A Kiss of Blood(49)

There was no escape. Not this way.

And if not through a sunbeam, then how? She was so hungry.

The crushing disappointment weighed on her until it was all she could do not to sink to the ground and give in to the tears. But tears wouldn't get her out of Vamp City. And there had to be a way out.

How many times had she come to a point in a computer game where there appeared to be no way to win? She'd never given up because she'd known, if she searched long enough, she'd find it. There was always a way to win. She'd find it this time, too.

The snap of a twig had her heart rate skyrocketing. Her eyes had yet to adjust to the dark again, and the thought of something out there that she couldn't see had her blood running cold.

Slowly, her vision began to return, and when it did, she knew she was no longer alone. Dark forms dotted the hillside, standing between the trees.

Wolves. At least seven giant gray wolves.

The blood drained from her face.

"Werewolves," a female voice said a short distance behind her, making her jump. Too late, she realized that by standing in the sunlight, she'd undoubtedly made herself visible to anyone within a mile radius.

Lily glanced over her shoulder, not wanting to take her eyes off the wolves for too long, and caught a glimpse of a woman who looked to be close to middle-aged, at least midthirties. She wore a gown similar to Lily's, colorless in the twilight, and nondescript. Her hair, twisted into a knot at the nape of her neck, lacked a Slava's glow, but the belt around her waist, laden with a sword, hunting knife, and what appeared to be an old-fashioned waterskin, gave her the appearance of someone who'd been here a long, long time. As did the bow she held to her face, an arrow cocked and aimed at the nearest wolf.

Unless the Traders had snatched a survivalist off the streets of D.C., this woman was no freshie. Instinct told Lily she'd been here a while. Long enough to turn Slava, if she was human.

So if she wasn't human, what was she?

Vampire.

Lily watched the wolves, the saliva dripping from mouths lined with sharp, deadly teeth, and wondered if they, or the woman at her back, posed the greatest threat.

"They're starving," the woman added quietly, as if hearing her thoughts. "And you're fresh, tender meat. It's your choice-stay here and become dinner, or come with me."

Lily's body rocked from the force of her heart's thundering beats. It seemed she was about to become someone's dinner. But the vampire didn't have to kill her to feed from her. The wolves did.

Without a word, she turned and hurried toward the woman.

"She is mine," the woman called to the wolves. Several snarled. One howled. But to Lily's surprise, they made no move to attack. Was it possible that seven werewolves were really afraid of one vampire? And what did that say about Lily's own chances of survival?

She supposed she was about to find out.
                       
       
           



       Chapter Twenty-Three





Quinn paced the demolished living room of the safe house, clean now, after she'd picked up the mess she'd made while practicing her magic again this morning. Using the focusing technique Arturo had shown her last night, she was able to pull the power with more and more predictability. But whether the ability to throw chairs equated to the power to renew Vamp City's magic, she didn't know.

She glanced at her watch as she paced. It was after one o'clock. A short while ago, Mukdalla had brought her lunch and assured her that Zack was fine, that he and Jason had been in the gym almost nonstop since dawn. Quinn supposed it was as good a way for him to spend the time as any.

The low rumble vibrating in the floorboards made her freeze. Hoofbeats.

Her gaze flew to Kassius, who stood by the window.

"Arturo, returns," he told her. But as she started toward the door, he held up a warning hand. "Wait, Quinn. It's possible he's not alone. I can't tell."

But moments later, Arturo strode into the house. He acknowledged his friend with a nod even as he strode directly to her, swept her into his arms, and kissed her hard.

She kissed him back, feeling the tension in his hard body slowly ease. Finally, he pulled back, and she watched him with concern.

"What was that for?"

"I was in need of your sunshine, cara." He curved his arm around her waist and pulled her hard against his side as he turned to Kassius. "You understated it, Kas. ‘Off the rails' does not begin to describe what I saw this morning. He is completely losing it."

Kassius's eyes were grave. "He gets worse by the day. What's his plan?"

"He is not concerned with Quinn's renewing the magic today. After the tale I spun, he's convinced she can renew it at any time."

