Starlight(Pact Arcanum 4) by Arshad Ahsanuddin Read Free Book Online Page B

I want.”
    Nick got to his feet, shaking with fury. “Where the hell is that damn doctor?” He walked stiffly out of the room into the main unit.
    The voice continued in Rory’s mind, bridging the gap to Lorcan’s as well, so they could all communicate. “Guys, I’m sorry you had to see that, but you have to understand what you’re up against.”
    “Did you have to treat him like that?” asked Rory. “You could have left him with a little pride.”
    “If he hates me, then he’ll move on faster.”
    “Jesus, Jeremy,” murmured Lorcan. “Are you that cold-blooded?”
    “I’ve been planning this moment for decades. He needs your support. He’ll forgive me for forcing it on him eventually, the same way he’ll forgive me for leaving. But it won’t be easy, and it won’t be soon.”
    “You were certainly quick to volunteer us to take him in,” said Rory.
    The voice sighed. “Guys, I know you care deeply for each other, but you care for him, too. Make it work. Make him remember that he loves you both, just as much he loves me. I can’t love him forever, but you can. Please. Don’t let me die and leave him all alone. I need to know that you’ll do this.”
    Rory took Lorcan’s hand in his and brought it to his lips. “He won’t be alone, Jeremy.”
    “Thank God.” The voice wavered. “Um, guys, can you get one of the doctors in here? I feel suddenly—”
    The virtual screens above the life support machines turned red, all at once, and a piercing tone sounded loudly.
    Rory sprinted to the door as they heard the sound of Jeremy’s heartbeat race. “Nick! Get back here!”
    Nick reentered the room in a blur, pushing his vampire physiology to the limit. He grabbed Jeremy’s hand. “No, Leshir, please! Don’t go!”
    Jeremy was too distracted to limit his focus, so they all heard his words as medical personnel pushed past them and started working. “Promise you’ll remember me?”
    Nick stood perfectly still in the chaos, refusing to be moved from his spot, so the doctors worked around him. “I will never let you go,” he said, quite clearly to Rory’s hearing.
    All three vampires heard when the irregular heartbeat stuttered to a stop.
    Nick let go of Jeremy’s hand and backed away from the bed, not stopping until he came up hard against the inner glass wall that divided the room from the main unit. Rory and Lorcan took up positions on either side of him, and they watched until the doctors stepped back, and the instruments shut down, one by one. The shriek of the alarm cut off suddenly, and the entire scene was shockingly silent.
    Then Nick dropped to his knees and wept.
     

C HAPTER 10
     
    December 2104; House Luscian Stronghold, Sanctuary City, French Alps
    Nick reviewed the latest immigration report. Since Jeremy had reorganized the refugee camp that Castle Night had become into a working community, there had been no shortage of work to keep the fourth Hidden City functional. They still received refugees every day, Nightwalkers and Sentinels trying to escape the war and enter the Armistice Zone. Armistice Security generally kept them cooling their heels in the Castle until they could be thoroughly investigated. Nick agreed with their caution. After all, their failure to be so meticulous in the past almost led to the destruction of Anchorpoint. For the sake of Sanctuary itself, however, Nick made a point of reviewing each application for admission and flagging those he thought might be persuaded to remain here and join the ranks of the city’s permanent residents.
    He looked up at a soft knock, to see Rory standing in door to his office. The Nightwalker looked at the stacks of papers and data tablets strewn on the desk. “Working late again?”
    Nick sighed. “The city doesn’t run itself, you know. This is as much of a full-time job as being Archangel ever was.”
    “You’ve recruited scores of lieutenants to House Luscian. Couldn’t they take some of the load?”
    Nick stretched