Anarchy (Hive Trilogy, #2)(41)
We mutually pulled apart, both of us a little out of breath, and a lot silver-eyed, I was sure.
I leaned in closer to him, which somehow was still not close enough. “Geeze, I’m so sweaty from that run. I really need a shower but I’m afraid of getting attacked.” My words were light, like I was just making idle conversation, but I was eye-screwing the hell out of him and he knew it.
Ryder’s laughter was so rare that it made it that much more enjoyable to hear; that low rumble warmed my belly. “Why, Charlie Anne, there’s no way I could leave a lady to shower alone in these sort of dangerous times. In fact I’m going to have to insist on this protective shower duty becoming a daily occurrence.”
I grinned, losing all sense of chill as our lips met again, but only briefly this time. It was not a good idea right now, our need out of control, to be kissing in any sort of hardcore fashion. Our bodies were too impatient to be together, so we’d hold back the lust until we got to that shower. It was moments like these that I wished ash had magic powers too. Instant transportation would be very useful right about now.
The next day I was in my living room playing cards with Ryder as Sam sat quietly on the couch, flipping through a magazine. We’d just come back from the rooftop, arguing about when was the right time for me to cure the girl. Ryder wanted to wait until we were ready to run, but I was afraid they would “transfer” her, or whatever bullshit they pretended to do to get rid of the children.
“Boom! Full house!” I slammed my cards down, showing off the three aces and two kings.
Ryder’s face was carved from stone, no smile, no hint of defeat.
“Shit,” I groaned, knowing he must have a better hand than me to be keeping that mask of calm.
Ryder placed his cards down and smiled. “Straight flush.”
I fake pouted. “Cheater.”
Before he could retort, a loud bang-bang-bang came at my door. Sam was up and across the room with his gun drawn in seconds.
“Who is it?” Ryder demanded from behind Sam, his own gun held in a strong grip.
“Oh God, Charlie, I’m so sorry.” The male voice came through clearly, familiar and sounding desperate.
“Blake?” I pushed past my guards and wrenched opened the door.
The vampire’s eyes were red-rimmed, blood crusted around his mouth. His hands were shaking almost uncontrollably.
“I’m sorry,” he said again.
My voice could have cut glass then. “What did you do?” This motherf*cker better not mention my best friend.
“I changed Tessa and now she’s dying. It’s not working. Her body is rejecting the virus.” He dropped his head down, those shaking hands clutching at his Cabbage Patch Doll-like curls.
Using his distraction, I leaned forward and ran at him in a football tackle, slamming him against the far hallway wall and cracking the plaster. “I’m going to kill you!” I screamed in his face.
He didn’t flinch, didn’t fight. He looked desperate. “I love her.”
“Where is she?” The words sounded inhuman as they left my throat.
“Medical wing, room five.” Blake was crying, as I pushed him to the ground and took off.
The sound of the two enforcers’ footsteps close behind gave me strength. If the vampires thought they could take my best friend’s life, they were about to learn just how deadly I could be. I would burn this entire Hive to the ground before I let one undead * touch Tessa.
I kicked open the medical wing doors, hitting a nurse, who shrieked. Ignoring her, I bolted for room five. The frosted glass door was half open, and the second I saw the pale, emaciated form of my best friend limp in the bed, an animalistic wail ripped from my throat.
The vampire doctor tending to her turned to me, startled. “No ash allowed!” Same old story as the last time we’d been here. I felt a sick sense of satisfaction as Sam whipped out his gun, holding it to the vamp’s head. Asshole backed right off then.
“What’s happening to her?” I shouted at him as a few other medical staff crowded in behind us. Ryder was doing his best to use his bulk to hold them off. I couldn’t focus on anything but my best friend though—or, well, what was left of her. At that moment Tessa wasn’t Tessa. She was a shell of a human, a sack of pale skin with dead, white hair. Oh my God.
The doctor seemed annoyed with my question. “She was changed with permission. I have all of the proper signed forms. Her body is fighting the virus too aggressively and it’s killing her.” He shrugged. “It happens.”
Tears spilled onto my cheeks. “No! No! We have to save her. That’s my best friend.”
A flash of something crossed the doctor’s features. Surprisingly enough, it seemed like sympathy. “I have never understood why anyone would willingly want the virus. It’s dangerous. Many more humans die than become vampire.”
Sam moved to the side as I stumbled towards the doctor. “Does she need more blood? Antibiotics? What can we do?”
Because if he didn’t give me an answer in five seconds I was saving her with my blood and outing myself to this entire Hive. I could see now that over a dozen medical officials had crowded the doorway, watching, one of whom I recognized as a Quorum member—too many here to hide what I was, but for Tessa I would do it in a heartbeat.