Page 64 of Thicker than Blood

“N-no. I have samples in the lab. They’re labeled.”

“Very well. Benicio will draw you a bath and give you fresh clothes.”

“You’re the one who needs fresh clothes. I threw up on you and your shirt is torn.”

Benicio is gone and back in a flash, handing me a clean shirt. Just as I get it on, my front door flies open and a rabid Jagger appears in front of me with wild eyes.

“Where is Enyo? I need him.”

“Oh gods,” Geordi moans. “Not him too.”

“Where is he?” Jagger asks, looking everywhere.

“He’s locked in my office at the lab,” Geordi says.

“Come, my friend.” I grab Jagger’s arm. “We’ll retrieve your mortal and you can take him home.”

“No, please,” Geordi says. “I need Enyo to help him.”

I growl but nod, unable to deny my mortal anything he wants. “We’ll bring the mortal here.”

“Take me to him, please,” Jagger moans. “I’ll die if I don’t see him again.”

“Fuck,” Geordi mutters. “Please hurry back.”

We step outside and the two of us dash over to the town center where the lab is. Inside, we put two security guards to sleep with a simple look and take the stairs to the fourth floor, Jagger leading the way.

There are padlocks on the outer door, which I rip off easily, then Jagger rushes to the back while I gather the things Geordi asked for. My heart feels lighter, the beast within me soothed knowing my mortal is safe at my home.

Jagger returns with Enyo wrapped around him like an octopus, his face buried in the crook of my friend’s neck. He glances at me with glazed eyes.

“It’s the vaccine,” he murmurs. “It’s made us all crazy.”

A sliver of clarity bounces around my mind, but it’s quickly dismissed by the beast clearly in charge of my actions right now.

“We have to get back to the house. I can’t leave Geordi alone for too long.”

Jagger nods, placated now he’s got Enyo in his arms.

As night closes in on the town, the locals descend into madness. Sirens blare and the red and blue of police lights shimmer on buildings as we pass. Bloody bodies lie splattered on the ground while others enjoy being alive and writhe in public ecstasy.

The scent of blood and sex taints the air, pushing me harder to get back to my consort. When we arrive at the house, Geordi is showered and wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, no doubt from my stash of clothing left behind by visitors and victims, sitting on the floor in the library and scrawling in a notebook. He looks relieved to see me.

Jagger carries Enyo upstairs, leaving me there along with the bags I took from the lab.

“Is it bad outside?”

“By mortal standards, yes. Come to bed, my love. Let me worship you.”

Geordi huffs a breath. “I can’t. I have to figure out what’s going on.”

“There’s plenty of time for that.” I set the bags down, flicking my tongue out under my fangs. “Come to bed. I’ll make you come, and while you rest, I’ll set up your lab.”

“Elias, I really can’t?—”

“It’s not a request, darling.”

He narrows his eyes at me. “I thought you liked consent.”

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