Hupotasso (Vampire Bachelor Games #2)

51

51

Taking a deep breath I walk head high, and with a lighter step than I’ve felt in months, past the gauntlet of photographers calling my name and flashing their cameras.

The four human security guards assigned to me flank my every side, but don’t get close enough to touch me. More await inside, but even they can’t dampen my mood as I enter the cool, white interior of the private hospital and let out a deep breath.

I’m pregnant. A tragedy, to be sure. But I’m also free.

Minutes after I’d felt the flutter and snap and managed to hurt myself, something I couldn’t do if I was still under Viper’s control, I’d bound my hand with a handkerchief, tipped ice water on my dress to scrub off the blood, and sat back in the car seat, my thoughts finally my own. And my thoughts, when they came, were steel, tungsten, chromium — all the metals— whatever the hardest metal is, that’s what they were; inflexible and strong.

I don’t care if I have to kill one hundred men today. I don’t care if I have to burn down the hospital. I’m not going back to the castle. Not tonight, not ever.

I snap back to the now as a doctor and a nurse with a clipboard approach, and I school my face not to betray my shock. They’re both wearing masks and full PPE; white jumpsuits, white shoes, caps, gloves and safety glasses, but a whisp or two of the nurse’s long red hair has strayed from under her cap.

I don’t know the nurse. But I’d know the doctor anywhere.

“Lady Dragonspur,” the doctor’s familiar voice says, “if you’ll come this way? You’ll need to don full PPE safety equipment before entering the patient’s room. The risk of infection is too high. All visitors must wear it.”

“Of course,” I nod, following her to a nearby staff change room.

As I reach the doorway the doctor turns to my four security guards, and frowns.

“Her ladyship will need to undress in order to don the garments.”

The guards immediately look embarrassed and stop in their tracks.

I can’t help but grin as I turn and she ushers me and the nurse into the room, locking the door behind us before ripping off her mask and embracing me.

I hold her so tightly I don’t ever want to let her go, but she prises me away and holds me at arm’s length to look into my eyes.

“Do you still want to leave?”

“Is the pope a fucking paedophile?”

She grins, and I put my hand over my mouth to stifle my laugh.

“God I’ve missed you,” she shakes her head, suddenly serious. “Listen carefully. You’re going to swap clothes with this nurse. When you leave this room you need to act like her. Return the clipboard to the front desk and then calmly and slowly walk straight back out the front door, past all the paparazzi, and over to the staff car park. Got it so far?”

I nod, my mouth suddenly dry, heart hammering.

“You’ll walk twelve cars down Row X and get into a dark green Audi. The GPS is programmed. Follow every instruction, EVERY instruction, until you reach your destination. When you reach the safe house sit in the car, lock the doors, and don’t move until you see me. No one else, do you understand, Angie? No one else. Only me. If anyone else approaches, you drive off and phone me. There’s a phone in the car. Got it?”

“I’ve got it, Yin.”