Need (30 page)

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Authors: Todd Gregory

BOOK: Need

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“So,” Jean-Paul said into the silence. “Gather your things, Cord. Our flight to Ibiza is early in the morning.”

“I think,” Nigel said slowly, “that Cord will be staying here with us for now.”

Clint looked at me, his eyes confused, pleading.

I nodded. “That's right.” I got up and walked over to where the two of them were standing. “Thank you for everything,” I said in a soft voice. “I wish I could go with you, take up my old life again, but I'm on a different path now.” As I spoke the words, I felt the power surging within me.

Jean-Paul nodded and hugged me. He walked out of the room and down the hall. Clint looked at me, his lower lip trembling. I put my arms around him and whispered, “I do love you, Clint, please know that. I'm so sorry I was so blind for so long. But now . . . now I can't be with you.”

He nodded, and I felt the wetness on his cheeks when he whispered back, “It's okay, Cord. We have eternity to be together.” He kissed my cheek and followed Jean-Paul down the hallway.

I turned back to face the three left in the room.

Nigel cleared his throat. “Jared has agreed to come with us, Cord, to train to be a Nightwatcher. I hope you'll join usâand you, too, Quentin.”

I was startled when Quentin nodded and said it would be an honor.
Of course, he knows all about the Nightwatchers. He knows about everything,
I realized, shaking my head.

“I'll go get my things,” Quentin said, and went out the front door.

Rachel looked at me sourly and also got up and walked out of the room. I heard her walking down the hallway, and then a door opened and closed.

“Well?” Nigel asked, leaning forward with his hands on his knees.

“Of course,” I replied. “What choice do I have? I either become a Nightwatcher, or they will try to destroy me. Isn't that correct?”

He didn't answer me. “There may be a war coming, Cord, one that has been long in developing. We're going to need youâand your powers. We can train you in how to use them, control them. You're going to have to be vigilant.”

“Because power corrupts,” I replied, closing my eyes.

It was there. I could feel it and took a deep breath.

I need to always be able to control it.

Because if I couldn'tâ

I didn't want to think about that.

“We leave at sunset tomorrow,” Nigel said, getting to his feet. “I have some research to do, if you'll excuse me.” And he left me alone in the room.

Three years earlier, I mused, I'd been a closeted frat boy coming to Mardi Gras to get laid. For the next three years, I was a baby vampire, going from one party to another and having a good time.

And now I was something no one had ever seen before, no one had ever dealt with before.

A chill went down my spine, but I shook it off.

I could handle itâI didn't have a choice.

I went down the hall to my room to pack.

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