Page 51 of Addicted in Blood
Ginger strode to the windows and yanked the drapes open.The bright light slammed into me, and the jackhammer returned.
“Not the curtains.”
“Yes, the curtains.You need sunshine.”She poured a glass of water from a pitcher on the dresser.“Drink up.You’re dehydrated.Good grief, don’t vamps know anything about hangovers?”When I’d drained the glass, she refilled it.“I suppose not, since they can’t get drunk.More’s the pity.”
I laughed, almost choking on the water.“God, I missed you.”
She plopped onto the bed, no longer tiptoeing around me.In fact, she seemed to be going out of her way to make me miserable again.“I missed you, too.I only heard bits and pieces when Sergi and Lucas were hovering over you.I guess it was pretty taxing—mentally and physically.”
I shared the highlights of the trip, including the vamps I’d met before Colantha found me.“I think the physical strain was sitting in that damn pit for so long.”
Ginger pulled out her cell and made a call.“She’s awake and could use some coffee.Uh-huh, that’s perfect.Thank you.”
“Who was that?”
She ignored me and disappeared into the bathroom.And a minute later, water was splashing into the tub.Then she rummaged through my dresser, pulling out underwear, leggings, and a large sweatshirt.
I’d fallen back to the pillow in a vain attempt to make the room stop spinning.Before I knew it, she grabbed my hands and pulled me out of bed.
“Come on.Time to face the music.”
“Ow.My body isn’t ready.”I stumbled as she dragged me to the bathroom.“And it wasn’t like I was out partying for three days.”
When she pushed me toward the tub, the scent of lavender and mint lured me to stick a toe in.The water was blessedly hot, and an hour later, we were sitting on the bed, eating Cook’s blueberry scones, still warm from the oven, and guzzling coffee.
“What’s the news on Devon?”I focused on my scone but glanced at Ginger, who seemed overly interested in her coffee as she stirred sugar in.
“I think it’s best you discuss that with Simone.”
“Are you kidding me?”My voice must have risen because she blanched.Or maybe she was feeling guilty.“So, you’re falling along party lines.”
Her head popped up, and the tears surprised me.“No,” she snapped.“It’s not like that.”
I pushed away the plate, knocking the cup and sloshing coffee over the tray.“It’s that bad?Is he still alive?”
“Oh my god.Yes.Of course.”She nibbled her bottom lip.“I didn’t mean…” She twisted her napkin.“I didn’t want to be the one to tell you.”
Now my tone was deathly quiet.“Tell me what?”
“Devon has become more aware since Decker took away the meat dosed with Magic Poppy.”
“Isn’t that good news?”
“Yes.But his physical condition isn’t improving.”
I let her words sink in.Devon couldn’t shed his beast form.When I saw him as the beast, he couldn’t even talk.Would my only interaction with him be in a construct?I couldn’t look at Ginger, and I scrambled off the bed, stumbling to the windows.I couldn’t breathe.
Ginger’s arms wrapped around me.“I’m so sorry, honey.No one’s given up, but the focus has shifted to a vamp who might be the killer.I think they’re hoping Devon might show improvement in a couple of days.”She lowered her voice.“I think they’re considering taking him to Oasis.”
“Hide him from the Eliminators?”I couldn’t believe Simone or Sergi would approve of that.“Do you know who they suspect?”
Ginger stepped back, shaking her head.“Lucas is pretty tight-lipped about it, and I haven’t pushed.”
“Thank you for sharing what you did.I know it was hard.”
We hugged, and it seemed like the weight of the world was on our shoulders.She pushed me back and stared at me, her mouth opening and closing.Then she spit out, “I forgot to tell you the cops are looking for you.”
ChapterTwenty-Six
