Maricela shrieked. Half her torso was now inside the quicksand. Carolina’s fingers slipped from the root, and she skidded back.
“Lalo!”
The sediento Lalo battled thumped to the dirt. Lalo yanked one of the lover’s daggers from the dead sediento’s chest and stalked forward, hatred glowing in his eyes. He raised his arm and threw the dagger. The blade pierced Maricela’s neck.
Maricela’s head fell back, and her hold on Carolina’s ankle released. With a cry of relief, Carolina crawled away.
Lalo ran past her toward el lago del fuego.
“What are you doing?” Carolina yelled.
He skidded to a stop at the very rim of the quicksand and reached out. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of the dagger and he jerked it free. Lalo stumbled back and landed hard on his bottom beside Carolina just as Maricela’s head and red hair were devoured.
“Holy shit,” he panted. He turned to Carolina. “I killed her. The beast who murdered my parents is gone.”
Carolina reached out and grasped his hand, ignoring the aches screaming through her body.
He shook his head. “I…I thought I’d feel relieved. But my mother and father are still gone. Her death doesn’t change that.”
“No,” Carolina said. “But now there is one less vampiro trying to end us before we reach Vidal. Two, if you count the oaf you also killed. Besides, Maricela was a real bitch.”
Lalo chuckled. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
A deep howl rumbled through the air. Birds that had been roosting in the trees above took flight.
“The chupasangres are coming,” she said.
Lalo nodded. “And who knows what other sedientos might be heading this way.”
Slowly, they stood. She started forward but her knees gave out. Lalo’s hand caught her.
“What is it? Is it your ankle?”
She shook her head. “The bite,” she gritted her teeth. “It burns.”
“Saints,” he whispered. His thumb grazed over the wound.
Carolina hissed. The sensation felt like a thousand knives digging into her skin.
Lalo bent down and licked her burning flesh. His warm tongue slipped over her. But no relief came.
“It’s not working,” he cried.
He tried again.
“You aren’t healing.”
Her veins felt as if they were on fire. “What is happening to me?”
Lalo sucked in a breath. “You drank my blood.”
She gripped his arms as hard as she could, but it was barely a pinch. “What are you saying?”
“You…” His eyes met hers, so full of sorrow. “You’re turning.”
“What? No. That can’t be.” Her chest, shoulder, and arm burned as if the bite was lava seeping down her body. She gritted her teeth. “How long until I become a sediento?”
“Depends on the person. It’s faster when the body is already dead, but the power of Tecuani unleashed with her bite will stop your heart eventually. The process could take a week. Could be days.” He paled. “Could be hours.”