Quinn watched him, curious. "What did you tell him?"

"That I watched you escape back into the real world through a sunbeam. He's ordered Zack found as a lure. I told him you were looking for him, Kas." Arturo searched her face. "Any more uncontrolled blasts?"

"No. I've been practicing, and I'm getting better."

"Good." He placed a soft, lingering kiss on her temple, then pulled away. "It is time to join the others."

The ride to Neo's was quick and uneventful. Quinn found Zack at the dining table sitting across from Jason, a massive half-eaten ham and turkey sandwich in his hands. His face was flushed, almost beet red, his hair damp with perspiration. His eyes, when he looked up at her, were sharp and bright, if disturbingly silver.

"Hi, sis. How's the training going?"

"Surprisingly well."

"Want to give me a demonstration?"

She gave him a wry smile. "Since my forte seems to be throwing and destroying things, I don't think Neo would appreciate it. At least not in the house." She sat beside him, resisting the urge to feel his forehead again. She could tell just by looking that his skin was burning. "How's your training going?" she asked, keeping her voice even with effort.

"Good," he mumbled around a bite of sandwich, then swallowed. He grinned as if he felt perfectly fine. Clearly, he did. "I'm getting stronger. Faster than I should."

"I've never seen anything like it," Jason said. "Maybe it's the magic fever, I don't know, but he's doubling his reps every time he lifts the weights."

Zack released his hold on one end of his sandwich to lift his fist and make a muscle. And, for the first time in his life, he had one. More than one. He wasn't bulked out by any means, but her brother's scrawny arms were no longer scrawny, after only two days of weight training.

"That's amazing." But she couldn't quite mask the worry in her tone. Building muscle that quickly wasn't natural. Neither was burning up with a fever that should have already killed him.

"Can I get you something, Quinn?"

Quinn shook her head at the sound of Mukdalla's voice. "No thank you, I'll get it myself." She found the sideboard set out with deli meats and cheeses, and made herself a quick and simple ham sandwich on white bread with a light smear of mustard.

She joined her brother but had taken only a couple of bites when Zack jumped up from the table. He gripped her shoulder. "Tell me before you leave for the Focus, Quinn. I'll be in the gym, Jason, whenever you're ready. I want to try some more fighting moves." He strode out of the room, a confidence in his step that Quinn had never seen.

The ex-Marine met Quinn's gaze. "He's going to wear me out."

Amanda, coffee mug in her hand, joined them, and Quinn turned to her. "What's going on with Zack?"

She frowned. "Honestly, I'm not sure. His body is changing much faster than should be possible. And his temperature continues to rise."

"What's it, now?"

Amanda hesitated. "High."

"How high?"

"Almost 112."

Quinn gaped at her. "He should be dead."

"Yes." Amanda covered Quinn's hand with hers. "You need to be prepared."

A searing pain spread through Quinn's chest at the certain knowledge that at any moment, Zack's body could fail beneath the unnatural heat. Any moment, he could die.

"He'll be okay," she said, as much for her own benefit as the doctor's. "Once I renew Vamp City, he'll be fine." She had to believe that because the alternative was unthinkable.

Amanda nodded.

"Jason!" Zack called. "You coming?"

"I'm coming!" Jason smiled ruefully though his eyes remained heavy with concern. "I don't think I've ever had quite such an enthusiastic recruit. He's a fine young man, Quinn."

As Jason went to join Zack, Amanda cradled her coffee mug and peered at Quinn. "Are you okay?"

Quinn nodded though the real answer was no, and they both knew it. She wouldn't be okay until Zack was healthy again.

Quinn finished her sandwich in silence as Amanda wandered away. She was just rising when Arturo and Micah strode into the room.

"Join us, cara." Arturo held out his hand to her.

Quinn grabbed her plate, intending to run it back to the kitchen. But Mukdalla was walking through the room and intercepted her.

"I'll take it for you, Quinn. Go."

With a nod of thanks, Quinn joined the two vampires. "What's up?" They stood in a small circle to one side of the room.

"We're moving up the timetable," Arturo told her.