Page 58 of Tainted Souls
“Yes, but they’ll respect you, too. Now, they see your restraint as weakness. Something to mess with.”
I slid the dagger back into its sheath, considering her words. “I don’t want to be feared.”
“But they want to be slayers, so it’s their responsibility to overcome their fear, not yours.”
“I guess you’re right.”
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Spar with me.”
“Now?” I glanced at my side.
“It’s almost healed.” She shrugged off her jacket. “Come on, just like the old days. Fair and square.”
That was the thing about Lexa: never backing down from a challenge. In fact, she sought them out as a means to improve. Bravery was one way to describe it. Inspiring, that’s how I would. She would carve herself raw if it meant coming out stronger. My dhampir nature, therefore, served as an asset rather than a liability to her, and I admired her for that—for seeing strength where others saw only danger. I still do. Which is why, to this day, she remains one of the few people I genuinely respect.
The transport begins its descent toward Penn City’s medical center, the same one I broke Max out of hours earlier. My stomach knots at the thought of facing the consequences of that decision.Oh, well.
It touches down with a gentle thump on the roof, where a team of officers and medical personnel await us. Max is transferred to a gurney, still unconscious, though his color has improved. He’s then wheeled away to a specialized vampire rehab facility where they’ll monitor him until they can determine the extent of his sire’s influence and further help him adjust to his new physiology.
General Lee steps into view at the rooftop door, his expression grim as he approaches. “Miss Rosen,” he acknowledges before turning to Lexa. “Well done, Captain Ventura.”
“Thank you, General,” she says with a fractional bow, then turns to me. “I guess this is goodbye.”
I give the general a look, hoping he’ll grant me and Lexa a moment of privacy before escorting me to my punishment.
“Five minutes,” he says, walking to wait at the door.
“For now,” I tell Lexa. “We should catch up sometime.”
Lexa shifts her weight, her hand resting on her weapon holster—a habit I remember from our academy days. “When you aren’t being hunted or bleeding out? Sounds like a plan.”
A ghost of a smile touches my lips. “That might be never.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to make time between disasters.” She pulls a sleek black card from her pocket and presses it into my palm. “My private line. Use it if you needanything.”
I turn the card over, noting the absence of the Redmoore insignia.
This isn’t official. It’s personal.
“Why would you help me? After all this time?” I ask.
Her expression softens, momentary vulnerability cracking through the mask of her professional veneer. “Because we never know when someone’s time is up. We should try our best while we still can.” She steps back as the rooftop winds whip around us, composure returning as quickly as it slipped. “Take care, Seraph. And keep a close watch on that boyfriend of yours. First few weeks of transition are unpredictable.”
“You too, Lex. It was good to see you again.”
She nods once before turning to join her team, straight-backed and imperturbable, just as she was at twelve. Only once do I look back while making my way over to the rooftop door where the general is waiting for me.
CHAPTER 12
THE POLICE STATIONis a hive of activity, even at this late hour, with officers moving purposefully through the corridors, some of them giving me curious glances as I’m being led to an interrogation room.
Inside, Chief Penn waits, her expression grave as she gestures for me to sit.
“Seraph Rosen,” she says, sliding her tablet across the table that displays a list of my charges. “Breaking a newly-turned vampire out of medical observation is a serious offense. Your fine for the hospital breach will be eighty-thousand.”
Not bad. That’s equivalent to the capture of about sixteen vampires with a manageable threat level, which means any vampire that’s not on RedNet’s wanted list. I could make that happen in a couple of days.
She highlights the next charge with a firm tap of her finger. “Crossing country borders without proper authorization has landed you in more trouble than just losing a chunk of credits.The specifics of your penalty are still under review, but you’re not getting off easy this time.”
