Trembling, I rose to my knees and shoved the needle deep into his neck.
He arched, his back bowing off the ground. Then he sagged into place. “Thank you,” he said, panting.
I crouched beside him, guarding him from further attack. But I’d taken so long to help him, the battle was over. Gavin straightened, ash from the last creature to die raining around him.
Veronica returned to her body, became one and rushed over to pull Cole up. “Are you okay, sugar?”
Sugar again. I wanted to push her away from him.
I didn’t.
“I’m fine.” Very gently, he added, “Don’t...don’t call me that. Okay?”
She blanched. Then she glared at me, spitting out, “You’re the worst thing that’s ever happened to him. Have you realized that yet?”
I couldn’t, wouldn’t, engage her. And I couldn’t exactly refute her, could I?
“If you don’t cut him loose, you’re going to kill him, and I’m going to... I’ll put you... Argh!” Clearly, she’d kept herself on a leash, and the leash had just broken. She launched at me, knocking me to my back and throwing a punch.
I took it, using what little energy I had left to work my legs between us and shove her away. She came back swinging and clipped me in the chin. I rolled with the impact, lumbered to my feet. We circled each other.
“I’m going to—”
“Nothing,” Cole said, silencing her as he stood. “You’re going to do nothing, Veronica.”
Panting, she said, “Please tell me you don’t still care about this girl. After everything she’s done?” When he failed to reply, she paled and looked to me. “I don’t know if you’re human or zombie or both, Ali Bell, and I don’t care. You’re no good for Cole or anyone here, so why don’t you do us all a favor and stay away? Or die. My vote is die.”
“That’s enough,” Cole shouted.
I...wanted to die. Everything Veronica had said rang true. These people would have been far better off without me. Cole would have been able to fight. He wouldn’t have gotten bitten. And what about tomorrow? What would happen then? I was nothing more than a living time bomb. I never knew what I would do next—or whom I would hurt. One day, I could detonate and take out everyone around me.
“The zombies are dead. Where’s Kat?” Frosty demanded. He stood a few feet away from me, his clothes torn and splattered with black goo. Just then, his navy eyes did justice to his name—they were coated with ice.
Cole moved beside me and wrapped his arm around me in a shocking show of support. I loved his warmth and his scent and his strength and wanted nothing more than to bask in them, but I forced myself to move away from him.
He might support me in this right now, but it wouldn’t last. He’d soon regret it and wish he’d kept me at a distance.
He lifted his chin, every muscle in his body tense.
I pretended to ignore him, marching over to grab my purse and inject myself with antidote.
“Kat,” Frosty snapped.
“Ethan,” I replied. “She’s with Ethan Hamilton.”
Frosty went still, a predator who’d just spotted the tastiest of prey. “Who’s Ethan?”
“Reeve’s...friend. I know where he lives.” Bronx was just as disheveled, just as splattered, just as predatory. “Cole?”
“Go,” he said, and the two boys needed no more prompting.
Gavin stepped to my side, saying, “You need a ride, Ali?”
“I’ll take her.” Cole approached me a second time, but I backpedaled toward Gavin.
“No. He’ll take me,” I rushed out. Avoiding Gavin had been stupid. He didn’t tempt me to do things I shouldn’t. I could remain calm with him.
I wouldn’t become a menace.
Cole stopped abruptly, looking between us, his eyes narrowing. I wasn’t sure of Gavin’s reaction to this new turn of events, and I didn’t care enough to switch my attention. My gaze remained locked with Cole’s. My heart cracked.
“It’s better this way, remember?” I said softly.
“For who?”
You. “Both of us.”