I blinked a few times. Atno point had I expected him to say that. “Okay, well … shit. Is that the bignews? I thought I had vampire cancer.”
A smile replaced hissympathetic frown. “No, I just wanted to tell you that you’re infertile likethe male ash and the female vampires, in case that is something you would liketo know for future relationships.”
I was still confusedabout why they were even checking my fertility? I supposed it was just becauseI was an unknown ash, and reproducing for our kind was against the law. Lucasgracefully changed the subject. “There’s more. My lab technician also thoughtshe saw some sort of immune response to the virus in your blood. This is nother expertise of course, but still, worth us looking into for the future.”
I recoiled, confused. “Animmune response? What does that even mean?”
Lucas’s expression wasall serious. “Like you were fighting it.”
My mouth dropped open.“Okay.” I put both hands up. “Enough crazy for today. I have reached my limit.Maybe tomorrow.” I stood and Lucas followed my action. The serious look neverleft his face. “Charlie, if this gets out…”
“Lucas.” My voice wasclipped. “I literally can’t take one more damned thing. I’m done.”
I had the strongest urgeto hurt him, to unleash this pent up anger I had at the Hive. I was beingpushed backed into a corner and I had an instinct that saidFight your wayout.
Lucas noddedunderstandingly. “You know where to find me,” he said, and left.
I shut the door and letmy head rest against it. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks. I wanted my mom. Ihad been doing way too much adulting in the past month. I didn’t ask for thislife. I would give it back in a heartbeat. But it appeared I was stuck withthese freaks.
Chapter 8
Sometimes, when life gets really shitty,your best bet is to live in denial. That’s exactly what I had been doing forthe past week. I didn’t even think about my special unicorn blood, I ignoredthe glances Ryder sent my way, and pushed off Jayden’s comments asking if I wasokay. Denial. It was better than reality.
Sitting at my computerdesk in the comms room, I was ready to fall asleep if something didn’t happensoon.
When the phone rang, Iwas actually excited to talk to someone, even if it was usually a panickinghuman thinking their dog had somehow gotten the vamp virus and was about toslaughter their entire family.
“Hive hotline, this isCharlie.”
At first all I heard wasscreaming in the background. Then: “My son – he’s not well. I think … he’s an ash.”
I sat bolt upright. Ihadn’t had one of these calls yet – a newly turned ash. I looked around and sawthat I was alone. Shit! Usually one of the enforcers was lingering around, buttoday they seemed to be MIA.
What was I supposed todo? We weren’t taking in any more ash. We were referring them to the SeattleHive? No, they’d pulled Seattle too, they were full. Was it the one in Denver?Shit.
There were screams in thebackground, although they sounded a little closer. “Okay, ma’am, give me youraddress and I will send someone over.”
The woman rattled off anaddress and I scribbled it down.
“I’m thirsty!” a malevoice screamed, and then the phone went dead. Shit!
I bolted out of the roomholding my piece of paper and burst into the enforcer dressing room. Generallyone of them was in here.
Kyle was standing therehalf naked, looking at me like a deer in headlights. I took a second to admirehis ripped chest and arms, not to mention his tousled dirty-blond mane. What?Don’t judge me, I was only human … well, sort of.
“Where’s Ryder?” I burstout. “I got a call. A newly turned ash just attacked his mom, I think.”
Kyle swore and pulled onhis clothes, lightning quick. He grabbed some weapons from a locker and shoveda gun in my hand.
“Ryder is gone for theday. The rest of the boys are on the roof track running. The human will bedrained dry be the time I get them. Let’s go! You’re coming with me.”
I didn’t have time toregister this breach in protocol. Leave the Hive? Carry a gun? Hells to theyeah. This was what I needed right now, some action and time out of this place.Kyle was on his walkie-talkie as we left the locker room, letting the othersexy six know what was up. They’d be right behind us. Following him, I ranfaster than I ever had before and practically flew into the black van’spassenger seat. Kyle moved at ash speed, peeling out of the garage and down thegated side street.
“The address is only afew miles away, over by the airport!” I yelled, holding on as he took a cornerat a super speed. It felt like we went up on two wheels.
He must have calledahead, because the Hive gate was open, and we flew through no problem. Kyle’sgrip was tight on the wheel, but he remained in complete control as I startedto give him directions to the house.
“What happens if she’sdead?” I blurted out.
