"What's going on?"I demand, my voice a cracking whisper."Where am I?"
"I had to intervene for your safety."
A sharp pain pierces the side of my neck."What did you drug me with?"
"More than I wanted to.That wolf blood gave you strength I've never seen."
Wolf blood.Rogan."Is he all right?Rogan?"
My father scoffs."He's fine.He shifted back when he lost consciousness.Last I saw, he was lying naked behind his resort."
"Great.Just great."
"He'll be taken care of.He has people, as you know.My concern is you."
"Since when—" A fit of coughing overtakes me.
"Easy.Breathe."
I can't breathe when I'm about to upchuck my lungs.
A few seconds later, I get hold of the coughing.I clear my throat."What the hell did you give me?"
"Nothing that will do any lasting harm, Hannah.You're my daughter."
Right.Whatever.I clear my throat again."What's going on?"
"Tell me what you've found," he says.
Damn it all.I can't lie to him."Rogan," I say."Rogan killed the two vamps.But he—"
"As I suspected."
"But he didn't cut out their hearts, Dad.He swears he didn't."
"I see.And you believe him?"
"I do."
And only now do I realize the truth of my words.The evidence may seem to incriminate him, but I believe him.I believe him because...
I believe him because he told me so.I believe him because he said he killed them to protect me, because they were aligned with demons.
I believe him because...I love him.
Oh.My.God.I love Victor Rogan.I fucking love him.
"I see."
A needle...My father's face goes blurry again.Then—
"No!"he roars."Don't give her any more!"
Jelly brain again.My father's voice is not quite his own.
"Get out of here, the fucking lot of you!"Then, "Easy, Hannah.Easy.Stay with me."
"I'm with you..."