“Good luck,” he murmured to himself, and teleported to Belinda Tucker’s hospital room.
It was dark, except for the lights of the monitor screens. The first lady lay in her bed asleep, her face pale.
Across the private room, he saw Abigail sleeping on a couch. Dark circles smudged her eyes, and her nose looked red as if she’d been crying too much.
“I’m sorry, Abby,” he whispered.
In the corner, a young man was sprawled on an easy chair, also sleeping. Gregori recognized him as Abby’s brother, Lincoln.
Sleep. He directed a mental command at both Abby and her brother. He couldn’t afford to have them wake up until Plan C was fully implemented.
The door opened and a male nurse walked in. He was a young man, dressed in white, with blond curly hair. He didn’t look alarmed at the sight of Gregori.
He smiled. “How may I help you?”
Gregori shot a spurt of mind control at him, but wasn’t sure he was getting through. “I want to give blood to her.” He motioned to Belinda. “A direct transfusion. My blood type is the same as hers.” He’d been drinking nothing but Type O for several nights to make sure he matched up.
The nurse inclined his head. “I will do as you ask.”
“Good.” He must have the nurse under his control after all. He took off his coat and laid it on the coffee table close to Abigail.
The nurse inserted a needle into Belinda’s left arm, since her right arm was connected to an IV. “Bring a chair over here.”
Gregori carried a lightweight plastic chair over to the other side of the bed. He sat and rolled up his sleeve.
The nurse rubbed alcohol on the crook of his elbow, then inserted a needle. Soon, blood was streaming through a tube into Belinda.
After about ten minutes, her face took on some color. She opened her eyes, saw the nurse, and smiled. “You came back.”
“Yes.” The nurse nodded, smiling back at her. “And someone else has come to help you.”
Her eyes widened when she noticed Gregori. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to help.”
Her gaze shifted to the tube inserted in her arm. “You’re giving me vampire blood?” She stiffened. “I won’t become a vampire, will I?”
“No,” Gregori assured her. “It won’t harm you in any way.”
“You will be fine,” the nurse said softly. “Trust me.”
“I do,” she replied.
The nurse smiled and motioned toward Gregori. “You can trust him, too.”
Belinda gave him a curious look.
“This will be enough.” The nurse disconnected them, then smoothed a bandage over Belinda’s puncture. He stuck another bandage on Gregori’s arm.
“Thank you.” Gregori rolled down his sleeve.
Belinda looked over at Abigail asleep on the couch, then turned back to Gregori. “You broke her heart.”
“I know. I’m . . . trying to mend it.”
“By mending me?” She smiled. “I do feel much better.”
“I’m glad.” He sighed. “I should have helped you earlier. I’m sorry.”
“Abby told me you were trying to protect your people, that you feared they would be hunted down for their blood.”
He nodded. “I was afraid to trust her.”
“I can understand that. I know from being close to my husband that it can be a heavy burden when the safety of so many people depends on your decisions. You must have felt torn between two worlds.”
“Abigail is my world. I know that now.” He glanced at her on the couch. “I would do anything for her.”
Belinda took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I have to admit I wasn’t thrilled when I realized she was in love with you. But the more she talked about you, the more I understood why she fell for you.”
He felt a surge of hope. “She speaks well of me?”
Belinda smiled. “On and off. She’s been very angry, but as much as she fusses about you, she defends you at the same time. She said you saved her life. You stepped in front of her and took two daggers in the back that were meant for her.”
Gregori nodded. “I love her.”
Belinda reached over and patted his hand. “If you can win her back, you will have my blessing.”
“Thank you.” He squeezed her hand, then stood. “I have something for Abby. Can you make sure she gets it?” He removed the package from his coat pocket and handed it to Belinda.
“Thank you, Gregori. Thank you for bringing her home safely.”
He nodded. “Good night.” He put on his coat and noticed the nurse was still there, standing by the door. “Thank you for your help.” He started to release him from mind control, then realized it wasn’t there.