Page 69 of Crimson Storm

Swinging his legs around, Shane slid from the bed and stood.

“Great. I’ll go with you. When do we leave?”

34

No Kool-Aid for Me

“You can’t.”

Placing a hand on Shane’s chest, I urged him to sit back on the bed. “And you shouldn’t get up yet. Wait for Dr. Coppa to clear you. You can trust him, by the way. He won’t hurt you. He’ll keep an eye on you until I return.”

I could see in Shane’s eyes the realization was hitting him. He craned his neck around and saw Reece, no doubt mistaking him for a security guard.

“They won’tletme go with you, will they? Am I...” His question turned into a statement. “I’m a prisoner.”

I nodded. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen. I guess I didn’t think it through very well when I brought you here, but you were dying and there wasn’t much time. I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You could have turned me,” he said.

I was shaking my head no, but he went on, grabbing both my hands now. “You still could. Then I could come with you. I could help you if you turn me.”

“No.”

“Why not? Think about it. It would besaferfor me. I’d be like you—and my parents. And they’d have no reason to keep me prisoner here. I’d be free.”

This time I didn’t drop his hands but squeezed them. “Shane... if I turn you... you’llneverbe free. You don’t know what it’s like. You would regret your decision.”

“Not if I got to stay with you,” he argued. “And it would solve that whole I-can’t-date-a-human-guy problem.”

Another disgusted snort came from Reece’s side of the room.

Shane twisted to look back at him. “You wanna mind your own business buddy? I realize you hate humans, but this has nothing to do with you. Just do your job.”

Reece was in Shane’s face in an instant. He glared down at the shorter guy. “Myjob—is keeping the princess safe. I won’t let anything get in the way of that—certainly not herpityfor a weak human.”

“Princess?” Shane gave me a quizzical look.

I cringed. “My mother is the ruler here, she’s sort of... a queen.”

He blinked. “Oh. Wow. Well, I guess that explains your reaction when I kissed you the first time.”

Now Reece didn’t snort in disgust but growled a low rumble that vibrated through me and must have raised every hair on Shane’s body.

What wasupwith him? No, Shane shouldn’t have told him to shut up. That would’ve angered any red-blooded man, human or otherwise. But Reece was being extra-aggressive toward my friend.

I put my hand on his arm. “Please. Could you give me a minute to say goodbye? Then we can go.”

He maintained his stare-off with Shane for another long moment then whirled away, going to stand by the door with his hand gripping the handle so hard I worried it would break off and trap us all in this room together.

That wouldn’t end well.

Shane watched him walk away. “You’re traveling withhim? I don’t like it.”

I smirked. “Join the club. He’s leading the mission, and I’m going along to assist. Believe me, you don’t want to go on this trip, and youdon’twant to turn. You shouldn’t get any more involved with this world than you already are. I promised to let you return to your life, and I’ll do whatever I have to do to keep that promise.”

Shane reached out and cupped my face in his hands. “You’repartof my life now. A big part. I don’t want to lose you.”

And then he pulled me toward him and placed a soft kiss on my lips. I gasped and drew back, staring at him in shock.

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