Anarchy (Hive Trilogy, #2)(40)
At the knock on the door I sprang up and dashed across the room, flinging open the door to find Ryder standing there dressed in his gym clothes.
Boredom fled. Along with saliva in mouth and clever words in brain.
“Want to go for a rooftop run?” he asked.
Hells yeah I did. Wasting no time, I dragged on some sweats, laced up my shoes, and waved goodbye to the boys. Jayden was flashing me his eyebrow and hip waggle, so he was very happy about this change in circumstances.
It took five minutes, but then we were out of the building and on the roof. The second the cool night air hit me, clearing away some of the funk I’d been in, I knew this was a good idea.
Ryder took off down the track and I followed, focused on the large swollen moon. I’d always found something so mesmerizing about the moon, especially when it was full. Its light seemed to highlight the beauty around me, remind me to stop and take a second to appreciate everything.
After a few laps, I heard the doors open and nearly stumbled over my feet when I saw the little vampire girl walk out. Following her was a stern-looking redheaded vampire.
Ryder caught my arm and we slowed as the pair walked out on to the track. The girl had headphones on, but when she saw us she took them off.
The redheaded vamp found the closest wall and got to the really important business of relaxing against it. “You have ten minutes,” she told the girl with a thick Russian accent.
The young girl gave a single head nod and then began to jog. I sped up next her.
“No,” Ryder whispered.
I shot him a death glare that hopefully conveyed how closed my legs would be if he kept trying to order me around. He lifted both hands up in a placating manner, before backing off me a tad.
“You like running?” I asked, turning back to the girl.
I couldn’t halt the sadness and anger which welled inside of me. She looked depressed. Her alabaster skin was shining in the bright moon, but her eyes were downcast, stress lines fracturing her perfect features. No child should have stress lines.
Of course she was beautiful, with short brown hair naturally curled into tight ringlets, smooth skin, and a thin athletic build. The vampire virus was working in full effect. But it was still wrong somehow, like looking at a weird doll.
She wet her lips before answering me: “I used to run and like it but now I don’t know what I like.” Even her voice was low and sad. “You don’t smell like a vampire, but you’re a girl?” For the first time a sign of actual interest crossed her solemn face.
I nodded. “I’m an ash, a special one-of-a-kind girl ash … and I can help you.” From the corner of my eye I could see Ryder was reaching for me again. Clearly I was overstepping the safe boundaries he was trying to keep me in.
With a burst of speed, I moved out of his reach again. The girl kept pace, and as she stared longer at me, her eyes started the silver pulsing thing. “Your blood smells really good,” she whispered, blinking a few times, her face falling. “Which is totally gross.”
Dammit. I was curing this girl or I would die trying.
“What room number are you staying in?” I pressed her, knowing my time was short.
Her lashes fluttered at my question, as if she was trying to understand what I’d just said. There was something wrong with her cognitive functions; she was slower to think and was void of personality, almost as if she was stuck in some sort of robotic and depressed state.
“Katelynn, time’s up!” the redheaded Russian screamed at her. The lazy bitch had not moved from the wall, and it looked like she’d been on her phone the entire time. Great babysitting there.
Katelynn ground to a halt, all obedient-like.
Time to break out the big guns. The very thing I would have used on a daily basis if I had ever been a mom. Bribery. “Tell me your room number and I will bring you a present. A stuffed toy.” My heart started to hammer as footsteps sounded behind me. There was more movement, and I heard Ryder’s deep tones as he moved to intercept the redhead.
“They have me on the forty-ninth floor. Room sixteen. I like unicorns.” Her innocent voice shredded my heart.
Room 4916. Gotcha.
“Then I’ll bring a unicorn. Just don’t tell anyone or I can’t see you again.”
A small smile graced her mouth. “Okay.”
She turned and went to her Russian nanny, who was both conversing with my enforcer and glaring at me. I didn’t care. My eyes were glued to Katelynn as devastation at letting her go rocked through me. I just wanted to grab her up, hug her tight and keep her safe. Dammit!
Okay, I needed to focus on what I could do. She said she liked unicorns and she was going to get one. Or at least the blood of one. I might not be able to save her today, but it would not be long before I could.
After they went through the double doors, Ryder took a few long strides to stand before me. He took my face in his hands. “Sometimes I wonder if falling in love with you will be the death of me.”
My breath hitched at his use of the L word. That was a definite declaration, or a roundabout one anyway. Before I could reply, his lips fell on mine and we were locked in a kiss.
This wasn’t the first time we had kissed since our night together, but it was the first where heightened emotions and our fiery attraction merged into one cataclysmic event. I lost all sense of time, worry, fear, and regret. I lived in that moment with Ryder, and if I could have prolonged it forever I’d be signing on the dotted line. Unfortunately, as was the norm of late, all good things had to come to an end.