Page 83 of Midnight Kiss

“That’s right. You are a Guardian, and you will be bonded. Not only will you strengthen me, but you will strengthen yourself. You will not succumb to the book. Unless, of course, I die.”

I trembled. “I won’t. I don’t want to be bonded to anyone. I don’t want to?—”

“Your consent isn’t required.” A silence and shifting of the vampire’s weight beside the table. I turned my head, trying to estimate where he was. “I will return shortly for the ritual. We will need to gather the information before then. Unfortunately, you didn’t read the entirety of the book, it seems, but switched around between the passages and chapters in this creature’s journal. That means that we will need the original copy to perform the ritual. How … troublesome.”

“You’ll never get it,” I said.

Because Alex had taken it to his coven, right? That was what he’d said?

“We will see about that,” Karn said. “Let’s hope that the ritual itself is easy to perform. I assume it won’t be too painful. For me.” And then his footsteps left.

I was alone in the everlasting darkness, panic clawing at my throat.

Please, Alex, help me!

But no one was coming for me. I’d have to find a way out of this myself.

28

ALEXANDER

“You’re sure about that?” Haldren asked, tapping his knuckles on top of his desk. “You’re absolutely sure.”

“Yes,” I snapped. “I don’t have patience for this. You need to report what’s happened to the elders now. Time is running out. Emily is dying because of her connection to the cursed book.” The book Haldren had no idea was still in my possession. That was a secret I’d keep.

Emily needed me, and I had failed her again and again.

She is not yours. She will never be yours.

But this had changed things. Sanguine Nox would bond her or turn her without hesitation. They might even kill her if they couldn’t get what they wanted out of her, and I couldn’t allow that. There was no world in which I would let them take Emily from me.

“I will report this to them,” Haldren said. “They expected you to bring her back.”

“I can’t bring her back because she was taken while I was talking to them. If they hadn’t demanded my presence then this wouldn’t have happened.” The last words came out as a shout.

“Relax. Know your place, soldier.”

I shut my eyes and let Haldren’s words wash over me.

My place.

It felt as if my place was no longer here but with her. And she was about to be bonded by them. I knew it. He had ways of gathering information. He would take it from her, figure out the truth, and then?—

“I’ll contact them. Wait in your apartment until I send word. They might need you for the mission, or they may send someone else.”

“That is unacceptable to me,” I said. “I’m the only one who can help.”

Haldren sighed, scrubbing his palm over his chin. “You’re dismissed, Alexander.”

I exited his office, and it took all of my limited control to keep from slamming the door behind me. I strode off toward the elevator, and Cassia appeared at my side.

“Testy,” she said. “So testy. It’s a pity your sweetheart has been taken, isn’t it?”

“You should stop eavesdropping,” I said. “One of these days, someone will take umbrage at your actions and slice your ears off the sides of your head.”

“Threaten me, Alexander. I love your violent side.”

“Leave me.” I entered the elevator.