Reyna tensed. If an army and trying to take over the world wasn’t the bad part…
Graves removed a small glass vial from the inside of his suit coat. Liquid sloshed around the inside. “Thisis what he’s testing in the housing facilities.”
Reyna stopped breathing. “What is it?”
“An antidote.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Oh no,” Reyna whispered.
The first time that Reyna had ever heard Harrington discuss the possibility of an antidote she had been sick to her stomach. The idea that vampires could go back to drinking from any human that they wanted regardless of blood type was a horrifying concept. The blood type cure kept them in check. Even if, as she had later learned, it wasn’t as potent for every vampire, it still helped to drink the right match. But that would all go away with an antidote.
Reyna had stalled that research the day that she’d saved Jodie from Visage. A doctor had said that she was critical to the development of the antidote and Reyna had broken her out. They must have been further along or had used someone else’s blood in Jodie’s place. Now Harrington was using it in his feeding camps to build up his army.
She was going to be sick. Reyna covered her mouth and turned away.
“How does it work?” Beckham asked.
“One vial per human. It’s injected into the blood system, essentially nulling the blood type and creating a universal host,” Graves explained. “It lasts the length of time it typically takes to replenish the blood.”
Reyna saw all of their potential plans unravel with the appearance of that one tiny vial. Jodie wasn’t important. Reyna wasn’t important. There was no reason that Harrington wouldn’t drain her and dump her. No reason at all. He had no weakness.
Graves passed the small vial into Beckham’s hand. “Because I’m feeling generous.”
Beckham hastily pocketed it.
“And as for where Harrington is holed up, I’d start trusting your enemies.”
“What does that mean?” Beckham asked.
“Don’t you mean which one?” Reyna drawled in annoyance. She hated that he was being purposely obscure. They hada lotof enemies. He could narrow down the list for them.
“Start at the top of your list and work your way down,” Graves said, and slid his hands back into his pockets.
Beckham glanced at Reyna. “Roland?”
“Penny,” she spat.
Graves gestured with his gloved hand as if agreeing with them. “Now, it’s been my pleasure to host you for the evening. I will have Edgar escort you out. I do hope that we meet again.”
Reyna shivered at the words as he disappeared through the massive double doors.
Reyna met Beckham’s gaze and lifted one shoulder. What the hell had they walked into?
Edgar entered the room almost immediately. “This way, please.”
They walked in a daze back through Graves’s unbelievable house, retrieved their coats, and were hastily pushed into the elevator. It spit them out onto the bottom floor in record time. The driver gave them back their hoods and they tugged them on once they were safely seated in the limo.
As soon as they left Graves’s house, she had the distinct feeling like she’d dreamed the entire thing. It couldn’t possibly have been real. It felt too unbelievable to even contemplate. And she didn’t know what the fuck he was. Because he made it quite clear that he wasn’t a vampire or a human. He didn’t seem to like either group much. Whatever he was, it was powerful. That was for damn sure.
“What do you think he is?” she finally whispered into the silentlimo.
“A bloody bastard.”
“Well, yes. That much is obvious. But he’s powerful.”
Beckham’s hand landed on her thigh. “I don’t give a fuck what he is.” His hand moved up higher and higher. “Or care to hear you talk about how powerful he is.”
