The silver in Lucas’ eyesswirled, and some green lit up the iris. “I’ll do what I can, but of coursethis decision does not rest with me alone. I can definitely talk to Blakethough, but I cannot stop him either. Any vampire has the right to petition thecouncil to turn a human. But rarely are they granted, so your friend should befine. She will remain a human, and soon realize that the life of a feeder is nolife for her. It is a phase many humans go through. Most come out the otherside and walk away from us.”
He wasn’t exactly thatreassuring. It wasn’t the “No way, I’ll totally stop Blake” I’d hoped for, butit would do for now. There was nothing more I could do except continue smashingTessa’s email inbox with my heartfelt pleas to stop being a dumbass.
We chatted for the nextlittle while about this and that. Nothing and everything. It was nice to havesomeone to unload my feelings with, especially the heart-wrenching fear ofseeing my best friend tied down and with a gun to his head.
“I’m not sure he’s goingto forgive me,” I whispered to Lucas. “It’s my fault he ended up like that. Hecould have died. Oliver could have died. I feel so guilty and responsible.”
Lucas moved around myside of the bench then, sliding in next to me and wrapping an arm around myshoulders. “None of this is your fault, Charlie. You have a big heart. You caretoo much and you love too deeply. Our world, it’s harsh. It’s kill or be killedmuch of the time. Jayden understands this. He’ll forgive you, mostly becausethere’s nothing to forgive. So come on, let’s head back to your apartment.”
Lucas helped me up.“Also, I have a surprise for you.”
He draped his arm aroundme again for the walk back to my room. Oliver was probably still there, but itdidn’t matter. I needed to clear the air with Jayden.
Lucas left me at thedoor. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said as he dropped a light kiss on my cheekand left. I realized once he was gone that he’d never showed me his surprise.He’d probably forgotten.
I took a deep breath andpushed open the door, eyes fluttering as I stepped inside, hoping like hellthat my best friend didn’t hate me. I already had one of them ignoring me. Ineeded Jayden.
Shouts enveloped me,followed by strong arms that wrapped around me and lifted me up into a hardchest. “Holy shit, Charlie, why didn’t you tell us Lucas had blood wine! Thisis the best mutha-effing thing I have ever tasted.”
Oliver spun me aroundonce, before setting me back on my shaky legs. I realized then what Lucas’surprise must have been. He’d finally come through on the cartons of wine forme surviving the culling, and Oliver and Jayden had cracked open the firstbottle. Or finished it actually, judging by the inch I could see left in thebottom.
I took a second to stareat the enforcer. He looked so much better, his injuries healed up and vitalityback in his face. The olive-skinned ash had been looking mighty pale when he’dfirst dragged himself into our room after the Sanctum took off. Now he was alldrunk and happy.
I turned my attention toJayden, who was looking his normal gorgeous black self on the couch. He sat alittle straighter and held out his arms to me. I didn’t hesitate running acrossthe room and throwing myself into his arms. “Missed you, bitch,” he said as hismuscled arms enfolded around me. “Don’t you ever do anything like that again.”
I pulled back to see himbetter, arching one eyebrow as I did.
Jayden grinned, beforeleaning in and resting his forehead against mine. “I don’t care who the fuckhas me and how many guns are pointed at my head, if you ever try and trade yourselffor me, I will kick your ass so hard it will make Sanctum look like freakin’ CareBears.”
I hadn’t thought anyonehad noticed in the chaos, except for Ryder of course, since I’d full on shovedhim across the room to get to Jayden. But my best friend had seen too.
“Kick my ass all youwant,” I whispered, “but nothing will stop me coming for you. No matter what.”
Jayden groaned, pulledback to stare at the ceiling. “Stubborn woman, you deserve to love someone ashardassed as Ryder. He might whip you into line.”
I whacked him across theback of the head for that one, even though I knew he was joking. Plus, I’dnever mentioned love before. I wasn’t going to delve deep enough into my Ryderemotions to put a label on them.
I settled in beside Jayden,the couch snuggling around me. Oliver dropped in on the other side of us andhanded me a glass of red. I held it between my hands, warming it.
“You have to stop withthis Ryder stuff,” I blurted out. The not thinking about him thing was notgoing well. “He doesn’t want me. I mean, he freakin’ kissed me like I was theonly woman in his world, like he couldn’t live or breathe without me. The wallswere down, the fire was lit between us, and then he not only doused the flames,but iced right the hell over them.”
I took a sip, letting thesweet copper tones cross my tongue. It was followed by a burst of blackberryand cherry, which was tart and crisp and delicious. I would have to let Lucasknow this one was a hit also.
“Give Ryder time,” Oliversaid. “You mean something to him. He rarely lets anyone new into his world, butyou somehow snaked your way in there almost from that first night in the clubwhen you were just some human he ran into. He’ll come around.”
I shrugged, even though apart of me jumped with joy to think that it hadn’t just been me who noticed theconnection between us. Even from that very first night. Still, I wasn’t sure Ihad the time or energy to wait around any longer. Ryder and I were friends, andthat was where it would stay. This time I was almost certain of it.
The next morning I woke up dry-mouthed,with the slightest of hangovers. Luckily, Lucas had provided more than twentybottles, because the boys and I had polished off at least ten of them – with alittle help from Kyle and Markus, who had joined us later in the night. Ryderand Sam were no-shows, and I couldn’t say I was surprised about that.
Breaking the silence,there was a loud knock on the door. It sent a pounding pain through my head,and for a second there I thought I might throw up. I closed my eyes for asecond, gripping the thick blanket in hope of regaining my equilibrium.Thankfully, the dizziness and pain passed, enough so that I could drop my legover the bed and stumble my way to the fridge for some blood.
O-negative, not taintedby alcohol. My fangs had descended and the bottle was already in my mouth whenI wrenched open the front door. I was not in the mood for visitors today. Thesecond I saw who it was, I instantly regretted not at least brushing my hair,or my teeth for that matter.
Ryder’s eyes were light,the black swirling with silver as he stared. “Rough night?” he finally asked,his lips curling up as if he was fighting a smile. I narrowed my eyes andpulled the bottle of blood from my lips before sticking out my tongue andslamming the door in his face. I was totes not in the mood for Ryder. I sankback against the door, my body sagging as I fought the urge to tear the barrieropen and throw myself at him.Don’t be pathetic, Charlie.Not even forthe hottest man that ever lived. I finished my blood before throwing the bottleinto the trash.
“Charlie, open the door.”His low words penetrated through to me, and I had to squeeze my eyes tightlyshut, my nails cutting into my palms as if the pain would somehow make mestronger. “Charlie … please.”
My knees pretty muchcollapsed under me as he uttered those words. I had never heard that tone fromhim before, that level of low anguish and need. I bit my lip as tears rimmed myeyes. The pressure in my chest was sharp and biting as the force of my emotionsslammed into me. I couldn’t ignore him when he spoke like that, I needed toknow what he was here for. This Ryder seemed different.
