“The Quorum sent me.” Hewas less relaxed than usual, his posture stiff and his features cold.
I planted my feet, handson hips. “If you’re going to give me news from the Quorum, I would rather hearit from a friend, not the military enforcer ash you’re pulling right now.”
The words slipped outbefore I could censor them and I regretted them immediately. Why was I all ofsudden taking my sexual frustrations out on him?
Still, something I saidworked. His face softened just a little, and concern lined his eyes. His handshifted at his side, as if he were reaching out for me, but then thoughtdifferently, stuffing it back in his pocket. “You’re right, I’m sorry. Are youokay?”
Guys were so densesometimes. I really wanted to smack him upside the head, or kiss him. Maybeboth.
“Just tell me.” I was thecold one now, pushing off his concern. Ryder and I were never going to sort ourshit out. The timing just never seemed right.
He must have sensed mymood, and decided to just get to the point. “Your blood work showed that you donot have the DNA of an ash or a vampire. That has them in a total scientificmind-freak. But the blood was diluted and mixed, so you look to be about asclose as I am to an Original. Nothing to kill over.” He smiled.
I returned the smile.“Did you just say ‘scientific mind-freak.’ Oh my God, have I ever heard youcuss?”
Ryder stared at me.“Believe it or not, I’m a gentleman. I don’t like cussing.”
My mouth dropped open;laughter bubbled up inside of me and I grabbed his arm. “Oh my God, deliciousRyder, token ash, killer and enforcer, doesn’t say ‘fuck?’”
He looked at my lips brieflybefore resting on my eyes. “Delicious?”
I decided hard-to-get wasa good play right about now. “Jayden’s words, not mine.”
Ryder nodded. “I figured.You’re free to leave your apartment and go anywhere within the Hive grounds.”
He turned to leave. What,just within the grounds? Damn, that meant no more human field trips, no moreTessa.
“Ryder…” I reached outand grabbed his hand, pulling him back around to face me. His body was inchesfrom mine.
I was going to take arisk. If one of us didn’t, we would always exist in this in-between place. Ifelt something between us, and sometimes I thought he did too.
“Why are you helping me?”
He was quiet so long Iwas afraid he wouldn’t answer. His jaw clenched as he seemed to be battlingsomething I couldn’t see. Just when I was going to speak again, he muttered, “Manyreasons, Charlie, so many. But for now, let’s just say that it’s my job.”
Then he turned and strodeaway from me. Okay, that was it. I had given this guy too many opportunities tostake a claim. Time to move on. I slammed the door harder than I should havefor someone at my maturity level. Whatever. I turned to go sulk in my bedroomwhen he knocked again. Oh yeah, asshole, come say sorry after that? I don’tthink so.
I opened the door. “Screwoff!”
Shit! Lucas was standingthere, dressed in his whites. Luckily my verbal attack didn’t faze him.
“Having a rough day, Charlene?”
I chuckled. “You couldsay that.” I waved him inside.
He entered the apartment,exuding that air of sophistication he always wore. I couldn’t hook up with avampire, could I? I scanned Lucas and decided no, he gave off too many dad-vibes.But I wouldn’t tell him that, because I was pretty sure the only reason he washelping me was that I reminded him of his late wife.
“I’m in the clear. Ryderjust told me.”
Lucas nodded. “Yes, Iwould have been here much earlier if that had not been the case. I have someother news from my own private blood results.”
Oh. I sat down. Somethingtold me this wouldn’t be good and I wanted my butt firmly planted for any morenews today.
Lucas sat across from me.“I’m not very good with this type of information.”
“Just tell me.” I was infull freak-out mode now. Was I a new race? Holy gods … was I dying?
“You can’t have children,”he stated in a sympathetic tone. His eyes were a swirl of emotions and Iwondered if he was thinking about his own long lost children right then.
