Ash(17)

“Number forty-six…” Ryder’s voice sailed by as he blurred past. He was doing the seamless graceful thing, his movements controlled and strong.

Asshole was still calling me number forty-six. I picked up my speed, my lungs increasing as my legs blurred underneath me. What can I say? I was competitive. As I caught up to him, I was assaulted by the beautiful network of muscles that made up his back. He was wearing a tank, but I still had plenty to perv on. Pushing myself harder, I grinned as I stepped in beside him, matching pace. Yes! I was an unicorn-ash-badass.

Ryder side-glanced at me.

“Getting slow, ash,” I said.

At first his expression didn’t change, but then, as he leaned forward a little and took off at some sort of super speed, I swear the slightest of smiles lifted his lips. Dammit! I was never going to catch him now, so I decided to slow my pace so I wouldn’t fall on my face. No reason to give him any more reason to think I was a clumsy idiot.

As we did another round of the track, I noticed a newcomer was standing next to one of bench chairs, far back under the cover, out of the light. It was a gorgeous vampire with bright blond hair and fair skin. He had not been on the track when I started, but there was no missing him now in his very white trench coat. He was watching me, gaze locked on with intensity, and I found my pace slowing as my curiosity was piqued. He was tall and well-built, his distinct silver vampire eyes swirling as they continued to track my movements. He was momentarily distracted when Ryder stopped in front of him and gave a military salute. Words were exchanged; their demeanor was friendlyish. Then the vampire pointed at me. Oh shit. I stopped about twenty yards away, cautious as the blond started to wave me over. Ryder spared me a quick glance before turning his back and taking off down the track again.

This guy looked about twenty-five and was watching me with an intensity that made me swallow hard.

I couldn’t exactly ignore him. The vamps ran this world, so even though I really didn’t need any new drama in my first real day in the Hive, I found myself slowly crossing the outer lanes, stopping an arm’s distance away.

“Hi,” I said.

The vampire gave me what seemed like a genuine smile. “Hello, Charlene. May I call you Charlene?”

Hell no, you’re not my mom. “Sure.” I needed to play nice. I had no friends here.

He extended his hand. “I’m Lucas Belcroft.”

Lucas. This was the dude Jayden had said was interested in me. Looks like I was about to find out why. He held out a hand for me shake. I hesitated briefly, but the sense of otherness which kind of freaked me out about vampires was not as strong with Lucas. I took his strong, firm hand, and instead of repulsion I was met with a light flutter in my stomach. I let go as soon as Lucas’s silver eyes began to swirl.

“I wanted to make your acquaintance for many reasons. And I am reaching out as a member of the Quorum, the vampire council. We are all very intrigued by you.”

Yeah, no shit. Female ash. Didn’t happen. Got the freakin’ memo loud and clear. “Yeah, I’m a little shocked myself.” I noticed Ryder was eyeing us while running.

Lucas’ eyes dropped to my chest for a fraction of a second, but then rested on my lips. Men, vamps or ash, were all the same. “We have been in discussions since you were … discovered. The rules and traditions stand for a reason, and there are no exceptions. You do have to participate in the culling, but I will do everything in my power to make sure you survive.”

There was a possessiveness in his voice. Homeboy wanted this ash-unicorn bad, for what I didn’t know. I was struck with an uncomfortable thought then, one which I really should have had earlier but there had been already quite a bit going on in my head.

My father was a vampire.

Not John, the soldier Mom spoke of, who had bravely saved his men from a landmine. Nope, I had been sired by a virus-infected bloodsucker. Crap! What if Lucas was my dad? That would be super weird, because he was really hot and I had been checking him out. Note to self: no more checking out vampires until I knew which one was my daddy-o.

Seemed I needed to have a chat with my mom. I wasn’t sure if that was allowed or not, but I was damn sure asking the first chance I got. I focused on Lucas again.

“And why would you want me to survive?”

He smiled again. Dude was quite cheery for the undead. “I’m your sponsor. We all want our initiates to survive.”

Okay, not exactly the detailed answer I was looking for, but it sounded like the sponsor thing was set. I wondered how it was decided. Did they just draw names out of a hat, or had this Lucas specifically requested me?

“Well … thanks.” What the hell else was I supposed to say? He wasn’t breathing or moving much and it was starting to freak me out.