Page 79 of Bad Moon Rising
Roman could almost feel the angel tattoo on his shoulder burn, not that it was possible. But…who knew why it had appeared after his first meeting with the angel? “Is that what this is about? You want me to call the angel to help you with something? Fair warning, he was cranky and evasive. Actually, he’s sort of like you. So, maybe you two would hit it off.” Roman relaxed against the side of the van, although he remained tense.
“I’m merely pointing out that your purpose in this life isn’t to disappear into some hole and forget the world. You’re an authentic protector. A defender of the innocent. That, Roman, is why I helped you. The three of you think you’re alone in this fight, but you’re not. You’re sent on these bloody errands by people who have no concept of what you face and, yet, you do it. You save all of us—yes, even my people—from these evils, some of whom even we at the Alliance wouldn’t know how to deal with. How do you know what to do?”
“Research.” Roman shrugged, not into revealing real secrets. “Everything you need to know is in books.”Sort of.
“You fight for a greater good. There are many who would come to your aid if you asked, including the Alliance.”
“Would you?” Roman watched Antonio closely, not detecting any sign of deception.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
“You never seemed the altruistic type.”
“Do you know how to end the curse?” Flynn asked, breaking his silence. He’d been studying Antonio, and given he was good at figuring out beings meant he had a fairly high suspicion that the vampire had the answer.
Antonio blinked. And blinked again. He compressed his lips.
“Did Shane get free?” Roman rasped out, more desperate to know if his brother escaped than if he could get free of the curse himself. To know Shane hadn’t died in the explosion and might’ve survived to live a real life. That he could make personal choices and have things—like all he wished for with Nova—while no longer bound to the monarch made him…damn, that was hope, something he hadn’t felt in a long time. There was also a huge slab of jealousy. And anger. If Shane lived, why hadn’t he made contact?
The van slowed. Antonio rotated his head to look toward the front of the vehicle. “I’m afraid our time together is at an end.”
Roman felt lightheaded. Spots appeared in the periphery of his vision. He could barely whisper out, “Did Shane send you to follow us? Is he part of your Alliance?”
Chills tingled down Roman’s arms. He fought the urge to attack the vampire and force an answer.
The vampire wouldn’t look at him. He avoided. “You face a difficult decision, Roman. You’ve been ordered to kill her. One of you must die. I see no possible way the monarch will let you out of this, not with FenCor pulling his strings.”
“We’ve gotten them to change their minds before with proof of innocence.”
“Even if you have ironclad proof she doesn’t deserve death, they may make you do it. The monarch is neck-deep in FenCor, who I think owns these facilities. They want her dead because I think she came out of one of them. You must choose who loses. I suggest you let it be her who dies.” He didn’t even look toward Nova. No hint of sorrow.
The van door slid open. Eerily, no one stood outside, holding it open.
“Get out,” Antonio directed. “Take the car parked on the street. It’s untraceable. It’s yours.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“The vampire told us nothing, except he’s not exactly against us,” Flynn said.
“Typical vampire equivocation. Now we have a new lead to chase down in figuring out something called the Alliance.” Roman stared into the dark night from the passenger seat.
“You two need to work out who’s living and who’s dying. This ends now. The curse is pushing me to end you, Nova, which I can’t…” Flynn hissed and shuttered his eyes. “I have to leave. If one of us is going to do it, it has to be Roman because you and him…” Flynn parked the car in front of a hotel at the northern Belgian border. He didn’t look at either of them as he kept the car idling, waiting for them to exit. “If you’re the survivor, Roman, I’ll see you in London for our recall. Tomorrow at noon. Tickets will be at the train station for you for tomorrow at six-ish in the morning under your standard alias for travel. Four hours to London.”
“Flynn…” Roman squeezed his brother’s shoulder before he opened his door. For an instant their eyes met, Flynn’s filled with misery.
“I know you’ll do what’s right,” Flynn said hoarsely. “But I don’t want…” He dropped his head. “I don’t know if Ky and I can do this without you.”
What’s right?
Protect Nova.
Roman stared out the windshield into the black night at the Belgian border hotel. It was middle grade. Not five stars, but not a shit hole in the wall. He said, “Fight hard. Fight right.”
“Fight to the end.” Flynn’s voice shook as he finished the mantra the brothers came up with years ago. He lifted his fist.
Roman bumped fists and got out of the car.
“Thank you, Flynn.” Nova leaned through the seats from the back and kissed him on the cheek before she got out. Roman strained to hear but could’ve sworn she said, “He’s going to be okay.”
