Page 52 of Hard Shift

“I don’t know. She was given plenty to pack for this trip.”

Rhys stormed into his office and grabbed another pair of clothes, shoving his legs into his jeans. He pulled a shirt over his head and carried his shoes with him.

“What shots?”

“They’re specially designed just for her. They mask her scent with an added kick of the blood enzyme that sustains us. That’s why she never knew she was immortal.”

Evan carried her toward the front door. Max tossed Rhys his keys as he stormed by. “Where to?”

“The compound,” was Evan’s only answer.

****

Elizabeth fought to open her heavy lids. Loud, angry voices pulled her from the dark, deep sleep that had consumed her. She rolled her head, and her whole body ached. Her muscles were stiff and heavy to move. Where was she? Dead? Or worse, had Horace captured her?

The yelling in the room stopped, giving her a reprieve from her pounding head.

“Lizzie.” She heard Rhys calling her name, felt his touch on her forehead. “Everything is going to be okay, baby. It’s time to wake up.”

She tried to speak, but her words came out in a moan as she turned her head into the warmth of his touch.

Her eyes slid open, and she blinked until she could focus.

She heard Evan’s command. “Rhys, you need to step back. We don’t know if we gave her enough.”

“Fuck off,” Rhys growled back. His lips felt familiar and warm on her hand.

“Rhys.” She croaked his name. Each syllable felt like tiny shards of glass cutting and ripping her dry throat.

“I’m here, baby.” He lifted her into his arms, cradling her head. “You need to drink this.”

He pressed it to her lips, and she opened for him, grateful for the cold liquid that replaced the fire and pain. The liquid was sweet and tangy, unlike anything she’d ever drunk. The color was dark red, but she didn’t care.

He set the glass down and eased her back down on the pillow.

“Where am I?”

Memories started to flood her mind. The fight? Colton? The wolves? She gasped and tried to push herself up as fear gripped her heart and squeezed tight. “We have to help Colton.”

“He’s fine, Lizzie.” Rhys picked up her hand and kissed it again.

“Where am I?” she asked, turning her head to look. The lights in the room were dim. No windows on the wall. She tried to move her hand, but Rhys stopped her. She turned toward her arm and saw the IV stuck into her vein.

“Rhys?” Her voice rose an octave, laced with panic.

Evan answered from across the room. “You’re at the compound, Elizabeth.”

She turned toward his voice to find him leaning against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, and he was wearing the familiar scowl that she’d come to know.

“What compound?” she asked.

“Our base of operations. It was the only place we could treat you.”

“I don’t understand.” She turned her questioning gaze to Rhys, and he shook his head, closing his eyes in resignation.

“You needed our enzymes to survive. Without them, you would have died or ended up killing whoever was around you,” Evan answered.

“Way to sugarcoat it, asshole.” Rhys turned to growl at Evan.

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