The downed immortals had all risen to their feet. Mortals rose more slowly and with the aid of their immortals. Or, in Tracy’s case, with the aid of Sheldon, another Second.
Richart and Étienne looked as if their heads were about to explode.
Ethan had to admit he was pretty pissed, too. How could Seth have thought Lisette capable of such treachery? Had he discovered she had slept with Zach? Because clearly the two were lovers now. And that chafed a hell of a lot. But big fucking deal. Bad judgment in lovers wasn’t tantamount to betraying everyone you know and love.
Seth kept his gaze trained on Zach, Lisette, and the two immortals now examining her.
David glowered at everyone else, effectively shutting down any tirade they might wish to launch. David didn’t blow his stack often, but when he did—Whew!—it was best not to be around.
Melanie tried to examine Lisette as best she could under the circumstances. She ran her fingers over Lisette’s arms and legs, across her abdomen, applying pressure here and there along the way. When her fingers slipped between Lisette and Zach’s chest, she gasped and jerked her hand back.
Bastien stiffened. “What?”
A bead of blood formed on the tip of one finger. Frowning, Melanie slowly felt along the same path, then drew her hand back.
Dread curled in Ethan’s stomach when she held up a tranquilizer dart.
It couldn’t be.
Melanie listed to one side, eyelids drooping.
Bastien hastily wrapped his arms around her, his face darkening with concern. “Melanie? Sweetheart?”
She squeezed her eyes closed and shook her head. “I’m okay,” she said, but slurred her words as though drunk. Unsteady on her feet, she clung to the arms Bastien wrapped around her. “I just . . . I just pripped . . . pricked my finger.”
A pinprick had done that? Shit! How much sedative had been in that thing?
“They must’ve . . . must’ve upped the dosage again,” she continued.
Utter silence took the room. Men and women turned to mannequins, shocked into stillness. They, meaning the mercenaries who were all supposed to be dead, had upped the dosage again? The last time they had done that, it had taken double the usual dose of the antidote to enable immortals to rouse and function again. And they hadn’t functioned normally. They had functioned, at least briefly, as if they were high on coke or something. Juiced up. Heart racing. Not thinking clearly before they acted.
Seth strode forward. “That isn’t possible.”
“Stay back!” Zach barked.
“Fuck off!” Seth took the tranquilizer dart from Melanie’s limp fingers and brought it to his nose. He drew in a deep breath. His eyes flashed gold again, and thunder rumbled outside. “How the fuck can this be?” he growled with a fury and disbelief Ethan suspected they all felt. “We didn’t even bother to bury memories this time. We killed fucking everyone!”
“It doesn’t matter how it happened.” Bastien spoke, the only calm voice and clear head present, it would seem, aside from David’s. “Not right now. We need to get Melanie a small dose of the antidote and see what, if anything, we can do to revive Lisette.”
If anything. The words hung like a pall over the room.
Keeping one arm around his wife, Bastien shifted to stand at Zach’s side. He reached around and touched Zach’s back beneath his wings, giving him a sympathetic pat. “Come on. The infirmary is just down this hallway. Let’s make Lisette comfortable and see if we can’t help her.”#p#分页标题#e#
Ethan had only ever heard Bastien speak so compassionately to Melanie and Ami.
The immortal black sheep had to give Zach a gentle push to get him moving.
Stiffly at first, as though his feet had grown roots and didn’t want to leave the floor in front of the bay window, Zach allowed Bastien to lead him from the room.
Seth followed.
A raindrop hit the grass outside with a swish. Another followed. Then more, racing each other to their doom until the sky opened up and pummeled the land with liquid fists.
David eyed them sternly. “Not one word.”
Étienne glowered at him. “David—”
“Not. One. Word,” the elder repeated. “Your grievances will be heard at a more appropriate time. For now . . .” He motioned to the vampires. “Richart, take these two to the network and place them in separate holding rooms. Bring Chris back with you when you return. He needs to know what’s going on. And ask him to send someone out here to replace my window. The rest of you, see to your wounds, then clean up this mess.”
He turned without another word and headed down the hall, disappearing through the infirmary’s doorway.