Page 92 of Love Heals
That would have to wait, though, because Crimson was carrying someone. His sister. Immediately, Jared felt guilty for having felt relief at all. How could he, while his family was suffering?
Elena, at least, was conscious, though. Conscious and coughing. Crimson lowered her down next to Remy. "Is that everyone?" he asked.
"I think so," Jared confirmed. It was only now that he realized they'd even gotten the dog. Drizzit was trailing behind Silas. Jared allowed himself a moment to exhale, then he sat down next to Elena. He was about to offer her his blood when Silas grabbed his wrist to stop him.
"You're way too pale," he said. "You need to keep your blood to yourself."
"I have to—"
"No you don't," Silas cut in, his eyes blazing. "Do you think your family wants to be saved if you die in the process?"
"But they need—"
"If I have to learn to be more selfish, so do you."
Jared stared at Silas wordlessly. For Silas to take this tone with him... to look at him like that. It was almost as if he were looking at the same young man he'd fallen for back when he'd first started his career as a social worker. Suddenly, he knew that Silas hadn't run into that fire to throw his life away.
So Jared couldn't throw his life away either.
No matter how much he wanted to help, Silas was right. There was a limit to what he could do.
The sound of the sirens was getting louder. They had to be close by now. The rain was getting stronger too. Jared hadn't noticed it at all for the past few seconds, but now that he did, he found that his shirt was already drenched.
"You guys need to get away before the emergency services get here," Jared said, looking at each of the vampires in turn. The black spots returned, and his teeth itched, but he tried not to let that show.
Crimson nodded. "It's fine. We can run." His skin had stopped glowing and he didn't look great, but not as if he would black out any moment either. Jared had to trust that he would be fine, that they would all be fine.
"I'll find you," Silas said, his gaze more earnest than Jared ever remembered seeing it. Overtaken by emotion, Jared rose to his feet, grabbed Silas's chin and pressed a kiss to his lips, ignoring that feeling of vertigo that told him he really should have stayed on the ground. He didn't care about reason, though. Not when Silas had just saved his sister. Not when the man he loved was finally acting like himself again. Silas leaned into him, his mouth warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the rain pouring down on them. Jared wanted to draw him even closer, deepen the kiss, but suddenly, Silas hesitated. His eyes wide, Silas drew back.
"You have fangs," the vampire said. "Why...?"
What was Silas talking about? Idly, Jared ran his tongue along the upper row of his teeth, then stopped.
There really was something oddly sharp there...
But how...?
Before Jared could figure out exactly what was going on, his vision faded out.
