Free Fractured (The Deep in Your Veins Series Book 5) by Suzanne Wright

“Butch, I’ve said this before, but I’m going to say it again. I know this Marco thing will be awkward as shit, but don’t attack him unprovoked. If he acts like a dick, you can growl and snarl and whatever. But don’t lose control. Be smart.” When Butch didn’t argue, Sam nodded her approval. “All right, let’s get moving.”
    She and Jared left the shadows first. The rest of us walked in pairs behind them. The vampires guarding the bridge recognised the mated couple immediately and, appropriately deferential, waved us all through the gates. Jared teleported us straight to the entrance of the castle, startling the guards there. They parted like the red sea, a mixture of awe and fear in their expressions. Yeah, well, everyone knew that Sam and Jared were crazy.
    Stepping through the archway, once again surrounded by all that gothic elegance and the scent of lavender, I should have been transported into the past. I should have been hit by the feelings of helplessness, despair, and confusion that had haunted me here when my human life was so callously stolen from me. There was none of that at all…as if those feelings had all belonged to someone else. Maybe they had. I was a different person now. Stronger. Harder. No longer lost and afraid of what I was.
    I recognised the vampire rushing toward us as Pierce, who closely served Lazarus. He’d been good to me; a sort of uncle-figure who had taught me a lot about the history of vampirekind and what it meant to be a Keja. The image of elegance, he bowed to Sam and Jared. “You do Lazarus a great honour in visiting his home.” I knew Sam would be grinding her teeth—she hated the bowing-thing.
    Pierce peered around them, spotted me, and beamed. “Imani!” Moving to me, he took my hand and kissed it. Beside me, Butch stiffened. “You look radiant. Lazarus and Annalise are thrilled that you agreed to come. Let me say, on behalf of all our nest, we’re very proud of you for earning a place in the legion.”
    I squeezed his hand. “Thanks, Pierce.”
    He gave Butch—who was standing intimately close—a brief, assessing look. “Who is this?”
    “Butch, a member of the Grand High Pair’s personal squad. The male vampires behind me, Max and Salem, are also part of the squad. Paige and Ava are part of mine.”
    “Ah.” Pierce nodded at them. “In that case, it is a pleasure to meet you all. Now, allow me to personally escort you to the Grand Hall. Lazarus is waiting inside.” Pierce’s smile faltered slightly. “I feel I should warn you, Imani…Marco is here.”
    “Should we expect trouble?” Sam’s tone said there had better be no trouble.
    Frowning deeply, Pierce shook his head. “Marco would never harm her.”
    “He harmed her when he Turned her without her consent,” Butch growled.
    Pierce flushed. “Aside from that, I mean.” He cleared his throat. “Please come this way.”
    As we followed Pierce through the castle, I noticed that it hadn’t changed at all since I was last here. The walls were still adorned with beautiful paintings, portraits of past battles, and intricate tapestries. Artefacts, statues, and armoury still lined the hallways.
    Entering the Grand Hall, I sucked in a breath. It was heaving with people. I wondered if the news of my visit had travelled through the nest and everyone was eager to see how Marco reacted to my presence. It was probably the most action they’d had in a while.
    At a subtle signal from Jared, the four vampires behind me paired up and began to circulate the room. Of course, I knew what Paige, Max, Ava, and Salem were doing: scoping out the large space and searching for potential threats.
    Butch and I remained with Sam and Jared as they moved through the crowd. It was only a matter of moments before there was a gasp and a whispered, ‘There’s Marco’s Imani.’ My back teeth locked. I hated being called that, but it was what many viewed me as—Marco’s possession. I delved into my bag of tricks and