Page 138 of An Oath at Midnight

Bram grabbed the front of his shirt, and they snarled in each other’s faces. “Not happening—”

I rested my hand on his forearm. “B, it’s okay.” Then I looked at Ender. “I’d do it, but I’m not sure how? My blood gets anywhere near you, I’m pretty sure it’ll kill you.”

Ender flashed his fangs. “We’re already dead, sweetheart. You can touch me all you like.”

I hadn’t thought of that.

I’d broken my last blood vow, and everything had gone to shit afterward. Nerves filled me, but what choice did I have? And there wasn’t a chance in hell I’d break this one. I didn’t know if vampires had souls or not, but they were the undead. “Fine, let’s do it.” I pulled my blade from my pocket and made a slice in my palm before I changed my mind.

Bram closed in behind me, his front pressed to my back, and his arm came around me, locking around my middle. I didn’t have to turn around to know he was staring Ender down. But I guess if it kept my new, seriously protective mate under control, I wasn’t going to argue.

Ender cut his own palm, then held out his hand. “Take it and repeat what you said.”

I pressed my palm to his, and he curled his fingers around mine firmly. “You have my word that your blood won’t be used against you in any way, and I’ll destroy whatever’s left.”

He nodded his approval and released my hand. “You got something for me to put it in?”

I pulled a vial from my bag. He took it, sliced his wrist and filled it, corked it and handed it back. He covered the cut with his mouth, and when he pulled his hand away, the slice had already sealed. “Use it wisely, little witch.”

I carefully put it in my pack, and when I looked up, Ender was swiping his tongue over his palm.

His eyes flashed. “Fuck, you taste good. You ever wanna return the favor, I’ll accept a donation from you anytime.”

Bram growled, viciously, and slammed his fist into Ender’s face. The vampire’s head jerked back and blood sprayed from his nose. He laughed, flashing blood-coated teeth and fangs.

Bram grabbed my hand and towed me toward the door.

“We’re square now, crow,” Ender called after us. “Don’t forget that.”

CHAPTER 34

Magnolia

The hospital was easy enough to get into, but Chase’s room, not so much. He had a guard stationed in front of the door.

Bram eyed me, then the guard, from our current spot down the hall. The nurse’s uniform I’d acquired was a little on the tight side.

“Did it work? Do I look different?” I said, holding my bag containing the potion I’d carefully mixed.

He frowned. “Yes. I don’t like it.”

I had enough of Ender’s blood to work another spell. One where I could take on someone else’s likeness. I just had to keep a personal item of theirs with me at all times. I’d broken into a few lockers and found a necklace that belonged to one of the nurses and, presto-chango, I was now Nurse McGill.

This was another spell the council didn’t approve of. It was outlawed when they first came to be. It was definitely on the dark side of the magic spectrum, and if Death hadn’t used his mojo on me and made me one of his minions, this spell alone probably would have tipped my internal scale into the pool of terrors Agatheena spoke of. Using my magic to infiltrate Chase’s comatose brain and ferret around in his memories? Yeah, that would’ve definitely done it.

“Time to go,” Bram said.

A nurse had left Chase’s room a short time ago, so I’d have some time before another one showed up. I lifted to my tiptoes to give Bram a kiss, and he jerked his head back.

I grinned up at him. “Sorry, forgot.”

“I’m sure Nurse McGill’s a nice lady, but no kissing until you have your face back, yeah?”

“Roger that.” I patted him on the butt, and he jumped. I grinned. “Right, see you in a couple minutes.”

Bram shook his head at me, and I strode toward the guard. “Hey,” I said when I reached him.

He smiled and instantly stepped aside. I walked into Chase’s room and shut the door behind me. Piece of cake.