Page 152 of Vampire's Choice

It seemed a lifetime before she could speak, and yet there’d never be enough time in the universe before she’d be prepared to say the words she said now.

“How…” she said, her face still buried in his feathers.

“You don’t need to know that.”

“You know I do.”

“It was quick.”

“His body is still there?”

“Yes.”

She swallowed noisily. “No one would have gotten close enough to stake him.”

“No.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. Decapitation. Horrible, but a quick death, as Merc said.

“Your mother is next to him. It appears she was able to crawl to him before she succumbed.”

The third mark bond between vampire and servant meant if the vampire died, the servant died with him, within minutes.

“My brother…”

“Mikhael, the Dark Guardian, is trying to locate them. Catriona is at Club Atlantis. She will continue to try her mind link with your brother until he’s in range.”

“I need to see them. I have to see them. So when he comes, I can tell him.”

“All right. I’ll take you to them now.”

She lifted her head, stared at him with a swollen face and glassy eyes. He slid a strand of hair away from her damp mouth, his hands as gentle as they’d ever been. She didn’t want him to be gentle, but she couldn’t bring herself to reject the touch. “Why now, and not a few moments ago?”

“Yvette made some adjustments. She said there were some things no one should see. She was making it…”

Easier? Better? She saw him roll over the different words, none of them right. Not even close. She shook her head, relieving him of the need to try.

Merc took her back to the house. When they landed at the steps again, she stared at the wreckage. There was blood spatter on the porch boards. The chair Chumani had made was twisted out of shape and hanging on the jagged teeth of a shattered front window.

Ruth started up the steps and stumbled. When Merc would have lifted her again, she held him at arm’s length. With dull despair, she knew if it became too much, he would take her away.

I’m begging you. Stand with me, so it doesn’t become too much. I need to do this.

He touched her face, and wouldn’t let her move until she looked up at him. He wouldn’t let her shut him out. I’ll honor that request. I promise.

It helped, in a terrible way she’d never be able to explain. Maybe the closest attempt would be what Kaela had said. He can overpower you, but he doesn’t overpower those things you need him to respect.

Ruth moved into the house. The smell of blood, death and violence became stronger. It was so silent. The house was never silent. The grandfather clock had been knocked over in the struggle, so its ticking was missing. The house cats…she reached out and found their life energy. Still here. Hiding. She would help them shortly.

Furniture was destroyed, more windows shattered. Some of the glass was inside, crunching under her shoes. The fight had moved to the porch and back inside again, combatants breaking through both sets of front windows.

As she approached the kitchen, knowing that was where they were, her gaze dropped to the bloodstained floor. Her father’s feet jutted out from behind the island. The frayed cuffs of his jeans, his work shoes. The tread was worn at the toe and heel. He’d mentioned needing to order some more.

She didn’t know how long she stood there, but she was aware of Merc by her side. His hand rested on the small of her back, fingers curled in her waistband, under her T-shirt. She was shaking, yet under that, she’d turned to stone.

She felt like she could hear the echo of her mother’s anguished scream. She imagined that last moment. Had her father had a chance to fix his gaze upon Elisa? Remind her in that last second the bond would never end, that they would go into eternity together?

She lurched forward, around the island. The blood smears marked where her mother had pulled herself across the floor to reach Mal’s side. Ruth didn’t want her eyes to reach the end of that journey, but they went there anyway.