anger replaces her obvious want and she lashes out, her voice sharp as a whip. “I am the master here. You don’t tell me what I need.” Her green gaze locks on mine as she issues a command I’m compelled to follow. “Leave us, wolfman. Check on Rafe.”






 
    Nine by Night: A Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Bundle of Kickass Heroines, Adventure,   Magic
    
 


 

Chapter Sixteen

Unable to resist her command, I walk slowly to the door. On the threshold I turn to her, biting out my words, “I will come back to check on you. Make no doubt about that.”