Remaining still had to be one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was the freakiest thing. It felt as though bugs were crawling under the skin of Antonio’s forehead and bursting out and then scraping their way through the skin of my own. Then there was this almost unbearable feeling of bubbles bursting inside my skull. My limbs burned. My heart went ten to the dozen. My lungs pained. My stomach ached, and God I was so thirsty all of a sudden.
It felt like forever before all of it, as abruptly as it started, ended with one more bang which made us break apart.
“Oh. My. God. What was all that?” I was wheezing. Luther thrust NSTs in mine and Antonio’s hands. So efficient. I’d gulped it down so quick that I didn’t even taste it. My throat stopped aching then.
“It would be fair to say that my power has never had such an enthusiastic reaction before to the process of bestowing,” explained Antonio after reservedly drinking his NST.
“That was enthusiastic?”
“The pain and the discomfort are normal. The explosion-type sensation we had at the beginning is not....That was my power literally bursting with enthusiasm to enter you.”
“Why so enthusiastic?”
Antonio looked to Luther who, for once, had no answer.
Eventually Antonio theorised, “Perhaps because your own concentration of power was so great it massively attracted my own.”
I took an inventory of my entire self. “I don’t feel any different.”
“It may actually a few weeks for the gift to manifest itself, just as it does for a vampire’s natural gift to emerge,” said Luther. “I must say I am eager to see what it will be.”
“As am I,” giggled Antonio. “Do you feel able to return to work this evening?”
“That’s where I’m going now,” I said as I rose from the bench. “Hopefully the gift doesn’t pop up then or God knows what I might end up doing to the boys.” An evil smile surfaced. “That would be the most perfect excuse to beat them senseless though, wouldn’t it?”
“Oh and Sam, there is one last thing before you go,” called Antonio casually as I reached the door.
“What’s that?”
“When the attack happens on The Hollow, I’d like for you and Jared to lead the recruits together.”#p#分页标题#e#
I spun on the spot. “Say again?”
Chapter Seven
(Sam)
Entering the training arena, I almost dropped dead with shock – which would be a hard thing for an immortal to do. Inside, stretching and gabbing and laughing at dirty jokes, was every single one of the recruits. No sulky or irritated expressions. No lazy postures. No yawns or groans. Not even any signs that they were angry with me after I dug into their past and hit them with it. In fact, they all seemed eager and rearing to start.
I giggled, which made them all turn. “Did someone mistakenly tell you lot that I’ll be doing this topless or something?”
“Naked, I heard,” joked one of them. It might have been Harvey.
Max flashed me his usual smile – no hint of last night’s flirtatiousness in it, which was good. Like most people, I wanted my personal life and work life separate as far as possible. “We’re big boys, we can admit that we were wrong about you.”
Chico nodded and gave me look that was both apologetic and respectful. “If you’re someone who can kill your Sire to protect Antonio, then there are things we can learn from you. And you’re the kind of person I would listen to.”
There were murmurs of agreement from Denny, David, Salem and Reuben.
“Plus, you got a great body and I’m starting to get sexually confused being around guys all the time,” said Damien, appreciating my navy jeans and pink top that came attached to a white vest so covered my cleavage a little better. Needless to say, I’d picked this when Fletcher and I went shopping. He had begged me not to buy it.
“And you were right,” said Butch, “we let ourselves get caught up in the high of being picked for the legion and thought we were the best thing since sliced bread.”
“So, where do you want us and what do you want us to do?” asked Stuart.
I snorted. “Well first of all the lot of you can stop the friendliness and flirting. I’m not your mate, I’m not here for you to ogle at, and I’m not here to joke with you. I’m here to coach you.”
They all nodded and, in unison, said, “Yes, Commander.” Was I dreaming?
“Oh no, you can drop the ‘Commander’, I can’t stand it.” But I wasn’t going to let them call me by the first name either.