“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m not going to try to steal him away from you. He already told me what you’d do to me, which I believe included death and dismemberment.”
“I’m not the jealous type,” she said firmly.
“Good to know.”
She paced over to my messy bed and then back toward the closed door. “But you don’t know what we’ve been through together. I know it’s fast, but I love him so much. And I know he had a thing for you and the only reason you’re not together is that you chose
Thierry.”
Great. Vampires with issues. There are so many of us I think I should start a chat group.
“You’re right.” I shrugged. “Maybe I should have chosen Quinn. He is pretty cute.”
She gave me a dirty look.
I couldn’t help but smile, despite everything. “I’m kidding. Seriously, Janie, the guy is head over heels for you. Besides, Quinn was never really in love with me, and all I felt for him was a deep friendship.”
“Really?”
“Then again, he is an amazing kisser.”
“I think I’m going to kill you.”
Even though she said it half-joking it worked to sober me up a little. “About that…”
“Killing you?”
“Yeah.”
“Go ahead. I’m listening.” Her lips turned up at the sides until she realized I wasn’t kidding. “What is it?”
“My curse isn’t getting any better—as you just witnessed. In fact, it’s heading straight downhill into the Village of the Damned.”
“You don’t think you can learn to control it?”
I shook my head. “Not forever. I have a small grasp on it right now because I’m… well, let’s just say I’m well-fed at the moment. But as soon as my stomach starts to grumble, I’d suggest that everyone should clear out.”
“So what are you going to do?”
“All I can do is try to protect the people I care about. Hell, I need to protect the people I don’t care about, too.” I took a long shuddery breath that I didn’t really need anymore.
“I’ve asked Thierry to stake me if we can’t find a solution to this. If I turn totally bad, then there’s no other choice.”
Her eyebrows went up at that. “You asked him to kill you? And he agreed?”
I nodded and tried to hold back the sudden surge of panic. It did sound horrible, but there wasn’t any other way. If he didn’t stake me personally, the Ring would send their people in to do it, and I’m fairly certain their method wouldn’t include attacking me with fluffy bunnies.
“I have another idea about what you should do,” Janie said.
“What?”
“Stop being a damn chump. Stop accepting all of this bullshit that’s being thrown at you and start fighting for your life.”
I frowned at her. “Is this tough love?”
She shrugged. “It’s my opinion. Take it or leave it. I just think any kind of action is better than sitting around and waiting. In fact, Quinn and I are going to try to find where your buddy Gideon has Amy hidden away right now.”
I felt the reminder of my friend’s impending danger like a third slap in the face. “How did you even know about that?”
“George filled us in when we got here. Since he knows where Gideon’s hotel was, we’re going to start there. It’s better than nothing.” She turned away from me toward the bedroom door.
“Listen, Janie…”
“Yeah?”
“If things take a serious nosedive and Thierry can’t… well, you know… then I want you to…”
The silence weighed heavy for a moment between us.
She nodded firmly. “You won’t even feel it. It’ll be like getting your ears pierced.”
“We are talking about the same thing, aren’t we?”
“My staking you when you turn completely black-eyed, batshit, crazy evil?”
“Yeah, but I remember getting my ears pierced hurt like hell.”
She shrugged. “What can I say? I’m not great with the pleasant analogies. I’ll make it quick, though. Don’t worry.”
Don’t worry? Sure. Easy for her to say. “Well, good. Thanks.”
“Janie,” Quinn said from the doorway. “We’re going to take off and start looking. You’re coming, right?”
“Yeah,” she replied. “Be right there.”
Quinn looked directly at me, and I saw that the disgust and uncertainty in his gaze had been replaced with concern. “You okay?”
“I’m doing my best.”
He nodded. “You need anything, just ask.”
Well, I just asked your fiancée to stake me, I thought. How’s that for a favor?
“I’ll do that,” I said instead.
Janie reached forward without hesitation and touched my shoulder. “You are going to make it, you know.”