I look around and then back at him. “Your wolf.”
“Will survive.” Before I can say anything else, he adds. “The faster we get the information we need, the faster we can get out of here.”
“Yeah.”
“You should probably know I can’t access my pack link.”
I stare at him. “Seriously?” He doesn’t bother responding to my stupid question. “Okay.”
“It doesn’t change the mission; I’m just letting you know.” His dark eyes focus on me. “We find Ava’s blood supply and destroy it, figure out a way past the wards, and a way to deliver Ajax to the Northwoods Pack. And then we figure out our escape.”
I blow out a breath. “Easy.” But I know it’s going to be anything but. I sit on the bed and stare at him. “So, there are a few complications that are really...” I pause, trying to think of a word.
“Complicated?” he asks dryly.
“I wasn’t planning on being in this building. What are you going to do for food?”
He shrugs. “We’ll figure it out.”
I swallow uneasily. “Okay.” I stand up and unzip my bag.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m unpacking,” I tell him without looking at him.
“Don’t. We may need to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”
I shake my head. “We have to. You’d better believe the vampires will search in here. We have to look like we’re staying.”
He doesn’t look happy, but he unpacks and puts his clothes in one of the dresser drawers. I put my cosmetics in the bathroom. It feels surreal, but I need to act like I’m living here. When I’ve done everything I can do, I pace the room. “I have to be ready soon. I have no idea what I’ll be doing. But I’ll get my blood supply and then see what I can do about food for you.”
He walks over to the door first and sniffs. “They’re waiting,” he says in a quiet voice.
“Rizo?” I ask.
“Ajax and one of the other vampires who was here earlier.”
I take a breath. “I’ll be back when I can.”
Right before I open the door, he snags my hand, surprising me. “Be careful.” His words are so quiet, they’re barely a whisper. But I nod and whisper back, “You too.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Sherese
I open the door and close it quickly behind me. Ajax and another vampire I don’t recognize lead me down the long hallway. When we get close to the main room where they do all their experimenting, I take a steadying breath. I’m not sure what to expect. When I lived here before, Rizo was pretty lenient with me. He provided blood for me and pretty much let me do what I wanted. I had to help out here and there, but mostly he let me be. Well, after a few years of testing me and finally deciding I wasn’t a healer, but that’s all beside the point. When Ava came along, I was in charge of watching her, but I still had my freedom. I was pretty much their “miracle turn,” and they let me be. I have no idea what he’s going to want from me now.
When we get to the heavy metal double doors, Ajax puts his thumb in the scanner. Once it turns green, the doors open before us, and I follow them inside. The scent of blood hits me hard as soon as we enter, and I’m glad it no longer has a hold over me. In the early days, I couldn’t contain my bloodlust, but it’s gotten much better over the years. As long as I don’t get to the starving stage, I’m fine. For as much control as I’ve developed over the years, I don’t know what would happen if I got really hungry. I certainly don’t want to find out. “This way,” Ajax says.
As we walk, I try not to look into the small glass enclosures to see the wolves they’ve given healer blood and energy to turn them into shifter/vampires. But it’s hard not to, because I can see them everywhere I look. Right now, they’re all in shut-down mode, meaning they’re in a comatose state. Each one I see reminds me of Ava’s brother, and I feel sick. I force my gaze toremain on Ajax’s back, so I don’t have to see any more of them. He stops, and I wait, wondering what it is we’re doing. Rizo steps out of one of the glass enclosures and pulls off gloves. I try not to think about why he would need gloves. “Good. You're here.” Without a word, he starts walking, and we follow. We walk back through the room, out the double doors, and over to the elevators. Once inside, I take a deep breath and make myself focus on every detail. So far, every entrance and exit needs a thumb scan from either Rizo or Ajax. That’s all new since I was here last. I wonder if it’s programmed to other vampires, or just the two of them. When the doors open, Rizo leads the way down the hallway and stops at a door. He opens the door, and we step inside.
“What’s going on?” a terrified voice asks.
My stomach bottoms out as I take in the terrified girl strapped to the table. I don’t have to be told what’s happening here. I’ve heard Ava’s stories. There’s no doubt in my mind that this girl is a healer. Rizo turns to Ajax. “Explain and let her get to work.”
“W-what?” the girl on the table asks.
I don’t look at her. Rizo stops in front of me. “You want to earn our trust? Prove yourself.” Without another word, he disappears. I feel like I’m going to be sick.
