Vlad possessed him? Maxwell echoed hollowly. Butbutsomething like that is impossible.
Actually, its very possible. Thanks to Caleb, Aden had possessed other people himself. Many times. Hed simply stepped inside their bodies and taken over their minds. Was that what Vlad had done? Was Vlad inside Ryders mind, even now? Would killing Ryder end them both? As for now, Im gonna help Ryder as best I can.
You believe her? Just like that? Seth banged a fist into the car, cracking the already abused glass. You saw what she was doing. She had her teeth in his neck. And. You. Believe. Her?
Yeah, I do, Aden replied as he climbed inside the car. Dont speak when you dont understand.
Oh, I understand plenty, Seth said. Shes a murderer, and you dont care.
Shes not a murderer, he snarled from his post. There was one subject guaranteed to hurtle him into a fight. Victorias honor. She wasnt a liar, and she was broken about this. He wouldnt have her hurt further.
Tucker didnt try to stop him as he whipped off his T-shirt and wound it around Ryders gushing neck. He didnt let himself think about Shannon, who lay behind him, gone, unsavable. Or rather, he tried not to let himself.
Shannon, the first boy at the ranch to be nice to him.
Shannon, whose body might rise from the dead and attack him.
Shannon, whom hed have to kill all over again.
Hurry, he told himself.
Poor Shannon, Julian said.
Another senseless death, Caleb cried.
The scent of blood was overpowering. Moisture pooled around his tongue, and his gums ached. Juniors roars laced with fury, and the banging against his skull became more pronounced.
Keep an eye on Shannon, Aden said to no one in particular. Tell me if he so much as twitches.
Will do, Maxwell vowed.
And dont worry, Tucker piped up. No one but us can see whats going on here. Ive made sure of it.
Good Samaritan Award, meet Tucker. Or not. Youll pay for this, Aden told him. All of it. I hope you know that.
Oh, yeah, the boy said, sadder than Aden had ever heard him. I know.
I could possess him right now, Caleb growled. I could make him hurt himself.
No. You heard him, and you heard Vic. Julian, a voice of reason. We need his illusion.
Aden lifted one of Ryders limp arms and felt for a pulse. Weak, thready, but there. The ring Aden still wore, Vlads ring, glinted in the sunlight. Hed had the thing refilled, so there was plenty of je la nune inside.
Best I can included cutting himself open and feeding the boy his blood. So thats exactly what Aden did. With the pad of his thumb, he slid the glittering jewel out of the way. The clear liquid swirling inside, so innocent-looking. He tilted his hand to the side, allowing a single drop to splash against his other.
The burn and sizzle were instantaneous, and he hissed between his teeth. But blood welled, and he let the ensuing stream fall over Ryders neck, into his mouth.
Shannons twitching, Maxwell said.
Adens heart gave a little leap. Maybe, despite everything, hed wanted Shannon to rise. He wasnt ready to say goodbye.
If that were true, Aden had just committed his most dishonorable deed of the week. What he wanted shouldnt have mattered. Turning his friend into a zombie, that was low, even for him.
Hold him down, he said.
The shifter jumped on top of the body the moment Shannons eyelids popped apart. Dull green eyes locked on Aden, and blood-soaked hands reached out.
Seth reached in and batted Maxwell away in an attempt to prevent the shifter from hurting his friend. A friend who was now a zombie, a fresh corpse who would know only a hunger for living flesh. Whose saliva would poison Aden and make him crave a death of his own.
Hes alive and needs medical help. Let me take him inside the hospital, Seth said with a mix of panic and relief.
Hes not alive, Aden said, much as he wished otherwise. No, he shouldnt have done this to his friend. Either friend. Hed given Seth hope.
Tucker clapped, a round of applause meant to gain everyones attention. It got their attention, all right, but it also upped the tension another thousand degrees. Youre all playing right into Vlads hands. Youre distracted and pulling in opposite directions.
As if you care. Maxwell didnt budge from his perch atop the now-struggling Shannon.
You have no idea what I feel! Vlad has threatened my brother. Ill do whatever it takes to save him. And yes, that includes murdering each of you if it proves necessary. Im hoping you wont prove it necessary.
