Page 35 of Tainted Gifts
I glance back just in time to see the man moving aside to let Simone board the ride I could not. She better not be on a mission to pick up my leftovers.
"Two per bunk," a guy says as soon as we climb in.
"That sounds pretty damn perfect," Kellan murmurs into the back of my head, his hands sliding around my waist as he pushes me to a lower bed.
I force a smile while leaning into him, ignoring the scrutinizing eyes of everyone else. My mind is on the other RV right now. That's where Jase is, and that's where my temptress cousin is.
Normally I wouldn't question her loyalty to me, but with the way she's been checking out Kellan, I'm not so sure her hybrid isn't running her.
Kellan's lips find mine, forcing a few gasps from the disapproving onlookers. I suppose the daughter of Hale Banner shouldn't be making out with an enemy of the United.
"I wonder what the council said," I murmur while pulling back.
"Nothing I care to hear," he scoffs, pulling me into him as the large vehicle starts moving.
The heat is terrible today, and even with the air conditioning on in here, I'm still sweating. There are too many hybrids in here, and they're all stealing what bit of chill the small vents offer.
"You're sweating," Kellan murmurs while wiping my damp brow.
"Observant," I grumble, sounding cranky already. "I wish I could have driven. This is going to be a nightmare. There are maybe two full bloods, and the rest are hybrids. It's going to get a thousand degrees in here," I dramatically add.
He laughs lightly, tucking me against his own heat. It's not comfortable anymore. His heat isn't desirable because I'm burning up. Maybe I can go to sleep without drowning in my own sweat.
Chapter
Feeling like an agitated mess of sweat isn't fun. No sleep again. I've slept less these past two weeks than I ever brfore in my life. Now I'm exhausted and hotter than ever - and not in a good way.
I'm ready to get into the night air and pray it offers a breeze. I almost dive off the RV, my hair dampened by the sticky air I left inside.
The small breeze feels good, but it's not enough. I need a freaking ice tub right now. I feel so sick, so tired, and my headache is back with a vengeance. I wish more than anything I could feel the cool arms of Jase wrapping around me and saving me from this sweltering suffocation and miserable pain.
The other massive vehicles form a circle around us as they park. Jase's RV is unloading all the important officials. Jase doesn't get out though. Neither does Simone, and that makes me sicker than I already am.
I decide I'm too curious to know what's going on inside that RV, and I can't help it. I step into it without getting stopped this time. I walk through the narrow aisle lined with bunks until my heart stops.
I gape at the bottom bunk where Jase is asleep with Simone pressed against him. His arms are behind his head, but one of hers is draped over his waist. I can't believe she did this. I can't believe-
"Aria?" he asks, waking up when my panicked thoughts grow too loud.
He looks down to my traitorous friend... the girl I called my sister, and then he looks back up to me with dull, indifferent eyes.
"It's not-"
"Not what it looks like?" I ask, laughing bitterly while turning away. "Do whatever. I don't care. Tell Simone to get the fuck out of my house. I don't feel like speaking to her."
I almost fall out of the RV on my way through the camp. I can't see the water from here, but I can smell it. We have to be close to a lake or a pond of some sort, and I'm desperate to cool down.
"Aria?" Kellan says when he sees me rifling through my bag. "What's wrong?"
"Simone's on a mission to prove a point apparently. You'll probably be her next target."
He glances up, and my eyes follow him as the chill of a full blood gets too close.
"Aria, she was hot," Jase growls, sounding more annoyed than apologetic or explanatory. "We have more hybrids with us than full bloods. They sort of absorbed all the cool air. You're being crazy right now, especially since you and I aren't together."
Kellan tightens his lips upon hearing Jase's words, not that Jase gave a damn about how loud he said them. The whole camp is watching us like some old school drama show.
"Whatever," I murmur. "Go cool my ex-best friend down some more. I'm going for a swim."
