Clearing his throat, the doctor continued, “Based on Linc and Copeland’s survival, and what we’re seeing on the blood drawn from the shifters who volunteered to receive the first doses, I believe we’ve found the answer to preventing many more deaths. And it requires a lot less blood be taken from Charlee and Boone since we wouldn’t be trying to save wolves who were on death’s doorstep.”
“Will you start on another batch of the vaccine right away?” I asked, still worried about the burrow retaliating.
“No,” Dr. Blaine sighed. “We can’t until we have more blood to work with.”
My jaw dropped. “Are you asking for more of her blood?” There was no disguising the horror in my tone.
“Of course not. Boone and Charlee will be far too weak to give any more blood for quite some time. Which means it’s going to be a long while before we can stock the vaccine and begin dosing the pack. And we will need more blood to continue research on an antidote that can be used to save those who are exposed but never received the vaccine.”
“They aren’t the only rabbit shifters you have at your disposal, Dr. Blaine,” I reminded him, holding out my arm. “Take mine and get the work started.”
For a moment, he looked excited, but then he frowned. “It’s not just rabbit shifter blood that is needed. You’d have to be injected with the toxin. It would be a smaller dose, nothing like the near-fatal levels Boone and Charlee used on themselves. But you’ll still feel its effects, probably similar to having a bad case of the flu.”
He would not change my mind. “I understand. But knowing how vindictive the Blackberry Burrow is, we need to do whatever we can to protect the pack. We don’t have the luxury of sitting around to see if the burrow retaliates.”
“Which is why I’m not going to argue with you.” The doctor pushed himself out of the chair with a groan. “If you’re willing to suffer through the toxin’s effect, I’ll go tell the nurses to prepare the injection. The sooner we can start this, the sooner we can protect the pack.”
A rustle came from the doorway, and we both turned to find Monroe and Ellora.
“Tell the nurses to prepare injections for us as well.” Monroe gave me a smile. “Like Fletcher said, Boone and Charlee aren’t the only rabbits in the hospital.”
The doctor hesitated, his eyebrows drawing together. “Monroe, are you sure about this? Are you sure the alpha is okay with this?” Then his eyes slid to Ellora, and he looked more than a little afraid. “And you’ve discussed this with Mac?”
I’d yet to meet this Mac guy, but with the way everyone spoke, you’d have thought he was a villain, not one of the good guys. Was the man truly that intimidating?
“Of course I did!” Ellora laughed. “I wouldn’t risk him ripping your head off. Our men aren’t exactly happy about it, but they understand why it needs to be done.”
“Then, if you’re sure, I’m not going to turn down the offer.” With that, the doctor hurried out of the room. Even though he was tired, his steps had a bounce in them.
I’d always wondered what happened after a shifter died. In my case, it appeared I’d taken a trip to the humid stickiness and scorching heat of the South… and I wasn’t talking about Florida. Yep. All signs pointed to me having just woken up in Hades.
Well, crap!
I racked my brain trying to figure out what I’d done to earn a spot here. Surely it wasn’t because I wanted to kill the councilman? Those had only been thoughts. Maybe it was the stabbing and slashing? Stabbing was bad, right?
No, I was pretty sure I knew what—or who—had gotten me here. It was all my inner bimbo’s—I mean,shifter’s—fault because she only ever had one thing on her mind. I couldn’t even be mad, though. I’d wanted my guys just as much. If it was lustthat had bought my one-way ticket to become a smoke show, I was willing to accept it.
An incessant beeping somewhere in the distance was growing louder. My head throbbed as though the sound was drilling a hole through my skull.
Carrot top!I’d thought the heat was terrible, but this was way worse. Hell was supposed to be awful, but listening to the repetitive beeping for all eternity was a special type of torture I didn’t think I deserved.
I tried to place the sound. Smoke alarm? No, that would’ve been stupid for hell. And a fire drill would have been redundant. As my annoyance flared, the sadistic beeping grew faster. My groan of frustration was cut short by movement next to me. I’d yet to open my eyes, but clearly, I wasn’t alone.
I swear to McGregor’s garden, if I open my eyes and find a demon trying to reach me about an extended car warranty…
“She’s waking up,” a deep, sexy voice rumbled.
Nope. Stop thinking about yummy voices, Charlee. That’s what got us here in the first place!I chided my inner floozy.
With supreme effort, I tried to open my eyelids, but they must have been super-glued shut because they didn’t budge. How long had I been dead?
“Charlee, come back to us.”
Wait, a hippity hoppity minute… I know that voice.
Trying to remember who it belonged to proved to be a challenge, though. Sorting through my thoughts was about as easy as skipping through a bog.
“Charlee, we’ve been so worried.” Rough fingertips brushed my cheek.
