Page 104 of Twice Bitten

Silas’s jaw clenched. “Bastard,” he spat. “Are you alright?”

I let out a hysterical laugh. “I think they’re much worse off than I am.”

Silas snorted. “Probably accurate.” He glanced down at my palms. “What did you do?”

I shook my hands out. “No idea. I seem to have developed some new abilities.”

My sheepish smile made him chuckle. “Seems to have saved your ass.”

Yes, yes, it had. “Gods,” I breathed. “I just attacked the Prime…again.”

Silas nodded. “If he makes it out of this, he’s going to be furious.” An odd expression crossed his face. “Or you’re going to be his new favorite thing.”

I grimaced. “Shit.”

“Yep,” Silas agreed. “So. No idea what you did, huh?”

I shook my head. “Everything went dark and Vesper screamed. That’s all I know.”

“They didn’t chase you out?”

“No idea. I couldn’t see anything behind me.”

The Shifter King ran his hand through his hair. “He has cameras all over that place. He’ll know I helped you.”

I winced. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble. But thank you for getting me out of there. He said he wanted to show me something, and I let him drive.”

Silas’s lips twitched. “Rookie mistake.”

I laughed. “No kidding.” My hands still shook. I interlaced my fingers and tried to calm myself. “Silas, dozens of vampires are infected. Alric has them all in stasis.”

His face went dark. “That sonofabitch. I knew he was hiding something.” He shook his head in disgust. “Sometimes Alric shows flashes of being a decent vampire, then he does something like this. He’s known about the virus all along, hasn’t he?”

I nodded. “Seems that way.”

“Asshole,” Silas spat. He took a long breath in. “Dozens of vampires,” he mused, “all in comas?”

I shrugged. “Stasis. Coma. They all looked dead to me.”

“If any of my people are infected, I’d know. Right now, I believe it’s only me, although I think my people are beginning to sense something isn’t quite right.” He grimaced. “Our link goes both ways, though I can do a lot to block what my shifters sense.”

This was turning into such a nightmare. “I’m sorry.”

Silas didn’t respond right away. We drove in silence for a while. “He is right about one thing, though.”

I went still and waited for Silas’s inevitable attack, but the shifter kept his hands on the steering wheel. “What’s that?”

“Why aren’t you affected? Beckett definitely cut you. We smelled his blood all over when you ran into us. It’s been long enough for you to start showing at least small signs of infection.” He glanced at me. “There’s nothing? No black veins or anger?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. Other than these.” I wiggled my fingers. “But this seems to belong wholly to me. I don’t sense Beckett in this magic. Maybe it’s a result of what happened to me, when my blood mixed with yours and Alric’s.” I lifted my shoulder in a shrug. “I have no idea. This is brand new to me. I’m a hedgewitch and part natural witch. I get down with plants and occasionally seek out information about the future. I don’t cause clouds of black smoke to rise and kill vampires.”

Silas chuckled. “That might cause some gossip around the supernatural water cooler.” He made a left turn. “Where do you want me to take you? Home? A friend’s house?”

Cat swam into my thoughts, but I had no idea where she lived. “Umm. Would you mind taking me by the house first and waiting while I gather some clothes? I think I’d like to stay at a hotel tonight.”

Silas glanced at me. “I can do you one better if you trust me.”

My lips twisted.