Whether the brother thing was the truth or a lie, Aden didnt know. He did know Vlad was capable of using anyone.
Including, Tucker continued, make a deal with you, when I know youll kill me afterward. So here it is. Save my brother, protect him, and Ill help you save Mary Ann and Riley.
Yeah, theyd get right on that. Because everyone here was borderline certifiable. And give you the chance to betray us? Again? No.
Tucker launched forward, in Adens face a heartbeat later. I hate what that bastard makes me do. I like Mary Ann. Do you think I enjoyed watching her suffer?
From the corner of his eye, he could see that Maxwell had to stretch out his arm to hold Nathan back. Good thing he did. Otherwise the wolfs pearly whites would have been embedded in Tuckers cheeks.
Adens wound hadnt yet closed when he shoved Tucker backward, the action ripping his skin farther. Yes. I do.
I want Vlad to suffer. Do you understand that? I hate him. I hate what he makes me do. Tuckers nostrils flared with the force of his breathing, but he remained in his seat. I cant act against him until I make sure my brothers okay.
His concern seemed genuine, and much as Aden loathed admitting it, Tucker was the best way to get his friends out of St. Marys. But. You want my help with your bro, you help me with Mary Ann and Riley. First.
First? No way. Youll get what you want from me and dispose of me. No, help me first, I help you second.
He studied Ryders face, expecting some kind of change but seeing nothing. His blood would work, or it wouldnt, but there was nothing else he could do. He emerged from the car, Junior immediately calming down, and opened his arms to Victoria. She threw herself against him, her body still quaking.
Id rather kill you now, he said to Tucker, and send your brother a Hope Alls Well card. Cold of him, and he wouldnt let himself ponder whether he was bluffing or not. Not here, not now.
Tucker ground his molars together. How can I trust you?
How can I trust you?
More grinding. Then, We have a deal. Ill help you now, you help me later.
No more argument than that? Huh. Was Aden playing right into some kind of plan? And Tucker had one, he would bet money on it. Hell, he was betting the lives of his people. If I think, even for a second, that youre doing this for Vlad, I will What? There was no threat vile enough.
Im not. Not at this time, Tucker added. He comes and goes, and right now hes gone.
He possesses you like he did Ryder?
No. Heguides me.
Easy fix. Resist him.
Tucker jerked at the collar of his shirt. You dont understand. I cant resist.
Free will, dude. You should try it. His gaze flipped back to Ryder. The flesh in his neck actually appeared to be weaving back together, and his features were contorted in a pain-filled grimace.
Pain was good.
Pain meant life.
Maxwell, drive Ryder and Shannon back to the house, Aden said, issuing orders to get things rolling. Victoria had saved Aden; Aden would save his friends. Hopefully the consequences would not be as severe. Hopefully he could find a way to prevent Shannon fromdont think itrotting. Lock them in separate rooms, doctor Ryder up, and ignore everything he says, just in case Vlad tries to take him over. Have a vampire, Stephanie maybe, feed them both a little blood.
Shannons already dead, so okay, but Ryder wont survive transport, the wolf said, and after restraining Shannon with the seat belt, knotting the length around his wrists and chest, he moved to the drivers seat.
Will he? Aden asked Elijah.
Silence, again such oppressive silence.
Very well. Hed move forward without the souls aid.
Why dont you go with them, Seth? You can help take care of both. What he didnt say: Seth was fully human, and Vlad could now possess humans. Aden didnt know how the former king was doing ithe himself had to touch a body to step into itso he had to take every precaution.
Red suffused the boys cheeks as he braced his legs apart in a classic attack position. Ill go. But if either one dies His narrowed gaze lanced at Victoria.
Hed want revenge.
It wont be Victorias fault, and you wont touch her. Ever. He did, and theyd become enemies. Aden didnt want that.
There was no backing down on Seths part.
A bowl full of cherries right there, but theyd have to deal with it laterif Seth made that necessary. Victoria will stay with me. He didnt like the thought of her around Tucker, but he also didnt like the thought of her out of his sight. Look what had happened last time.
He reached into the waist of his jeans and tugged out the papers that hadnt flown the coop. He tossed them on a clean section of the floorboard. Read everything. Call and tell me what you find.
