Was that what people were calling it these days? A virus?
“—like a plague. That’s why the holy water works on vampires.”
Yeah, he’d been burned by that once. Holy water and vamps didn’t mix—that one wasn’t a myth.
“So what did I do, Simon, that would have condemned me at fifteen?” Her eyes rose. “What did I do that was so bad, I was cursed, too? I lost my whole family—what did I do?”
Nothing. His fingers tightened around hers. “I don’t know why you’re a Born.” He’d chosen this path. For her, fate had chosen. “I know the stories, too. That the first Born committed a betrayal, that all vamps were punished for his crimes.” He shook his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Nothing, got me?”
Her face was as blank as a doll’s. “But I’ll still wind up like Grim, won’t I?”
“No! You’ll never be like him.”
She flashed a bitter smile. “I think I already am.” A pause. Then, quietly, “And deep down, so do you.”
No. “Dee, I—”
“Fuck!” A snarl from outside. “Dee!” Zane’s voice. His fist thudded against the door. Half a second later, the door came crashing open. “She’s gone.” His chest heaved and his eyes glinted back.
Dee nodded. “I know. I told Catalina that—”
“Not her!” He shook his head and snarled, “We both knew the witch would cut and run. Cat can’t handle fire. That shit just brought up too many bad memories for her and she’s too afraid of burning.” He slammed a hand against the door frame. “Nina’s bolted.”
A curse erupted from Simon’s lips. Her family killed—yeah, they’d had that confirmed by a quick call to Dee’s friendly cop contact.
A massacred family.
An Ignitor who knew the location of the Born vampire behind the slaughter.
“She’s gone after him,” Dee said, and it was what they all knew. “How long of a head start?”
His jaw clenched, Zane gritted, “At least three hours. I thought she was sleeping in her room. She’d been crying so much, I didn’t even think to go in there and check.”
Shit. Three hours.
Hell of a lead she had on them. With that much time, she’d definitely get to Grim first.
Ignitors were so strong psychically. Strong enough to create and control fire with their minds. But nature was a sly bitch. For all their psychic strength, Ignitors were so very weak physically.
A careless touch could bruise them, like when Zane had wrapped his fingers around the Ignitor’s wrists.
And killing them would only take one blow.
If Grim saw her coming, if he felt her, Nina would be dead.
But if he didn’t…
Burn, bastard.
“Simon.” Dee’s voice, vibrating with tension. “Let’s get on the road, now.”
He was already moving. He grabbed his bag. This was it. Final match.
Should have never brought Dee in on this.
He’d thought they would make the perfect team. Same enemy. Same goal.
But if anything happened to Dee…
Can’t lose her.
Won’t lose her.
How had his master plan gotten so screwed up?
Zane braced his legs apart. “He’s gonna kill her. We have to get there before—”
Dee marched up to him, that weird, faint smile on her face. Her hand pressed against his chest. “I told you before, this fight’s not yours. Not yours. Not Cat’s.”
Zane’s eyes narrowed as he stared down at her. “You think I’m walking away from you? You’re not going out on a death fight. I’ve had your back before, I’ll have it again. I’m not—”
“You don’t have a choice.” Her right hand snaked up his neck. “Sorry.” Her left hand came up, and delivered a hard, fast hit to his chin. The demon went down. “After all the times with Tony, you should have seen that coming.” She stared down at him, her body taut.
Simon approached her slowly and very, very cautiously. “Wanna tell me what that was about?”
She glanced up. The demon lay sprawled across the threshold. “In case Cat’s vision wasn’t pure shit, no way am I gonna risk him.” Emotion there. Affection. Love.
The fist that slugged his gut told Simon that he was jealous. Had been jealous of the demon from the very first. A bond existed between Dee and Zane. One born from time and struggle. Trust.
What he wouldn’t give for Dee to care enough to punch the crap out of him.
Trust.
Love.
Her shoulders sagged. “I pulled the punch, you know. I used my left hand.” Still, she had vampire strength now, so the punch wouldn’t have been anywhere near soft. She bent, ran her fingers over Zane’s jaw. “But demons are strong and he won’t be out long.”