“Shiiiiiit!” I screamed, sailing high into the air, higher than humanly possible. My instincts kicked in then, the heat unfurling from my center again as my body glided through the air. It wasn’t the most graceful of levitation, but it was going to do the job. Tucking my legs up, with my arms out, I prepared to land as the rooftop came into view. Holy shit I was totally going to make it!
As I sailed into it like a cannonball, I caught sight of a Humvee and one other car on the roof. Tapping into more of the heat, I forced my body to glide rather than plummet as I began my descent. I found that if I straightened my legs, it slowed my fall a little. Holy fuck! I was legit flying. All too soon the cement lot crashed into my legs and there was a distinct crack as I rolled before skidding to a stop. Flying I was okay at, landing not so much.
My left leg was definitely broken … but no pudding.
I was alive!
Suddenly Ryder was there scooping me up in his arms and shaking his head. “Are you okay?” His voice was gruff as he tenderly rubbed his thumb over my ankle.
I winced. “My ankle is broken but I’ll be fine.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “You’re amazing, Charlie.”
I didn’t have time to respond before the sound of gunfire erupted.
“Let’s roll!” Sam shouted, pounding on the hood of the Humvee.
Ryder crossed the parking lot to the vehicle in a dozen quick strides and placed me in the back, reaching across and yanking up a duffle bag to prop my leg up. Even with the limb as secure as he could make it, I knew it was still gonna hurt as we tore out of here.
The second the door shut and Ryder was in the front seat we were off. Scanning the car, I tried not to bust up laughing at Jayden sitting on Oliver’s lap and the little girl sitting on Kyle’s. Seems they had ditched the second car at some point and all joined forces to come back and save me, which was so sweet, but it did mean we were packed into the Hummer like sardines. Sensing me, the little girl turned and peered at me with those unnerving silver eyes.
“Hi,” she said, and I waved at her, taking a deep breath and trying not to hurl. Sam was driving in circles down the parking garage to the main level. Markus reached across and helped to stabilize my leg, which was both painful and relieving at the same time. Hurry up, ash genetics, work your magic.
Jayden’s leaned over the seat and grasped my hand, squeezing. As I squeezed back, I was so grateful that I was leaving the Hive with my BAFF. I missed Tessa but she had chosen her path, and I still had Jayden.
“Snipers on the roof,” Markus said to Sam, who nodded but didn’t lose an ounce of focus as he continued to racecar-drive our asses around the tight turns.
We were out of the parking garage now and speeding across the street to the far gate that the shipping trucks used. My guess was that this exit was less guarded than the others. Bullets snapped the ground as Sam swerved the Humvee.
“Hold on,” Sam yelled as he plowed through the gates. With a heavy crash, they flung wide open and that was it—we were out of the Hive. The entire car gave a collective gasp of relief.
“Come here, I want to talk to you,” I said to the little girl. What was her name again? Katelynn, right. As she turned her attention to me, I patted my lap.
Kyle helped her climb over the seat and she sat next to me in the back.
“Can you keep a secret, Katelynn?” I asked her, even though I knew that in a week’s time the entire Hive would know what I was. I just knew that the blood the Quorum took this time would lead them to the knowledge that I was the cure.
She nodded, leaning in to me.
I showed her my arm and the blue veins that streaked it. “My blood can cure vampirism and I can make you human again.”
Her mouth made a small O shape as she continued staring at my arm.
“Really?” Her voice was so small and I couldn’t even deal with how wrong it felt seeing her like this—seeing the way the virus stole an innocent little life.
I nodded. “You just take a drink and then it will start to change you back, so you can live with your family and have a long and happy life.”
She licked her lips. “Will it hurt you?”
I shook my head and offered my arm. She winced for a moment, clearly grossed out at the thought of biting flesh, but in the end she latched onto my arm and began to drink. The vampire in the club who’d drank from me had fed for about twenty seconds, so I assumed that would be enough for her too.
After thirty seconds, I lightly pulled her off. Her eyes were glassy, her mouth dripping with blood. She looked like she wanted to bite me again, but regained her composure.
“Your blood!” she squeaked. “It tastes like cotton candy.”