Coral McCallum

Keeping his wings securely folded around them, Jem paused to take a deep breath. The unconscious dark angel was a dead weight in his arms, and he knew he couldn’t hold her for much longer. Praying that he had made the right decision, he slowly unfurled his wings and looked anxiously round the room they’d arrived in.

“A welcome surprise,” commented Stefan from his seat by the fire.

“Help me,” Jem gasped. “I can’t hold her for much longer.”

Without hesitation, the senior vampire was on his feet and moved swiftly to lift the dark angel into his arms. She stirred but didn’t regain consciousness.

“Thank you,” breathed Jem, feeling more than a little lightheaded.

“Help yourself to wine,” offered Stefan as he carefully laid the stricken vampiress on the chaise that sat beneath the window. Gently, he laid a soft fur across her. “Can I assume that neither your mother nor my daughter knows that you are here?”

“When I don’t return, they’ll soon figure it out,” replied Jem as he poured himself a generous goblet of wine.

“Meryn is my most skilled healer,” commented Stefan, coming to join him by the fire. “Sit, son. Please.”

“I think we’ll need her,” stated Jem as he took a seat. “Anna’s in a bad way.”

“So I see” nodded the head of the Court of the Elders. “I’ll be honest, I had my doubts when Trine and your mother told the court about how broken Anna was. I was wrong to doubt them.”

“She was in a bad way when I found her tonight. Worse than she’s been for weeks.”

“Found her? I thought she was staying in your home?” quizzed Stefan, looking confused.

“She was,” replied Jem. “When you summoned my mother and Trine back here, Anna attacked me and took off. My mother said she used magic.” He paused, not wanting to reveal his mother’s secrets, then continued, “I went to look for her. Found her lying in an old stone watch tower a couple of miles away. She passed out when I picked her up.”

“And you chose to bring her here instead of to your beach home?” Stefan stared at the younger vampire with one eyebrow raised quizzically.

Jem nodded. Indicating the slashes on his cheek, he said, “I did it to protect my mother and your daughter. Anna’s dangerous. Unhinged.”

Stefan nodded, “You acted wisely and with bravery, Jeremiah.”

Jem flinched at the sound of his full given name.

“I won’t kill her while she’s injured,” he stated with a soft defiance. “You need to help her. Heal her.”

“Did you even have a plan for killing her?” challenged Stefan, wholly suspecting that the younger man would have no answer for him.

“Yes. I was going to trick her into drinking some of my blood. Its poisonous to her but I know that she’s attracted by it,” he replied plainly.

“Curious. Why would your blood be toxic to her?” mused Stefan.

“She said something once about a common bloodline.”

“Possible. Interesting. I need to give that more consideration,” Stefan acknowledged. “For now, though, she needs a healer, and you need rest. “

Before Jem could reply, he rang a small bell and one of his household stewards appeared almost instantly.

“Please show our guest to his chamber. Same apartments as last time he visited us. Unlock the door to the private sitting room too,” instructed Stefan. “Jem, I’ll send for you in the morning. We have a lot to discuss. Go. Rest. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her.”

“You promise not to harm her?”

“I promise,” assured Stefan sincerely. “You have my word. I’ll have her carried to a secure suite of rooms. You can see her in the morning.”

“Thank you.”

Fatigue threatened to overwhelm Jem as he followed the young steward through the maze of corridors and stairwells to his room. When he entered the familiar chamber, there was already a fire blazing in the hearth and the room was warm. A previously locked door was open, revealing a small sitting room beyond. He could see that a fire had been lit in there too and that a plate of food sat on the table beside the fireside chair along with a jug of wine and a pewter goblet.

“I’ll bid you goodnight, sir,” said the steward with a small bow. “If you need anything, just ring the bell. Someone will attend you.”

“Thank you.”

“Pleasure, sir.”

Wearily, he wandered through to the small sitting room, poured a goblet of wine then sank into the leather chair with a sigh. As he gazed into the flames dancing in the wide hearth, Jem wondered if he had truly acted wisely.