Tucker emerged and moved to stand behind the car in the next slot over, using it as a shield. Seth took his place in the passenger seat.
Can you make sure they arent spotted on the drive home? Aden asked Tucker.
Yes.
Will you? Wouldnt be smart to leave things open to interpretation. Yes.
Aden had no choice but to believe him. Then do it.
How are you gonna get home? Maxwell asked.
Good question. Ill steal a car. And it wouldnt be the first time.
All right, then. Ill see you when I see you. A few seconds later, the SUV was motoring away, leaving Aden, Victoria, Tucker and Nathanin wolf formto take care of business here.
I still cant risking going inside the hospital, Aden told them. As you can see, Im still in the body-raising business.
Nathan and I can go with Tucker, Victoria said. Well meet you out here.
Hed known she would step up. That didnt lessen his nervousness. She was strong, he told himself. She couldnt teleport, but she could move quickly. If anything happens to her Everyone knew the words were for Tucker, and Tucker alone.
I wont be at fault.
I bet thats your excuse every time you hurt someone.
A muscle ticked below the demons eye. Your friend needed to be eliminated. I let her eliminate him. No excuses necessary. Whats wrong with that?
They werent going to debate this now. Wasnt like theyd change their minds about each other. Riley made the mistake of trusting you, and look where it got him. Believe me, Ill give you enough rope to hang yourself, but thats it.
Meaning?
Meaning, she comes back to me in the condition shes in now, or I hunt you down and make it hurt when I finish you.
Tucker snorted, not the least intimidated. Riley plans to make it hurt anyway. And guess what? I warned him. He didnt listen to me. This is his fault. So lets stop yakking and do this. Ill get your friends, and youll get my brother. Thats the deal.
Before Aden could respond, Victoria said, Ill be fine, as she stepped between them. She offered Aden a small smile. Besides, Nathan is with me. He wont let Tucker do anything.
Aden didnt point out that Nathan wouldnt be able to stop Tucker if the guy started throwing those illusions around.
He kissed her, hard and fast. Do what you gotta do, but you come out of there.
Her pupils expanded, black consuming blue, and he knew she understood. If she had to rip out a few throats to get out safely, she would just have to rip out a few throats.
We doing this or what? Tucker snapped.
Were doing this, Victoria said without looking away from Aden. Then she turned, and the threesome walked away from him, disappearing through the hospital doors.
Aden was left in the parking lot, on his own with his worries and regrets. They wouldnt help him steal a car, so he shoved them aside and cased the parking lot.
TWENTY-THREE
DARKNESS.
Light.
Darkness.
Light.
The darkness offered solace, the light anguish. Therefore, it wasnt hard to pick which one Mary Ann preferred. Sweet, sweet darkness. But that stupid, stupid light kept forcing its way into her mind.
Like now. Bump, bump. Bump, bump. Her poor, battered body was being jostled, each movement a new lesson in agony. An advanced class of you-think-you-know-what-its-like-to-hurt-well-try-this she would have been very happy to fail.
You should carry her, Vic, a raspy male voice said above her.
Familiar. Maybeunwelcome? Or too welcome? Her heartbeat kicked up a notch in the speed department.
Dont call me that. And why would I want to carry her? Wait. That had sounded like her sorta friend and Adens girlfriend, Victoria.
Maxwell took off with my clothes, so Im tripping on the toga I stole from little bros bed, the male replied. Yes, he was familiarsomehow. She should know him, but couldnt quite place him. He just wasnt who shed hoped hed be, that much she puzzled out. If I drop her, Riley will flip his lid.
Riley. Yes! That was the voice she craved but had yet to hear.
You complain, yet Im carrying the big guy. Hey, that had sounded like Tucker. He needs to diet. Seriously.
Just do your jobs, Victoria said with a weariness Mary Ann had never before heard from her. Usually, the princess was tireless. Were almost outside. Tucker, are you sure no one can see us?
Tucker grumbled under his breath. Something along the lines of how many times can you ask me this already? Yes, Im sure.
What about the guards and nurses
They can still see the bodies in their beds. In fact, theyre trying to revive them and failing right now. The kids are dying. So sad. Boo-hoo.