Hourglass

“What?”

“That is not something I want to do,” Lucas said, every word intent, “but if the choice is between a quick death or a slow one after being worked over by those guys for a week? I’d pick the quick death every time.”

“There has to be another way,” I insisted. The stakes were even higher than I’d feared.

“I’ll try to think of something.” But he didn’t sound hopeful, and my worry flared into anger.

“Do you really care so little about what happens to Balthazar? Or do you want him out of the way, just because he cares about me, and he and I almost—”

I cut myself off too late. From the glare Lucas gave me, I knew he understood what I’d been referring to: One night during the spring, after Lucas and I had broken up, the attraction between me and Balthazar had flared into passion. We had drunk each other’s blood and might have gone on to sleep together if we hadn’t been interrupted. When Lucas and I reunited, I’d confessed everything, and so far it hadn’t been an issue. Lucas knew that he was the one I truly loved.

So I shouldn’t have accused Lucas of being willing to watch Balthazar die merely out of jealousy. I knew it was false, and all I’d done was hurt Lucas by reminding him of how close Balthazar and I had become.

Lucas said only, “Low blow.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Tentatively, I brushed a lock of Lucas’s hair away from his face.

He didn’t push me away, but he didn’t relax into my touch, either. “This isn’t going to help us get him out, but—come on.”

Lucas led me into the station, where Milos and one other hunter stood guard. Balthazar, still sitting on the floor with his hands chained, didn’t look up. When the guards turned to us, Lucas said, “Hey, you guys take a break. We’ll watch him for a few.”

Milos shrugged. “Why would I do that?”

“Because this bloodsucker went after my girl.” Lucas pulled me against him possessively. Almost imperceptibly, Balthazar tensed. “And I’d like to…discuss that with him. In private.”

The other guard chuckled meanly, and Milos slowly rose, nodding. I didn’t like his smile. “Indulge yourself. For the next few minutes, I’m just outside getting a breath of air. Have at.”

“Thanks, man.” Lucas stared malevolently at the silent Balthazar until the door had shut behind them. Then he said, “Bianca, stand by the door. If they come back or somebody else walks up—”

“I’m on it.”

Balthazar finally lifted his head. He looked worse than in pain; he looked sad. “Come to gloat?”

Lucas snapped, “No, dumb ass, I’m trying to figure out how to get you free. You want to help with that, or would you rather mope around for a while before your inevitable painful death? Your call.”

“Wait,” Balthazar said, hope dawning. “You’re here to help?”

I went to the door, though I was unwilling to be so far from Balthazar. “Are you hurting? Did they do anything to you?”

“Bianca, what are you doing with these people? This is too dangerous for you.” How typical of Balthazar, to ignore the deep trouble he was in and worry about somebody else. “They can’t know who and what you are.”

“No, they don’t.” My voice was pitched at a whisper, so nobody downstairs might awaken and hear it. Thank goodness they were probably too tired to be roused even by an explosion.

“We’re sort of stuck with them right now until we can get some money and get away on our own.”

Balthazar turned toward Lucas, who was testing the strength of the metal railing Balthazar was chained to. Unfortunately, it looked sturdy. “You have to get her out of this. Immediately. Don’t worry about the damned money. Just go.”

“Easy to say,” Lucas said. “Hard to do, particularly when you’ve got to take care of somebody else.”

“Can’t you get the handcuffs off?” I pleaded. “They said it would be a while before they came back. That’s plenty of time for Balthazar to get away. We could say he overpowered us.”

Lucas shook his head. “There’re guards set up all around here. The only place that isn’t guarded is the river, and given the whole running water problem, I’m guessing Balthazar can’t swim out of here.”

Wincing, Balthazar said, “Absolutely not.”

“I’ll think of something,” Lucas said. He sounded like he was trying to make himself believe it. “Why did you join this little hunting party, anyway? Didn’t think you were Mrs. Bethany’s errand boy.”

“Hardly.” Balthazar groaned. “But she said Bianca was here and I thought—I thought she might be in trouble. The kind of trouble I’m in now.”

He’d run into unimaginable danger because he was afraid for me. That made this all my fault. Touched by his devotion, but angry with myself, I leaned my head against the doorjamb and shut my eyes for a second.

I heard Balthazar say, “So why are you helping me out, Lucas? Last time I checked, you still believed in the war against vampires.”

“You haven’t checked lately, have you?” Lucas replied.

“Besides—you’d help Bianca, no matter what. That means I help you, no matter what.”

Lifting my head, I saw Lucas and Balthazar regarding each other. For the first time, there was real respect in Balthazar’s eyes. “Okay.”