“We will observe you over the next twenty four hours but to be sure we have to keep you confined for three days,” Jude explained.

I nodded. “Three days with no symptoms.”

He gave a nod.

“I want the truth Jude.”

He stilled in the doorway.

“What are our chances?” I had to ask the question even if I wasn’t sure I was ready for the answer.

He studied me for an intense moment. “Not good. You both have many wounds that have been exposed to large amounts of their blood…in most cases the subjects die within a short time of getting infected.”

All I heard was infected and die.

I nodded at Jude unable to respond.

“I’ll check in on you in a couple of hours.” He left and closed the door. I heard the distinct click of a lock.

I turned to survey the room. There was nothing else I could do but wait. I crawled onto the bed and lay on my side.

I tried to keep the barrage of negative thoughts from taking over but I could not stop them. My life had changed so much I struggled to recall the timid and fearful girl I had been at the start of this journey. After suffering so much I had begged for death, here I was hoping I would live to see my sons grow up. They were so young. A wave of pain passed through me as I fought back the tears.

I wanted to be able to do something. The waiting was killing me. I had no idea how Silas was.

The thought that I may never see him again made my heart ache. It was the worst pain imaginable.

This couldn’t be the way our story ended.

But there was nothing I could do but wait it out and hope for the best. It was the most agonizing hours of my life as I paced the room, analyzing every amplified physical symptom.

It felt like forever but was probably only a few hours later Jude returned. His expression grave. I knew before he said anything.

“Silas is infected.”

My whole world tipped and the breath gushed from my lungs. I backed to sit down on the bed trying to keep from emotionally falling apart.

“We will make him comfortable,” Jude added.

Comfortable. What did that mean?

“I have to see him,” I demanded. I could not sit here alone in a room while the man I loved suffered and died a few doors down from me.

Jude shook his head. “I can’t allow that.” His expression stern.

Something hard took hold inside of me and I stood, feeling a strength I had never felt before.

“Why?” I frowned.

“The likely hood if you haven’t developed symptoms means there is a pretty good chance you’re not infected.” He sighed. “If I allow you to come into contact with him, he might infect you.”

Bewildered, I stood staring at him. “I thought the only way to get infected is by blood contamination.”

“Yes but as the infection spreads he will change.”

“I don’t understand,” I whispered.

“He won’t be Silas anymore. He’ll be so thirsty, that no amount of blood with quench. He will suffer.” He quietened. “It’s not going to be easy to watch.”

I physically hurt to hear what he was saying. I could not just stand by and do nothing.

“I can’t just abandon him,” I uttered, feeling more dejected and hopeless.

“You have no choice. None of us do,” he responded quietly.

“It is my choice Jude. I choose to take the risk.” I was being stubborn but I would not turn my back on Silas. Not in any situation.

I loved him when he was strong, powerful and even cruel. I would love him when he was weak and dying, even if I had risk everything including my life.

“You have to think about the boys,” he argued.

My boys. I didn’t want to die and leave them orphaned but realistically they were better off without me. In a world that did not value my kind, even at times despised. Besides the vampire council would come after me as soon as Silas was gone. There would be no one to protect me and I didn’t want my sons being caught up in that.

I straighten. “They are better off without me Jude. We both know that.”

“You do not have to die Avery. I can help you disappear and the council will never find you.”

He had done it once before. If Silas hadn’t found the card Jason had given me I would still be living that life.

“I have already reached out to Jason and explained the situation. If you survive this, you will have to leave. I cannot protect you from the council when Silas dies.”

He was already talking as if Silas fate was sealed and it was only a matter of time. I couldn’t think like that. I could not abandon him, no matter how dire the situation.

“I would never have survived up to this point if it hadn’t been for Silas. He made me strong when I was weak. He stepped in to save me from Thane. Even when he believed I was dead he searched for me.” I shook my head. “I won’t give up on him. I will stay with him until his last breath, even if it kills me.”

He regarded me. “I know you love him Avery. He is lucky to have experienced that type of love but he made it clear that I was to protect you at any cost. I will not betray my friend, not for anyone. Even you Avery.”

I didn’t like where this was going.

“Jude.”

“You will remain here and I will give you updates when I can.” He turned to exit the room.

“Please stop,” I begged but the door slammed closed. I banged on the door feeling more hysterical realizing that I was confined and had no way of escaping even if I wanted to.

“You can’t do this Jude,” I yelled feeling more desperate and hoping I would get through to him.

But I knew Jude. He was loyal to his friend. He would do everything within his power to carry out Silas’ wishes.

Tears gathered in my eyes as I continued to bang on the door, feeling the hopelessness of the situation.

I backed from the door, feeling the ache in my hands at the intensity I had taken my emotion on on the door. I wiped the tears, feeling angered that I was emotional when I needed to think.

If I was going to get into Silas’ room I needed to figure out a way to escape.

The only other way out of the room was the window. I had a healthy fear of heights but I was a sire not a weak human. I opened the curtains and peered outside. Silas’ room was just a little further down.

There was a beautiful green creeper that ran along the wall, held in place by a wooden structure. It wasn’t exactly secure but it was at least something.

I bit my lip as I contemplated how long I would have before Jude would return to check on me. There was no guarantee I would have enough time but the urgency that Silas wouldn’t last very long set me into action.

Pushing away any fears I looked around for something to break glass. I had to have a way in when I got to Silas’ bedroom window. They may have left the windows unlocked but I could not take the chance.

I looked around the room trying to find something I could use. There was a small paper weight that caught my attention. It wasn’t exactly a hammer but it was hard.

I grabbed it and shoved it into a pocket.

For a moment I hesitated, looking down and trying not allow the fear of falling to hamper my mission.

I only had one chance at this. If I failed Jude would ensure I never had another chance. There was security walking the grounds but I hoped the creeper would hide me as I made my way across the wall.

It was now or never. All I could think of was Silas and knew I would do anything for him, including facing one of my biggest fears to get to him.