Her neck dented as Bones’s power flexed in an instant vise. “If that’s true, then you’re no use to us.”

I gripped his arm, urging him not to increase that punishing hold. That’s when I noticed how warm he felt. He must have fed right before crashing through her window.

“Give it another chance,” I said, so low she wouldn’t be able to hear me. Then I stared at Marie.

“Your people spent hundreds of years in captivity because of their race. Even after all this time, the memory of it must still burn.”

Marie’s head jerked as Bones released her to answer. The connection we now shared let me feel her anger as it pulsated through the air.

“Don’t,” she snapped. “You have no right, white girl.”

“I don’t, but Katie does. Until she ran away, captivity was all she knew, too, and now she’s been marked for death because of her race.” My voice roughened. “Either you believe that’s wrong, or you don’t.”

Marie continued to glare at me, but she didn’t say anything.

All at once, it felt like the temperature dropped sixty degrees. At the same time, hunger rose with an ache that reminded me of waking up as a brand-new vampire. The Remnants began to sway as though listening to music no one else could hear. They were being reactivated.

“Stop it,” I said curtly. “If you try using them on us again, Bones will take your head off.”

Marie gave me an irritated look.

“I’m not the one channeling them. You are.”

“Kitten.” Bones’s voice was soft but urgent. “Look at me.”

He grasped my shoulders, and I almost jerked away. His fingers felt like they were scalding. It was only when his grip tightened, holding me steady, that I realized I’d been swaying like the Remnants.

Marie was right. Although I wasn’t having the same crazed response as the first time I drank her blood, I was being pulled into the icy, ravenous embrace of the grave. I forced it back, trying to forget about how good the cold was starting to feel. Then I shook my head to clear the whispers that didn’t come from the nearby neighbors’ thoughts. If I lost myself to this, it might take me days to recover, and we didn’t have that kind of time.

Snap out of it! I ordered myself. Focus on Bones. He’s what’s real, not that cold, hungry power, and—

“Why are you here?” I suddenly blurted. “We agreed that you’d come only after I called and gave you the all clear. That way, if things went south, you’d still be alive to help Katie.”

A sardonic smile curled his lips.

“I smelled your fear when Veritas asked if we wanted to change our statements. You’re never afraid for yourself, so I knew it was fear for me.”