He shook his head. “Only because Seth believed himself responsible. It’s why he still tolerates my bullshit. And why he won’t hold my helping you against me. He feels guilty about overlooking me and leaving me to fend for myself for two centuries.”
Whenever a gifted one was transformed into an immortal, Seth sensed it, made his way to his (or very rarely her) side, and aided him in the transition into his new life. Seth then either trained the new Immortal Guardian himself, or saw to it that the newbie was trained by another and received the guidance all new immortals needed.
But Bastien had escaped his notice. So Bastien had mistakenly believed himself a vampire and had lived among those monsters for two hundred years.
All knew his violent, troubled past haunted their leader.
“Do you hold him responsible?” she asked.
“No,” he said, his voice devoid of rancor. “And I’m sure he’s seen as much in my thoughts. But the guilt nevertheless lingers and pretty much gives me a permanent get-out-of-jail-free card. You, on the other hand, don’t have that protection.”
No, she didn’t.
“I learned very quickly,” he went on, “that Immortal Guardians have a pack mentality.” Three years with them, and Bastien still didn’t consider himself one of them. “If Seth turns on you,” he warned, “the others will, too.”
She swallowed hard. “My brothers—”
“Have wives to think of. And, in Richart’s case, a stepson.”
“I know.” She didn’t have a problem with no longer coming first in her brothers’ affections. It just felt a little scary to know they wouldn’t always have her back now.
“Is he worth it—your fallen angel?” Bastien asked. Again, no scorn or mockery infused his voice.
She honestly didn’t know the answer to that and settled for saying, “He saved my life. I can’t forget that.”
“That’s a hard debt to forget.” Turning, he continued on to the car. “You have my number.”
“Thank you, Bastien.”
He opened the driver’s door. “Ethan’s jealous as hell, you know.”
Her eyes widened.
“Asshole!” Ethan called from inside.
Bastien laughed. “I guess this means you two are on the outs.”
“You knew?” she asked, stunned.
How had he known about the affair when no one else had guessed?
He sank into the driver’s seat. “I may not get along well with others, but I am a keen observer of them.” The words seemed to carry a warning. “And I can feel your emotions every time I brush against you.”
Considering how many times she had barged into his thoughts in the past, she decided she wouldn’t let that bother her. “Give Melanie my love.”
He winked. “I’ll be too busy giving her mine.” Closing the door, he started the engine and sped away.
Chuckling, Lisette stared after him. What an enigma.
Ethan exited the house and stepped up beside her. “That guy is so weird.”
“You didn’t tell him?” she asked.
“About us? No.”
“Do you think he’ll say anything to anyone?”
“Nah. Who would he tell, other than Melanie? And she isn’t one to gossip.”
“I don’t want to end up in the betting books, Ethan.”
Immortal Guardians, their Seconds, and the mortal members of the network would gamble on just about anything. She didn’t want them to complicate matters between her and Ethan by betting on whether or not the two of them would get back together.
“If word gets out about your beau in there,” he said, jerking a thumb back at the house, “they’ll be betting on whether or not Seth will let you live.”
A chilling thought.
What the hell was she doing?
Chapter Three
Ethan left shortly after Bastien did, still grumbling over the non-butt call.
Zach didn’t so much as twitch all day. His breathing didn’t deepen. His heartbeat didn’t increase in frequency. His eyes didn’t open.
Lisette eschewed sleep, preferring to watch over him instead and wonder about . . . so many things.
Immortals tended to sleep more deeply when healing from serious wounds, so his lack of response when she called his name didn’t concern her too much. Particularly since his bruises faded. Cuts and gashes closed by Bastien’s handiwork began to heal, angry red lightening to pink, edges smoothing, scars forming.
It took longer than she would’ve expected for an immortal his age. There must have been extensive internal damage. And there had been a lot of broken bones in his wings. One wing had nearly been completely detached. Bastien had had a hell of a time setting it and binding it. Those might take another day or two to heal.