Page 62 of Addicted in Blood
Had I killed him after all?
ChapterThirty
I grippedthe shreds of Devon’s pants and pulled myself over to him, still weak from blood loss.I wasn’t sure if I’d passed out or not, but if I had, it hadn’t been long.Deep shadows permeated the surrounding structures except for the dawning light that circled us.My body shook, one more clue I’d lost too much blood.It hadn’t seemed that he’d drank that long, but I might have been mildly distracted by the intimacy of the moment.
Devon hadn’t moved, and I tucked myself behind him, my arm draped over him to grab his wrist.His pulse was weak, but it was difficult to be sure with my shakes.I inched higher and checked the pulse on his neck.Yes.He was still alive.That was something, but we weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
I was mulling over our non-existent options when I heard the soft tap of nails on concrete.It took a few seconds to place the sound, then I wasn’t sure whether to be terrified or relieved.The sound came from behind me, and I rolled over to face the threat.
Mr.Black, its head lowered to meet my eyes, stood ten feet from me.It whined as it lifted its snout and gazed at Devon behind me.It stepped closer, its eyes back to me as it chuffed.
“We need help.Can you get us help?”I had no idea if it understood, but it wagged its tail, chuffed one more time, then ran off.All I could picture was Timmy asking Lassie to get help.I laughed.I couldn’t stop, and still on my back, I began to choke.Then I saw stars and rolled over as gasps for air came between each hacking cough.
A hand gripped my shoulder and pulled me to my side as another hand slammed my chest.I wasn’t sure that was necessary, but after a couple minor chuffs of my own, my breathing eased.Somehow, I was still grinning, and I rolled to my back.Devon’s arm slid from me, having expended what little energy he’d had left.
Several minutes went by before the sounds of someone running echoed through the complex.Maybe two people.
“Cressa.”Sergi laid a gentle hand on my shoulder and then my forehead.“What were you thinking?”
I must have still been grinning because his expression turned from concern to irritation in a single breath.At least, that was what it looked like.I was seeing double, so I couldn’t swear to it.
“Sergi.Look.”Lucas squatted between me and Devon, blocking my view.He didn’t sound distressed, so I took that as a good sign.
I rose several inches until my head spun.
Sergi pushed me down.“Stay where you are.”He stepped over me and went to Devon.He mumbled something to Lucas, and I cursed that I didn’t have super hearing.
“Call for the van.”Then Sergi was next to me.“Just relax.”
“Devon?”I attempted sitting up, but my arms had no strength, and I fell back.
“He’s fine.We’ll talk about it later.We need to get the two of you out of here.”
I closed my eyes, sleep overtaking me now that I knew we were safe.Sergi and Lucas were here.
When I opened my eyes,I didn’t recognize where I was.I remembered the mill, being lifted into a van, a poke in my arm, then nothing.I sat up, then grabbed my head.The ache wasn’t as bad as coming off Colantha’s special juice, but the bright light streaming in from the window made me squint and drop back down.
“The healer left something for the headache.”
I turned my head to find Bella sitting sideways on a floral chair, her booted legs hanging over the arm.She held up a vial with a pink liquid.“It’s the same medication she gave you after your coma.”She tossed the vial, and it landed a foot to the right of my hip.“She says she added a peppermint flavor.”
I struggled to sit up, thankful for the overly zealous number of pillows stuffed behind me.The potion the healer had given me the first time held two doses per vial.I assumed the same applied and drank half the liquid.
“Are you my babysitter?”
She laughed.“Yep.Just until you woke.Simone requests that you stay in your room.”
Then everything slammed into me.I hadn’t woken from a dream.It had all been real.
“Where’s Devon?”I glanced around the room, and what little I could see through the window was enough to confirm I was at Oasis.That made sense.Their plan had been to bring Devon here.
“He’s resting.The healer just left.”
I swung my legs to the side of the bed then waited for the headache and my vision to stabilize.
“He’s not taking any visitors.Simone is holding a meeting with the cadre to determine our next steps.She promised to come up and talk with you when it’s over.”
It was useless to argue.With the amount of energy it required to move my legs, I doubted I could follow Bella far without collapsing in a hallway.
