Page 40 of Salvation
She moved to the back of the station again, where Luna was hiding. This place wasn’t big but there was a small office in the back that was windowless so no one could see in. Still, it was only a matter of time before someone came in and checked.
“What’s going on?” Luna was so pale, if Aurora didn’t know better, she’d swear a vampire had nearly drained her dry.
“I will not lie. The men are cuffed and for some reason, Wolfe can’t break free. Oh, and I have no power and I have no idea why.” She hadn’t bothered to tell Wolfe that she had snuck to the window and tried to freeze the outlaws outside. It didn’t work. It should have. Glass had never stopped her before.
Luna stood from the chair she had been sitting in. “There seems to be a very obvious reason you have no power. I mean, if Wolfe can’t break free of the bonds they put him in, they’ve figured out a way to weaken vampires.”
“But what does that have to do with me?”
“You two are connected.”
She didn’t mean to roll her eyes. After all, the situation seemed dire, but the eye roll swept over her, anyway. “I had this power before Wolfe and I bonded.”
“Maybe, but he is your sire and that might be why you had the power before. Now that you two are mated, the dynamics might have changed. I would say since he is subdued, it is affecting you in some way.”
“How did you get so smart?”
Luna shrugged. “So many weird things have happened since the Red Death. I just figure anything is possible.”
The sound of engines starting interrupted their conversation. Was it possible they were leaving without checking the building? She reached for her mental connection.
Wolfe?
They are taking us, Aurora. Something about a test to see if we are really human.
What the fuck does that mean?Her heart beat faster in her chest.
They say they have a way to force a vampire to reveal themselves. I’m so sorry. I’ve reached out to Xavier to let him know they need to come for you.
She raced to the front of the small station and watched as the vehicles pulled away, Wolfe and Noah now in the back seat of the Jeep they had ridden here in. Reaching for the dirty glass, she placed her fingertips on it and let the warmth seep into her because she was cold. So very cold. They had just taken the man she loved more than her own life, and she and Luna were left with nothing. All their supplies were inside that jeep. She backed away and looked around at the empty shelves. Nothing but dust and vermin shit coated them now. Their contents no doubt pillaged long ago.
“How fucked are we?” Luna appeared at the end of the aisle.
“We have nothing, and they have been taken to be tested.”
“Tested?”
“Wolfe said they claim to have a way to force a vampire to reveal themselves.” She faced Luna. “They appear to be vampire haters.”
Luna wrapped her arms around her belly as best as she could. “What now?” The panic on her face gutted Aurora.
“Xavier will come for us. Meanwhile, we stay put until help arrives.”
Luna wiped sweat from her brow, and Aurora prayed help came soon. It was hot and only going to get hotter before it became freezing cold. None of which was going to be ideal for a human, and especially one carrying another life inside her.
“Where’s Lilith, anyway? I thought she was attached to your hip.”
“Good fucking question.” She had not seen her friend in over a week. Lilith knew they were making this trip, yet she was nowhere to be found. Had something happened? While Lilith had done her vanishing act before, she had vowed to go wherever Aurora did since they had moved into the hotel. If ever there was a time she needed her friend, this was one of them.
She moved away from the window. “How are you feeling?”
“Hot and thirsty, but I’m okay.” Luna looked around. “This place is disgusting.”
“Indeed, it is.” She went in search of a broom she thought she had spotted in a corner. After locating it, she decided the coolest part of the building was a small storeroom on the north side where the block wall was cool.
“I’m going to sweep this room out. Open the front door, and for fuck's sake, do not inhale this shit!”
Luna was quick to find a battered wooden chair and propped the door open, then held her arm over her nose and mouth while Aurora created a small dust storm. There was nothing else she could do other than try to make Luna as comfortable as possible until help arrived. She wanted to reach out to Wolfe again, but the fear inside her kept her from doing so. First get Luna situated, then she would see if she still had a connection to the man who had taken a piece of her soul with him.
