Her eyes scanned over me rapidly. She was cataloguing all the changes. The blood I’d just downed was working its magic, and I knew my eyes would be shooting out all kinds of swirly ash vibes.
The smile slid off my face. I wasn’t sure what to do. You know shit’s real when your best friend for most of your life is afraid of you.
“Hey,” I finally said. My eyes fell. I stared at my shiny boots. I really, really needed Tess to be my normal and annoying best friend right now. I was pretty sure I couldn’t handle one more disappointment this week.
As if she’d sensed that need, I felt a hand touch my cheek, and as I raised my head, a smile spread across her haggard features. This time she didn’t hesitate to pull me into a bone-crushing hug.
“Sorry, your eyes freaked me out. They’re kind of really fucked up, Charlie.”
I relished the brutal honesty this girl could dish out. “You don’t look so hot yourself,” I countered.
She pulled away. “Yeah, that’s what happens when your best friend turns into an ash and gets taken to the Hive.”
I sat down and took a deep breath. “Tess, I am so, so happy I got to see you this one time, but that’s all this can be. It’s not safe here. If you sign up as a feeder, others could use you.”
She sat next to me and threw across her biggest bitch game-face. “I’m coming here every week. Every. Single. Week. If I get fed on, then so be it.”
She was daring me to counter her. I couldn’t. I was selfish enough to know I needed her.
“I might not last a week,” I whispered, thinking of the rumors.
She put an arm around me and said, “Tell me everything.”
And I did.
Chapter 4
After talking with Tessa, I reluctantly pulled myself from her side and returned to being an ash. I got my bunk assignment from the receptionist. I was feeling all kinds of tired after this shit storm, and was pleased to find out that ashes still slept. At least I might have an escape from my newly discovered life during sleep. The receptionist had passed on a message from Jose, telling me how to find my room. Apparently I now had no escort. Which was fine with me. I found the right hallway no problem, level forty-four, room twelve. My card swiped open the door, and after seeing the room was empty, I collapsed into what was hopefully my bed and passed out.
A scratching, thud noise had my eyes flying open. Instinct pushed me to sit bolt upright, frantic.
Standing on the other side of the room was a gorgeous, tall, buff guy with dark espresso skin. We locked gazes for a few extended moments. I was awake enough then to hate on him a little for his ridiculously long eyelashes – wasted on a man, for sure – before deciding to speak and break the silence.
“Hi,” I squeaked. I should have realized I’d be sharing a room with a guy. There were no girl ashes.
He didn’t hesitate to cross the room and extend his hand. “I’m Jayden, hottest chocolate ash up in this bitch.” He did a flamboyant hand gesture for added measure and I cracked a smile. I had impeccable gaydar, which was definitely not required with Jayden. I instantly liked him and realized that those eyelashes were probably very much appreciated by this particular guy.
Shaking his hand, I introduced myself. “I’m Charlie.”
“Girl, you have the entire Hive in a frenzy. Female ash. Crazy stuff.”
I cleared my throat. I was thirsty and not for water. “Yeah, well, no one is more surprised than me.”
He stiffened then, his rippling muscles freezing in place. “Your eyes look a little hungry.”
Breaking his statue-like pose, he crossed the small room and opened a little refrigerator before tossing me a cold bottle of blood. “It takes a while to get the guts to feed from a human. I’m assuming you still like blood of the bottled variety.”
I caught the bottle midair and nodded, wasting no time popping my fangs into the lid. I was able to contain my excitement better. It wasn’t that the blood was less orgasmic – it was all kinds of amazing – but I was gaining a little control over my reactions.
“Thanks.”
He nodded and took a seat across from me on his bed. Our room was tiny. Like closet small.
“Wow, they really roll out the red carpet for us, huh?” I gestured to the room, which held two beds, the refrigerator, and a door to what I assumed was an adjoining bathroom.
Jayden smiled. “This is shitty temp housing for the newbies. If we survive the culling, we get proper cribs.”
My face went slack. Okay, yes, I had heard rumors, but here it was confirmed, the culling. Defined in the Webster’s dictionary as “Killing a bunch of motherfuckers off.”