“Jesus, Charlie. Announce yourself!” she barked.
“Sorry!” Damn, she took the protector role seriously. Good girl.
Oliver was shaking; there was too much damn blood, pouring everywhere, coating the floor around them. How was it possible to lose that much blood and not be dead? Jayden had better not be dead.
I sat in the blood, getting as close as I could to my BAFF.
My hands shook as I ripped open the IV lines and attached the blood bag. I felt Ryder’s hulking mass behind me, and when I brought a shaking hand down to my best friend’s arm, Ryder placed his hand over mine to steady it. I took in a deep breath, and then with more focus I placed the line with Ryder’s help. He’d had to do this a few times in the field with his men, so he was actually a massive help.
Jayden’s veins were nearly nonexistent with the blood loss, but we got one. Standing, I held the blood high so it could drip down into his body. Ryder must have grabbed a med kit at the triage center, because he was ripping open packages, his hand steady as he began suturing Jayden’s leg wound.
I tried not to think too hard. My mind already felt stretched so thin it was barely lucid. I held Jayden’s hand; Oliver had the other, and we waited. The longest goddamn wait of my life. My eyes were trained on the very shallow and minuscule rise and fall of Jayden’s chest. If he stopped breathing, I would die. I would literally give up on life. Jayden was someone I couldn’t live without. Thank God he was an ash; a human would have been dead long ago.
We must have stood there in silence forever. But after the gunshots died down, we heard a van drive by, loudspeakers blasting a message: “Vampires have surrendered. It’s safe to leave your homes. Get your wounded to a local triage center.”
“Did you hear that? Get my ass to a triage center.” Jayden’s weak voice filled the silent room and I broke down in tears. I didn’t realize it until now but my arm holding up the blood bag was completely asleep. I let it drop, leaning forward to gently hug Jayden.
Oliver was openly crying, and even Ryder’s eyes looked a bit damp.
“That didn’t exactly go as planned,” Sam said from the doorway, and we turned to see him with Jared, Markus, and Kyle. Kyle’s shoulder was bleeding, but he looked okay. I was just opening my mouth to ask about Carter when he walked in after them, looking like he’d just been to a day spa. Despite his efforts, which most certainly hadsaved a lot of lives, he had not a hair out of place. I blew my father a kiss, and then all the enforcers.
They were alive. Thank you, God, Jesus, and all the saints. They were alive. My family was alive, and with a bit of luck the cure was working around the world. Vampires’ numbers were decimated.
I couldn’t contain my joy, laughter spilling from me as my eyes continued running across my family. There was a small part of my heart that mourned for Lucas; the fact that he didn’t make it would haunt me forever, but I was determined to remember that everyone else was alive and I would count my blessings.
Chapter 14
One month later.
The sunset was absolutely spectacular as I made my way toward the pink carpet stretching out across the sand of the private beach in Turtle Cove. The background noise consisted of a small trio playing local music, and the crashing of waves against the warm, golden sand. My bouquet of flowers was fragrant enough for even humans to scent.
As I reached the edge of the aisle, the music changed slightly, signaling that it was time for me to walk the final steps to the end. My eyes were locked on Ryder, standing beside his best friends. The six of them were decked out in white, which they didn’t usually wear, but really should more often. Ryder looked absolutely spectacular, his shirt open at the collar, pants fitted to his delectable body.
His grin had me stumbling my way down, but I managed to recover before completely face-planting it. He was going to be the death of me. Taking a few deep breaths, I did spare a glance for Oliver; he was the man of the hour, but there was no way I could keep my eyes from Ryder for long.
I had to keep it together. The guests’ attention was on me. I was Jayden’s best man after all. He’d decked me out in a beachy dress, all flowy and sunset colors. I even had gems adorning my bare feet, and cuffs around my ankles. My hair had grown out a little and was softly curled around my face. Jayden had overseen every single aspect of my appearance, and then gave his stamp of approval before kicking me out the door to walk in the bridal party. A party that consisted of me, Becca, and Tessa, who were dressed the same as me, walking a few yards behind.
Sam looked more than a little gobsmacked by the sight of our Becca all dressed up. She’d even ditched her glasses for the day, although I preferred her with them. They suited her so well. My heart soared at having all of our friends and family here. My mom and dad were in the crowd, along with plenty of others we knew from our life in the Hive, and before.
I couldn’t believe Jayden had pulled this all together in a few weeks. After the battle in Portland, where I’d almost lost my BAFF, Oliver refused to wait any longer to marry him. Ryder and I had been talking of a trip to Hawaii, and as soon as Jayden heard he ran with it, and started planning the wedding of the century. Something nice to look forward to in the midst of rebuilding our world. The vampires had destroyed much on that night, but in the end, at least ninety percent had been cured or were dead. The Hives were being demolished, and the small number of vampires who’d survived were in hiding, and for now were staying there. Lincoln and his team now headed up a newly formed government division: VAT. Vampire Acquisition Taskforce. They kept us updated with news. Carter worked for them too. He’d taken the cure and was no longer vampire. But he had been one of the Originals and held a plethora of information on vampire hideouts around the world.
He and my mom were in love. Like so in love. If I still lived at home, I’d have to get soundproofing around my room just to stay there. Seeing them together made me happy. I now understood why my mom had been single for so much of her life. I’d be the same with Ryder. When you love someone like that, there is no replacing them.
Ever.
Ryder’s eyes were practically silver as they remained locked on me. That gaze reminded me of the many hours we’d spent wrapped around each other in the past month. Yeah, my mom wasn’t the only one getting some action.
Okay, gross, no more thoughts of mom action.
Ryder and I were determined to make up for every second we’d been apart. Or had almost died. I was kinda getting addicted to him. His touch. The way he loved me up so fully that sometimes I couldn’t even remember my own name.
As I took my place beside the officiant, Ryder winked at me and I saw so many promises in his expression. Damn, I could not wait for the honeymoon. And it wasn’t even my wedding.
Tessa and Becca joined me then too, and suddenly Jayden was at the end of the aisle. He looked breathtaking. I expected him to wear something pink and glittery, but instead he was in all white, like his soon-to-be husband. Okay, so there were some glittery pieces, and he had jewels across his feet, but mostly he looked like my beautiful best friend. His ash colored eyes looked a bit misty as he started his walk, and to be honest, I’m not sure there was a dry eye in the entire place as we watched the way Oliver and Jayden stared at each other.
When Jayden was about halfway down the aisle, Oliver moved, striding across and meeting him there. I raised a hand to my mouth, to cover up the small sob which wanted to escape. That was so beautiful; he literally couldn’t even wait for him to walk down the aisle to have him at his side. That’s how these two would do everything from now on, as a team.
The officiant started the ceremony, but I don’t think Oliver or Jayden heard a word. They were enthralled with each other, and had to be prompted twice to repeat after him. A cheer went out when the wedding was complete. “I now pronounce you partners for life, husbands, lovers, and friends,” said the officiant. Oliver and Jayden kissed then, before he could get to that part.
