Page 111 of Bound by Vengeance
Maggie stepped forward and took Aiden’shand; her gray eyes were filled with concern when they metVicky’s.
“I came out of it fine, and I’ve never onceregretted my choice,” Maggie said.
“What if Nathan doesn’t make it?” Vickywhispered and blinked away the tears filling her eyes.
If he died and she had to be lockedaway….
Her chest constricted with panic. No, she’dnever be locked away again. She’d follow him into death ifsomething went wrong.
“He’ll survive,” Ronan said from thedoor.
Craning her neck to see around Maggie, Vickydiscovered Ronan and Kadence had returned to the room. They nowstood beside Abby and Brian. After learning Nathan decided lastnight was the time to transition, Ronan called in more of his menand trainees to guard the temporary stronghold. It still made heruneasy to have anyone near Nathan right now, but she breathedeasier knowing there were so many here to protect him.
“This is much the way it went with Kadence,”Ronan said.
He rested his hand on the shoulder of hismate, and when his eyes met Vicky’s, she saw the memory ofKadence’s change still haunted him.
“And I’veneverregretted my decisioneither,” Kadence said.
“The change is more difficult for hunters,”Ronan continued. “I’m not sure why. Maybe because their DNA is moresimilar to ours than a human’s is, or maybe they have to go throughmore changes than a human does, but it takes them longer, and theirpain is worse.”
Vicky opened her mouth to reply, butNathan’s next words drew her attention back to him. “Time… infinitetime… everywhere… nowhere.”
Vicky clasped his hand as she rose over him.“What do you mean?” He didn’t respond to her as his eyes movedrapidly behind his closed lids. “Nathan?”
“Kadence spoke of pathways opening when shewas going through the change,” Ronan said.
“Something changed inside me while I wasbecoming a vampire,” Kadence said. “There is somethingintrinsically different about me. I’m not entirely sure what it is,but I canfeelthe difference. Before, I sometimes knewthings, but now I also receive flashes of places and things Icouldn’t possibly know about.
“Unfortunately, most of those flashes aretoo fast for me to grasp. At other times, they’re nothing more thansomeone knocking something over, dropping something, or who willwin a football game.”
“Humans don’t experience anything likethat,” Ronan said.
“I certainly didn’t,” Maggie said.
Brian shook his head when everyone looked athim. “I didn’t either.”
Vicky knew they were trying to offer hercomfort, but none of it would make her feel better until Nathan wasawake and safe.
Then, Nathan’s eyes flew open. Vicky gaspedwhen his burning, white-blue eyes met hers. She’d never seenanything like them before.That can’t be normal!
“Victoria,” he murmured before his eyesclosed and he went still once more.
“Nathan!” she cried and grasped hisshoulders. She started to shake him before realizing it might onlycause him more pain. “Nathan!”
“He’s alive,” Ronan said. “It will geteasier now.”
“But his eyes! Did you see his eyes?” shecried as she spun toward him. “What’swrongwith him?”
“Nothing,” Kadence said. “That’s the colormy eyes become. They don’t turn red like other vampires.Apparently, it happens to all turned hunters as those were also thecolor of Sergei’s eyes in the photo outside of Moscow.”
Vicky had heard about Sergei, but she neversaw the photo, and no one had mentioned the strange eye color toher. She relaxed only a little as she turned her attention back toNathan who remained motionless before her.
CHAPTER 48
Vicky’s eyes fluttered open when a handcaressed her hair. Her taut muscles protested when she jerked herhead off the bed and looked frantically around the room. She’dnever meant to fall asleep. She shouldn’t have! Shehadtokeep watch over Nathan and make sure he stayed safe.
The room was empty, the others having leftwhile she slept. Apprehension clenched her chest, but it faded whena hand ran through her hair again.
