Anger began rise up in me.I did not just fight my way through the culling to be killed by some old-ass Quorumbitches. Jayden got to his feet, crossed the room and grabbed my hand.
“Then we run. I don’thave a family anymore. Never really did. You’re my family now. I will go withyou and we will figure it out.”
Emotion tightened mythroat. It was a sweet offer. It wasn’t logical or practical, of course. Wewouldn’t be able to get jobs because of what we were. And no jobs meant nofood, no blood, and no place to call home. Still, I really appreciated hisloyalty. A light tap came at the door. I moved instantly, hoping like hell itwas Lucas or Ryder. As I flung open the door I was shocked to see Blake,Tessa’s feeder boyfriend.
“Umm, it’s not a goodtime,” I told him.
Ignoring this, he pushedpast me and shut the door behind him. Umm, excuse me? “Come right on in,” Imuttered.
“Lucas sent me,” he saidquietly. Okay, in that case I would tolerate his presence.
“Does he have a messagefor me?” I urged in my most hurried voice, whispers of bitchy leaking through –this vamp asshole was chomping on my best friend. I wasn’t a fan of him.
Blake glared at me, whichlooked odd on his pretty, cherub face. “I love Tessa, you don’t have to worryabout me hurting her.”
A sound left my voice,somewhere between a snarl and a gag. “You love her? Please, you barely knowher.”
He stepped closer to me,eyes fierce, jaw set. “You’re her best friend, so I know it’s your job to worryabout her, and I will take whatever you dish out. But I want her and I willfight for her.”
Well shit. Maybe I wasletting some of my frustration over the whole Ryder thing bleed across to Tessaand Blake. Sure, I was annoyed that she was with a vampire, but thatdeclaration was pretty damn perfect. Even Jayden had tears in his eyes.
I sighed. “You betterlook after her, Blake, or I am going to cut your dick off and feed it to you.”He blanched at my threat. I meant every word of it too. “I must be the only onein this hive that’s single. Can a girl get some action?” I told the room.
Blake, already recovered,was back to wearing his cocky grin. “I’m sure you would be getting action if Ryderhadn’t told every guy in the Hive to stay away from you.”
My heart jackhammered inmy chest. “Wha ... wait, what? He said that? To who? Why? When?”
I will kill that asshole.He couldn’t just reject me and still make a declaration like that. Who did hethink he was? Jayden had walked closer and was hanging on Blake’s every word.
Blake shrugged. “I’m notsure if it came from Ryder or the Quorum. Apparently they don’t know if you’refertile.”
And just like that mydreams went up in flames. I was seriously pathetic, thinking Ryder told everyguy to stay away from me so he could have me. Jesus. Jayden squeezed my hand inBFF solidarity.
I changed the subject. “So… what’s the word from Lucas?”
Blake ran a hand throughhis perfect curls. “Lucas said to stay put for now, and that if stuff heats upany more there will be an exit plan in place. He said you would know what thatmeant.”
Shit. So if the Quorumwanted to kill me, Lucas would be helping me run away from the Hive. I sighed.
“Yep. I understand.Thanks.”
Blake gave me a longglance. “Tessa misses you and she has asked me to get permission from theQuorum to change her into a vampire. I’m considering it.” Then he turned on hisheels and left.
As the door slammed, Iwas knocked out of my shock. Okay, now I was back to hating him again. Tessawould be turned over my dead body. Seriously, what else could go wrong today?
Jayden’s comforting armaround my shoulders did very little to ease my pain. He gave me a tightsqueeze, and I realized silent laughter was shaking him.
“Oh my God, when he saidRyder told all the guys to leave you alone, you should have seen your face. Youwere like an orphaned puppy that finally found a family.”
What? I totally had not –okay, I must have looked a bit pathetic. I tried my best to glare at him, buthis amused expression was ridiculous. Asshole. Finally I busted out laughingtoo, until tears ran down my face and my stomach ached. It was a nice stressreliever, that was for sure.
Seven hours, three games of Scrabble,thirteen magazines, a thousand YouTube videos, and fifty-seven emails to Tessalater, there was a knock at the door. I bolted upright from my positionsprawled on the couch, my head darting to the side to meet Jayden’s gaze. Wasthis the results? Early?
I pulled myself up,brushing off the crumbs from my many snacks, before crossing the roomconfidently. When I was a foot from the door, I smelled the familiar spicyscent. Ryder.
Opening the door, he wasalone. My eyes ran over his tan smooth neck and the memory of biting himfloated into my mind. I pushed that aside.
“Hey, come in.” I steppedaside and Ryder entered the apartment. I turned to see Jayden had gone into hisroom. Sigh. If only there was a reason for him to leave us in private.
