She blew out a shaky breath, letting silence referee. He was hurt, and she understood that. Arguing about it would help neither of them. Maybe one day—after she was gone—maybe he’d understand why she’d not told him. Right now, shock made him want to fight for her because that’s what men like him did. They warred against the things that wronged them, not stopping until they emerged victorious.
What a sucker punch. Bast would turn her because his honor dictated it, but she’d almost be right back to where she was before she’d met him. Alone and without a future, other than the one she begged or stole for herself. If he wasn’t going to be a part of her life after she became a vampire, would it even be worth it?
Of course, the other option meant certain death.
“Wait a minute,” she said, brow furrowed. “What time is it? Have you met with the Council yet?”
“Drew went to make my excuses for last night.”
“Last night?” Her gaze moved to the clock on the wall. A little after two. “Is it after two in the morning?”
“Yes.”
“You shouldn’t have missed it. You should have gone and left me here.” Why would he jeopardize himself like that? From what she’d gathered, the vampires of the Council would not be happy that he’d ignored a summons.
“They don’t matter to me. You’re more important to me than they are. I won’t leave you like this.”
“Don’t be...foolish.”
“Foolish? Why aren’t you taking this seriously? You’re a sick woman, Alice.”
She pursed her lips. “I’ve been sick a long time. Long before I met you.”
“I really don’t think you understand yet.” Sebastian rose. He looked tired as he leaned forward and placed his lips against her forehead. The kiss was chaste and sweet. With a finger, he touched the skin of her cheek. The concern and warmness in his eyes was almost strong enough to make her stomach churn. “Your doctor says you have just one more in you, princess.”
“One more what?”
“They’re afraid that if you have one more grand mal seizure, that it might not stop. And it’ll probably be enough to kill you.”
* * *
Bast left a pale, visibly shaken Alice in the hospital room to step outside while a nurse tended to her. He’d almost gotten violent at the woman’s insistence that he leave. Were it not for Alice’s pleading look, his insistence upon staying might have turned physical. Didn’t give a fuck where they were. He’d take her to see his own physicians if necessary. He still would be, in fact. For now, for her, he’d behave.
He scanned the hallway of the hospital, pissed beyond all hell he even stood there. At this time of night, hardly anyone stirred. Just some janitor mopping the floors, placing yellow hazard signs wherever a wet spot remained. He figured in the daytime, nurses in cutesy scrubs strolled the halls, some carrying charts. A few with syringes or medicine cups in their hands. Doctors probably walked from room to room with a stethoscope hanging about their necks, lab jackets starched into perfect submission.
Right now though, the caustic scent of death and illness surrounded him, and his stomach rolled. Even if he’d been desperate enough to seek food here, most likely it would be tainted with medicines designed to keep the weak living just another day longer.
Alice. His Alice was one of them.
Seeing her fragile body wracked with uncontrollable rigid movements had almost broken him. The sheer helplessness of having to watch while Drew called for medical assistance left him practically rooted to the spot. He hadn’t known what else to do. How to help her. How to stop it. And once here, her body finally at ease, he thought the worst over. Then the doctor had taken one look at her medical records and told him that she’d been suffering the seizures for more than a year now, and his anger had grown to immeasurable.
Why hadn’t she trusted him to know? With everything they’d been through, he hadn’t thought he’d needed to say the words out loud. He thought his actions spoke well enough on his behalf. He loved her. Didn’t she realize it? Until this disaster, he’d thought she might have felt the same.