Hellbourne by Amber Kell

“What’s he doing here?”
    “When you weren’t home in the morning, he came to check on you. Bran told him he brought you here so he came over.” Nikko’s eyes indicated that there was more to the story, but Luc was tired and frankly didn’t give a shit. He was relieved when Nikko said, “Come, Jerrod. Why don’t you go down to the kitchen and find your master some nice broth? It will do wonders for him.”
    The slim vampire jumped up eager to be of use. “I’ll be right back.” He gave a small tearful smile to Luc before running out of the room.
    “Thank you. I don’t think I could handle any more waterworks.” Now that Jerrod was gone, he felt a little self-conscious without the smaller vampire as a buffer.
    Nikko pulled his chair closer to the bed. “How are you feeling? All better?”
    Luc nodded. “I’m fine. Did Bran tell you I can’t die?”
    “He told me he still felt your link even while your body grew cold. Sal didn’t count on that.”
    “What happened to him?”
    Nikko gave a smile almost as evil as Galthine’s, his fangs peeking out. “Bran sent him to chat with your father. The Pack is cleaning up the mess as we speak.”
    Luc fought back tears. Sal had been a friend for years. The loss of his friendship cut him like a knife. How long had the were wanted him in silence?
    Luc felt the poison easing out of his system and stayed lying down until he was certain he was toxin free. When he finally started to sit, Nikko leaned over and pinned him down.
    “You will stay right here and rest.” Nikko’s eyes glowed bright when he was pissed.
    “I’ll stay right here and rest,” Luc agreed meekly. He tucked the blankets around himself and played possum.
    He felt the scrape of Nikko’s stubble as the vampire whispered in his ear, “I’ll know if you leave this room, my love. I’ve put a guard outside your door and he has instructions to only let me and your servant inside, and no one out.”
    “Sneaky bastard,” Luc whispered, not bothering to open his eyes.
    “ Your sneaky bastard.”
    He felt the soft brush of lips on his cheek before he heard the door close.
    More tired then he wanted to acknowledge, Luc was in the middle of falling asleep when a harsh ringing sound filled the air.
    A hole opened in the air beside the bed and Carn’s bloody body was tossed through the portal. The demon landed on the floor, leaving a long streak of fresh blood across the carpet.
    Galthine’s head popped through the portal. “I followed your spirit signature, brother. Sneaky of you to try to escape me. Maybe you’ll make a good Hell Lord yet!”
    Luc didn’t have a chance to contradict him before the portal vanished and he was left with an oozing bloody body on Nikko’s fancy carpet.
    Nikko was going to kill him.
    Sliding out of bed, Luc approached Carn’s battered body. At close glance, he looked worse. How was that even possible?
    The demon was encrusted with blood from multiple whip marks. A pair of handcuffs had cut into his wrists and they were leaking blood over his broken hands.
    Jerrod entered the room with a bowl of soup balanced in his hand. It fell to the floor when he saw Carn lying on the carpet. The fabric muffled the sound of soup splashing.
    Jerrod crouched down beside Luc and asked in a whisper. “What is that?”
    “A childhood friend.”
    “What are you going to do?”
    “Heal him.” Luc would stay in hell should his brothers break him, but he couldn’t let his friend die. Unlike Luc, the demon wouldn’t come back.
    Carn’s breathing was slow. He wouldn’t last much longer. His remaining demon blood was the only thing keeping him alive.
    “Thank you. Thank you,” Carn whispered as Luc came closer. The demon’s eyes were glazed with pain, but he focussed on Luc as if he were a saviour. “I kept hoping you’d come. I knew if you found out, you’d save me. Thank you. Thank you.” His neck was bruised and his voice was a raspy whisper.
    “Are you sure that’s a