rule. Tonight confirms that their numbers are growing exponentially. If I give Ami my blood, it will make her more susceptible to the virus if one of the vampires should sink his teeth into her later.”
A human or gifted one could be transformed in two ways. A vampire (or immortal) could drain the human almost to the point of death, then infuse him or her with the vamp’s blood, infecting the human on a massive level. Or the human could be exposed to the virus in small amounts over and over again through repeated feedings until the virus weakened the human’s immune system enough to conquer it entirely and usurp its place.
“I don’t need your blood,” Ami announced, tired of their discussing what to do with her as if she couldn’t decide for herself. “So, while you three stand here chatting, I’m going to go home, take a shower, apply a few bandages, and go to bed.”
She turned toward the driver’s side of the car, staggered forward a step, and bumped into Marcus’s chest. Damn their speed. Sputtering, she wiped at the blood his saturated shirt had just deposited on her face. “I’m going home, Marcus.”
He smiled. “I know. I was just going to suggest I drive.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but held her tongue when he placed a gentle finger against her lips.
“I have no qualms about admitting you’re a better driver than I am. But the vampires knocked out a headlight, and I see better in low light than you do.”
He thought she was a better driver than he was and wasn’t too chauvinistic or arrogant to admit it? How cool was that?
And perhaps her focusing on his first comment instead of the second indicated that she was no more in peak condition mentally than she was physically.
“Deal.”
Taking her elbow, he escorted her around to the passenger’s side as if he had just picked her up to take her out on a date. This side of the car was badly dented. But he managed to pry the door open and seat her inside. He even buckled her seat belt for her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, wondering how her heart could react so strongly to his nearness when she was riddled with so much pain.
And there was pain. Immense amounts of it. She hurt everywhere, had lost a lot of blood, was cold, and possibly close to going into shock. Yet she had to pretend she was fine so Marcus wouldn’t want to see to her wounds himself, something that would raise too many questions.
Her thoughts scattered when the driver’s side door opened and Marcus slid behind the wheel.
She found a smile when his knees nearly touched his chest.
Grimacing comically, he readjusted the seat, scooting it all the way back to accommodate his much longer legs. “Better.” When he closed the door ...
The space seemed so much smaller with him in it.
Starting the engine, he offered her another smile. “I would’ve just had Richart teleport us home, but he’s never been there either.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather ride.”
He nodded. “Most of us would.”
Teleporting, while awesome, could be a dizzying and disquieting experience.
“Don’t worry,” he went on. “We’ll be home in a trice.”
It wasn’t until Marcus said those words that Ami realized she truly was beginning to think of his house as home.
Dr. Montrose Keegan studied the vampire who stood before him. “Anything?”
The vampire shrugged. “Not really.”
Keegan glowered first at the papers clutched in his hands, then at the machines, beakers, test tubes, burners, etcetera that filled his basement lab. “Damn it!” He looked to his assistant. “What are we missing?”
John frowned at the vampire and shook his head. “I don’t know. I really thought we had it this time.”
John Florek had been a graduate student of Keegan’s before Keegan had been forced to quit and go into hiding so the damned Immortal Guardians and their network wouldn’t hunt him down. The usual rage engulfed him when he thought of having had to tender his resignation
A human or gifted one could be transformed in two ways. A vampire (or immortal) could drain the human almost to the point of death, then infuse him or her with the vamp’s blood, infecting the human on a massive level. Or the human could be exposed to the virus in small amounts over and over again through repeated feedings until the virus weakened the human’s immune system enough to conquer it entirely and usurp its place.
“I don’t need your blood,” Ami announced, tired of their discussing what to do with her as if she couldn’t decide for herself. “So, while you three stand here chatting, I’m going to go home, take a shower, apply a few bandages, and go to bed.”
She turned toward the driver’s side of the car, staggered forward a step, and bumped into Marcus’s chest. Damn their speed. Sputtering, she wiped at the blood his saturated shirt had just deposited on her face. “I’m going home, Marcus.”
He smiled. “I know. I was just going to suggest I drive.”
She opened her mouth to protest, but held her tongue when he placed a gentle finger against her lips.
“I have no qualms about admitting you’re a better driver than I am. But the vampires knocked out a headlight, and I see better in low light than you do.”
He thought she was a better driver than he was and wasn’t too chauvinistic or arrogant to admit it? How cool was that?
And perhaps her focusing on his first comment instead of the second indicated that she was no more in peak condition mentally than she was physically.
“Deal.”
Taking her elbow, he escorted her around to the passenger’s side as if he had just picked her up to take her out on a date. This side of the car was badly dented. But he managed to pry the door open and seat her inside. He even buckled her seat belt for her.
“Thank you,” she murmured, wondering how her heart could react so strongly to his nearness when she was riddled with so much pain.
And there was pain. Immense amounts of it. She hurt everywhere, had lost a lot of blood, was cold, and possibly close to going into shock. Yet she had to pretend she was fine so Marcus wouldn’t want to see to her wounds himself, something that would raise too many questions.
Her thoughts scattered when the driver’s side door opened and Marcus slid behind the wheel.
She found a smile when his knees nearly touched his chest.
Grimacing comically, he readjusted the seat, scooting it all the way back to accommodate his much longer legs. “Better.” When he closed the door ...
The space seemed so much smaller with him in it.
Starting the engine, he offered her another smile. “I would’ve just had Richart teleport us home, but he’s never been there either.”
“That’s okay. I’d rather ride.”
He nodded. “Most of us would.”
Teleporting, while awesome, could be a dizzying and disquieting experience.
“Don’t worry,” he went on. “We’ll be home in a trice.”
It wasn’t until Marcus said those words that Ami realized she truly was beginning to think of his house as home.
Dr. Montrose Keegan studied the vampire who stood before him. “Anything?”
The vampire shrugged. “Not really.”
Keegan glowered first at the papers clutched in his hands, then at the machines, beakers, test tubes, burners, etcetera that filled his basement lab. “Damn it!” He looked to his assistant. “What are we missing?”
John frowned at the vampire and shook his head. “I don’t know. I really thought we had it this time.”
John Florek had been a graduate student of Keegan’s before Keegan had been forced to quit and go into hiding so the damned Immortal Guardians and their network wouldn’t hunt him down. The usual rage engulfed him when he thought of having had to tender his resignation
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