“Oh my God!” Val shrieked.
My heart felt like it was about to give out. Everyone was in a panic and moving in a blur. My eyes couldn’t keep up with the vamp speed that was swirling around me.
“What happened to him?” I asked, running at half the stealth of the vampires into the house. I caught sight of Braden, his skin was gray and beginning to crack just like old concrete. The guy was withering away like a dying flower right before our eyes.
“Give him some of the serum,” Cole ordered, “It’ll stop the desiccation process.”
“Shit! We ran out of the reversal serum. We haven’t been able to get a hold of that stuff in years,” Lucas answered. “What the hell happened?” Lucas asked in a severe tone.
“Damn it to hell!” Cole gripped each side of his head.
“What the hell happened?” Lucas demanded. “Nothing gets the jump on Braden.”
“He got into it with a guy in the alley and was stabbed in the arm with the fucker’s knife. It wasn’t until the wound didn’t heal immediately that we realized the guy was one of Enzo’s.” Logan said in a nervous, yet calculating voice.
“There’s got to be something we can do!” I finally spoke up.
“Elle.” Zac’s voice was like a whisper, and his sad eyes were now pleading with mine in some bizarre way. “She’s got lifeblood in her veins. She can save him.”
“Just because she’s a Life Blood, doesn’t mean we’re going to throw her in the middle of this!” Logan spat as he ran a hand through his hair.
“You know she’s the only fucking answer, Logan!” Zac snapped.
I felt weak and suddenly lightheaded. I stumbled back, and thank God, an oversized chair caught me.
“Elle,” Cole was at my side, “Come with me.”
I was swooped up in his sturdy arms before I could blink. “Will you be okay in your room? Boots is already on your bed, I can hear him purring from here.”
“What’s going to happen to Braden?” I croaked.
“We’ll figure something out for him. He was a jackass for getting stabbed in the first place.”
We were at the room in that instant, and I could see the urgency on Cole’s face. “Does he need my—” I swallowed hard, “Does he need…”
“Your blood?” Cole’s emerald eyes studied mine in confusion. “No. I’ll send for a healer. We’ll have him on the mend in no time.”
He went to leave, but I caught his arm. He sighed, “Elle, I really have to go seek out a healer or a witch for Braden. Also, I have no idea why Enzo’s vampires are here. We may have to get out of this town tonight.”
“I want to help,” I said as confidently as I could.
“I know you do. There should be some lounge clothes or whatever you’re comfortable sleeping in over in the chest of drawers. I really need to go figure things out, or Braden is royally fucked.”
“I will help him,” I managed before Cole could shut the door behind him.
He stepped back and studied me, “Be very sure of what you’re offering. We will not allow you to be frightened, used, worried, or any negative shit like that. You may be a Life Blood, but my cousins and I only see that as something that has bonded us together.”
“You know this is more important than my feelings.”
“Let me talk this over with my cousins. I will see if we can get a damn healer or witch too.” He nodded. “Just know that none of us take you or your blood for granted. You aren’t just here for us if we get hurt.”
“Got it.”
Chapter Nineteen
Iwatched the door close behind Cole, and I stood there numb and scared. I didn’t know if I was scared to lose Braden or scared to have yet another life-altering moment take place. I couldn’t think, and I really didn’t know what to do. My mind and heart seemed to be focused on one thing though—helping Braden.
I slumped onto an oversized bean bag in the room, and Boots took that as an invitation. The gray tabby snapped awake, ran over, and jumped onto my lap, purring and running his silky fur against my clammy palms.
