Page 58 of The Shadow of the Count
Clark stared at him until he did as Clark asked.
“Good man.” Clark began to read, his voice pleasant, rising and falling gently. The book was an old novel, and he heard a few sighs from the rest of the ward, happy sounds that meant others needed distraction as well.
Peter closed his eyes and comforted himself with the fact that Don was asleep and not yet able to blame him for this nonsense.
He took one deep breath, then another, and let Clark’s voice lull him into sleep.
Nineteen
Donnie couldn’t sit here another moment. They had released Peter, and he had the feeling that Jeb, Yvgeny, and Peter were plotting to chase the count across Europe. He had escaped, apparently, and taken his coffin and earth with him, heading back to Romania where he had the high ground.
He couldn’t bear the thought of them leaving him, heading into danger.
He had to find them, to make them take him with them.
“Donnie?” Douglas’s voice was a mere whisper. “Where are you going?”
He almost jumped out of his skin. “Shh…go back to sleep.”
“Where are you going?” His brother was never one to let him run off without an explanation.
Charles lifted his head from the side of Douglas’s bed. “Donnie? What’s going on?”
“I have to go before Clark and Jeb leave me here.”
“No. No one will leave you. We’re working together.”
“They will. They all feel guilty. I’ve seen it on their faces. I have to go, Douglas.” He couldn’t let Peter leave him again. He just couldn’t.
“You can’t sneak out in the middle of the night like a thief!” Douglas sounded aghast. “You’re still ill!”
“I’ve been bled by a—avampire, Douglas. This is not something they can really help with here at a hospital.”
“Rest is so important,” Charles said.
He stared Charles down. “When you were being possessed by a mummy, did you want to wait to be rid of him?”
“No, of course not, but how many times did you all send me to bed, to nap, to rest?”
Donnie blinked, then smiled slightly. “A lot. You’ve grown some teeth.”
“I’ve had to.” Charles threw his hands up in frustration. “You’re all unbearable.”
“Don’t leave me, Donnie. Not yet.” Douglas’s blue eyes pleaded with him. “I need you still. Just for a day or two.”
“Just for a day or two but swear to me Peter is still in London.”
“Clark and Jeb would not leave without a team meeting. And they picked him up this afternoon just to keep him from running.” Douglas seemed so certain. “They’ll be here at the crack of dawn. Sleep.”
He hesitated, but then he nodded, slipping off his shoes to go back to bed. If he trusted anyone, it was his brother. Douglas wouldn’t lie to him. The others? Yes, in a heartbeat. Not Douglas. And he was so damn tired.
“That’s right. We need to rest. Things are always better in the light.”
“Always,” he echoed. His body felt so heavy. So worn.
“Always, brother. Sleep. Charles will watch.”
“Thank you, Charles. I’m sorry…” He left it at that. Donnie was sorry for so many things, the least of which was snapping at Charles. He closed his eyes, saying a prayer that Peter was still waiting for him.
