* * *
Jenn heard Jonny’s door close, and the sound woke her from her light sleep. He’d assigned her the room beside his. She rose, having slept fully clothed out of fear Xander would attack her in her sleep. Jonny’s form disappeared around a corner as she emerged, and she trotted after him. He was dressed for the cold, snowy night. Jenn wore nothing more than a vest to keep her core warm, preferring for her arms to be unencumbered.
The hallways were quiet and vacant, and she followed Jonny into the dark night. The windows of the compound at the peak of the mountain were protected by film to keep light from leaking out. Only the reflection of the white snow and grey sky provided light once she stepped outside. Jonny’s feet crunched in the snow until he reached the rocky area on the west side of the mountain. Jenn waited until he was far enough ahead that he wouldn’t hear her before she trailed.
The Black God picked his way through the rocks and crags before disappearing into the forest. Cold wind whipped snow against her face. She lost sight of him and hurried her step. For half an hour, Jenn tried to find his trail. She paused to listen, looked at the ground, and changed directions three times before she heard the sound of water flowing. Instincts took her in the direction of the stream, and she reached the top of a shallow ravine in whose valley the stream flowed. Most of it had frozen in the coldness that made Jenn’s breaths hang in the air.
Jonny was on a low, flat rock, making love to a woman writhing in pleasure beneath him. Jenn watched, confused, until he lowered his head to her neck. The woman jerked beneath him and clawed at the Black God draining her blood. Her body went still, and Jonny threw his head back, pure pleasure on his face and blood dripping down his chin.
“He made his choice.” Xander’s voice was quiet. His warm body materialized beside her.
Jenn couldn’t speak. She knew what vamps were and what they did; it was why she hated them. She’d hoped … she’d wanted Jonny to be different. Jonny was only accepting the path he’d already chosen, but it was a difficult pill for her to swallow.
“Did you make him do this, or was it really his choice?” she asked at last.
“It is as it should be.” Xander’s eyes glinted as he gazed down at Jonny. “Your pity is a weakness.”
“I mourn the loss of what made him human,” she returned. “I know you can’t understand that.”
“He was never human to begin with.” His gaze shifted to her.
“You don’t have to be a human to have a human trait,” she said and looked up at him.
“Interesting. Human or vamp, he had a choice. All of them do.”
“So do I. I choose to kill those that hurt others. Creatures like you, whose hearts I would cut out with my nails if I had nothing else.”
“I look forward to it.” The slow smile, the one that made her shiver, spread across his face.
“Anytime, shithead,” she said. “You got twenty-five days left.”
“You’ll start to feel your world shrinking soon, Guardian. I disabled your beacon and removed your weapons from your room. I’ll be watching the wolves circle you.”
“I’m not afraid of you, Xander.”
“I’d be disappointed if you were.” He turned and walked away.
Jenn watched him go. The creature walking away from her wanted something, and she couldn’t figure out what. He could have her killed or sent her away at his wish, but he didn’t. Her eyes returned to Jonny, who was lapping up what was left of the dead woman’s blood.
Hardening, Jenn turned away and retreated through the forest and rocks to the compound. As she hopped the short distance from rocks to the ground leading up to the compound, she caught the silhouettes of two men against the cloudy sky. One was plainly Xander by his size, and the profile of the second was familiar to her. He glowed with a different sort of power. For a moment, she wondered if Darian had followed her here, too, like he did everywhere else.
She crept near enough to make out the second man’s features and was surprised to see the White God’s commander of the Eastern Hemisphere, Jule. Half a head shorter than Xander, Jule was speaking quietly to the vamp, whose arms were crossed and head tilted in consideration.
“Jenn?”
She turned at Jonny’s voice. The Black God absorbed the darkness around him, glowing eerily. He smelled of fresh blood.
“Hi, Jonny,” she said softly. “Trouble sleeping?”
“A little. You?”
“Yes. I thought a walk would help,” she lied. “How are you feeling?”
“I feel … good. Real good. Alive. Must be the winter air.”
“Yeah, Jonny. I noticed it, too.” Her eyes went to the rocks. The two silhouettes were gone. “It’s a bit chilly for me. Do you need anything?”
“No, no, I won’t keep you,” he said quickly. “I think I’ll stay out for a little while.”
“Stay safe,” she said and returned to the compound. Her heart felt heavy as she walked away from the Black God, aware he’d crossed a point of no return. Jenn returned to her room and flipped on the lights. It looked untouched, but a quick search revealed the only weapons remaining were those she’d taken when she left her room, and the beacon was gone.
I’ll be watching the wolves circle you.
She went to lock her door, only to find the lock had been removed. Xander was playing games with her, like the bored predator he was. She’d just have to play smarter.