Page 103 of Tainted Gifts
Everyone chuckles, except for Rex who looks to be stifling a gag reflex. "That's just a theory, not a proven fact. I think Simone should study your blood," Rex says to Jase.
"I'm fine with that. She should probably check Mel's as well. We've learned how different we already are just because of the parental variable - hybrid father versus hybrid mother."
"I'll get started on it right now," Simone interjects. "Where's the blood I gave you back?"
Jase looks toward the massive RVs we arrived in, but they're destroyed... to the point of being unrecognizable.
"It was in my bag... on one of those. I suppose you'll be needing fresh sample. I doubt very seriously that blood could have survived that."
"That was a large vial of blood, so we should burn the RVs just to be safe... in case it did survive."
"We should burn this whole area," Jase adds, motioning to the mass of bloodstained ground.
And he does just that, launching his flames to set the blood on fire, while Simone lifts the blood he hasn't reached and adds it to the flames. She destroys some of it herself, making it bubble into ash before releasing it. Just like that, there's no trace of blood left.
"Everyone should burn their clothes, per the usual protocol," Jase murmurs softly while walking toward Simone. "Take my blood."
She nods while pulling out her knife, and just as she's done before, she lifts his blood and seals it into a vial. She does the same with Melania's blood, and then she walks away to get started on the mystery beneath the new hybrids.
"What now?" I ask curiously, staring at the mess of bodies around us as they burn to keep from spreading infection.
Jase exhales heavily, looking down at me with his hidden beauties lying beneath his pale blue eyes.
"We need to learn a little more about you, for starters. How did you ash those beasts? Your gifts haven't ever revealed this ability before."
"My father had an explosive gift. It felt like it sort of mingled with the gifts I got from my mother."
"It's strong, making you stronger than even I gave you credit for being. We need to figure out more about you before we face off with these things. I want you to be able to do this any time you want to, because you'll survive this if you do. I refuse to watch you die."
His voice almost crackles under strain, but I'm the one who has had to watch him die. Mom was only able to save a life once with her blood. What if that was the only time I can bring him back? What if-
"Stop thinking like that," he murmurs softly, picking me up so that my legs wrap around his waist. "Let's get showered and changed."
I nod as my lips find his and my tears teeter on edge, and he starts walking, carrying me away from the sunrise.
Chapter
Jase is smiling at me when I wake up all cuddle up and warmly tucked in his arms as the daylight threatens to disappear.
"I love this. Waking up to you is by far the best time of day."
I smile as his lips find mine, and the night finally overtakes the day as the sun sets completely.
"We've really got to get back on daytime schedule," he snickers out, while pulling back and kissing my forehead. "I'm starting to feel like a vampire."
I laugh ridiculously hard, and he joins me in the chuckling fest. Keeping my mind blank, I smirk as I rise up and step free from the bed.
"Why am I getting a blanket from your mind right now?" he asks, playful suspicion in his tone.
"I'm very slowly learning to block you out. I've been working on it here and there, and as long as I concentrate really, really hard, it seems to work well enough. Otherwise it's hard to surprise my mind reading fiancé."
He sits up, excitement beaming in those mismatched eyes that give me butterflies and push me off balance. He's so perfect.
"Am I?" he cockily releases, giving me a dazzling smile and a devious wink. I nod while giggling, and he continues. "Then come back to bed and let's spend some time getting tired. I'd like to get us back on the right hours."
I laugh a little, and then I shake my head.
"Get dressed," I say while tossing some of his jeans to the bed.
