“All I’m doing is keeping her alive, but the sickness is spreading. I can’t prevent her death. I can’t cure her. If he’s willing to finish bring her over, I think she has a good chance at survival.” She prayed no one asked for specifics. They might believe they understood her little peculiarity with electricity, but they didn’t understand the full effects it could have on others.
“Find another way.” Durant’s words cracked in the room. Decisions became harder when you had to agree to change someone into a vampire rather than just allow it to happen.
All her anger and frustration bubbled over. She pointed to Cassie. “Is your pride worth more than her life?”
When he didn’t answer, she rubbed her arms, static crackling as she did so. She couldn’t believe she’d so misjudged him that he’d let his prejudice claim the girl’s life. “If you don’t want my help, I suggest you take her and leave.”
Durant remained seated, unable to say no but unable to agree to a pact with the very creature he’d fought a war against. Vampires craved the powerful shifter blood, high octane compared to humans. The danger came in when some vampires ensnared their donors and forced them to obey.
“Call him.” Taggert handed her the phone. “You wouldn’t have suggested it if there were any other choice.”
Now that the decision was made, she hesitated. Vampires weren’t much better than shifters. Their hatred ran just as deep. Prophecies said the wolves were created to protect the vampires while they slept. Until they rebelled and killed those they were sworn to protect.
A few vampires still believed shifters should either be called to heel and put back into service or decommissioned. The shifters believed vampires should be made dead permanently before things reverted back to the dark ages.
“Your promise first.” She looked at each man, daring them to glance away from her. “I want your word that you’ll leave him in peace.”
“Raven–”
“No. We escaped the lab together. We promised to stick together for protection. But the first instant, you turn your back on him.” Anxiety tightened the muscles of her back. She had to find a way to make him understand. “He’s my pack. I won’t have him vulnerable to attack in my own home.”
“No, Raven. You pulled our asses out of that hellish hole. If not for you, we’d still be there.”
Taggert didn’t seem surprised, but Jackson’s all too curious gaze made her gulp. He’d demand answers she wasn’t ready to reveal, the horrible truth about her childhood that she tried to bury deep inside where it’d be lost.
Part of her knew she was only moving through the steps, trying to find a cure where there was none. But she couldn’t give up that slim hope. And she couldn’t not give Durant that same hope.
She picked up the phone and dialed the number she prayed she would never have to use. Rylan knew her fears. Before he disappeared, he’d promised that if she lost control, all she had to do was call and he’d come for her.
He answered immediately, the low, honey sound of his voice soothing after all this time. Fear beat a heavy rhythm in her chest and silence stretched as she fought to force words past the painful memories.
“Raven.” One word breathed a wealth of emotion.
“I need your help.”
Chapter Eleven
DAY FIVE: JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT
Raven felt Rylan’s arrival before she saw him. The air hummed with his arrival, power tickling along her skin. Unlike shifters, vampires gained power through what they consumed. Though Rylan wasn’t ancient, he had a hell of a lot of power to call on thanks to the labs. Now that he was here, nerves struck, doubts rose, along with a thrill at finally being able to see him again.
“Rylan.” The men ranged close to her side as she whirled to face him.
“At your service, beautiful.” The black haired vampire stepped out of the shadows, his lean body whipcord thin and immaculately dressed. But it was his haunted blue eyes that captured her attention and stole her breath.
“Thank you for coming.” When she went to touch his arm, he deftly stepped out of reach. She swallowed thickly and accepted his choice, ignoring the stab of hurt at his rejection. She knew better to touch anyone, especially him. “A person came, asking for help. I tried, but I fear my particular talent isn’t enough.”
Those sea blue eyes of his darkened in understanding. He knew her influence over the undead and how much danger it put her in if others found out she could raise them.
“Show me.”
A relieved breath stuttered out of her body. She opened the door to the office and nodded toward the chaise. Cassie hadn’t moved since she’d left. Her drying hair was clumped and snarled, the mahogany color limp. If anything, she appeared worse, her skin pasty and dull. Death hovered ever closer.