Change. No matter where we were, it always showed up.
Right now all of the slayers and those in the know were in Cole’s barn, gathered around a huge TV screen, watching a video of five-year-old Cole being trained by his father to fight zombies.
He was beyond adorable—Cole, not his father—with a mop of black hair and big violet eyes. He got a little overeager with the nunchaku and nailed his dad between the legs. The crowd burst into laughter.
I was perched on his lap. He grinned at me, saying, “Yeah. I’m just that good.”
I loved this playful side of him.
Who was I kidding? I loved every side of him.
Kat, who sat beside us, shouted, “Rewind that!” and threw popcorn at the screen. “Mr. Holland’s expression was all, like, oh, no, I’m going to need my balls reattached, and Cole’s was all, you’re about to lose something else, sucka.”
She and Frosty had not broken up once since she’d confessed her illness. And Reeve’s talk with Bronx had gone better than she’d dreamed—and exactly as Kat and I had expected. He was fully committed to her and demanded exclusivity.
Everyone was so happy. Even Veronica seemed to be at peace. (I wondered if she’d made use of Gavin again.) I rested my head on Cole’s shoulder, and he hugged me tight. We still hadn’t had sex. As much time as he’d spent with me, Nana had spent with me. And if not Nana, Mr. Holland or Mr. Ankh. Or Kat and Reeve. We were never left alone, and I got it, I did. Everyone knew Cole’s kisses sometimes overwhelmed me, allowing Z.A. to take over my body.
Sometimes not even a kiss was necessary. And oh, glory, now was one of those times. I was rubbing my nose against the length of his neck, I realized, barely even conscious of it, getting caught up in the sweetness of his scent. My mouth watered.
Hungry, I thought.
No. Oh, no.
Smell so good.
No! Never.
Must feed!
No.
Shaking, I held my breath and stood. “I...have to go,” I said.
“Something wrong?” he asked, looking up at me and frowning. He held on to my waist, keeping me in place.
“I need another dose.”
The frown intensified. “But you had one only half an hour ago.”
“I know.” A sickening heat swept over me, causing me to both sweat and shiver. A sensation I knew well. Only this one was far more intense. A strange buzz replaced the noise in the room. “I...I...” I backed away from him, shaking my head. “It’s worse this time.”
“Ali?” Kat reached out to grab me, only to shriek in pain and jerk back.
Frosty jumped up and threw her behind him.
Cole jumped to his feet, as well. I glanced down. The red flames had returned, crackling over my hands. My human hands. The fire was so strong it had breached my spirit and seeped out of my flesh. As I fought to douse it, the blaze spread.
Everyone but Cole scrambled away from me. “Ali,” he said, approaching.
“Don’t touch me,” I croaked. “I’m going to walk out of here, and give myself a final dose. Then someone is going to use their flames on me. Please.”
He violently shook his head. “They’d have to get through me, and that’s not happening.”
Z.A. whispered inside my head. You think you could have lasted this long if I hadn’t let you? I’ve been waiting for this moment, when the antidote would no longer help you. So go ahead. Dose yourself again. See what happens.
I watched in horror as the flames spread even farther, to my elbows. And it hurt. Oh, it hurt. Pain shot through me, undeniable, agony in its purest form. “Have to...go,” I panted. “Go. Everyone.”
Not heeding my command, Cole picked me up. I was careful to keep my hands pressed against my middle, away from him, and my ankles straight out. He stopped at the table piled with food and drinks and anchored me against his chest to sweep everything to the floor. Then he gently laid me down.
I heard the gurgle of spilling liquid as he peered at me.
“Fight it,” he commanded.
The flames spread to my shoulders. “Trying.”