Drake Chronicles: 03 Out for Blood (21 page)

And then we were laughing so hard we had to hold on to each other. I wheezed. It felt nearly as good as Quinn’s very wicked kisses. I’d been afraid it would feel like a betrayal of my friend who was lying in a hospital bed or my friend who was about to lie under the earth, but instead it felt like breathing again after being underwater for too long. Keeping the ability to laugh might be the only thing that would get my balance back. I couldn’t fight for them, couldn’t find out what was real y going on, if I was crushed under sorrow and guilt and misery, which I could easily give in to if I let myself. But I couldn’t risk that. I had to kick ass. Al sorts of ass.

Starting now.

I eased back, holding my aching stomach. I tasted copper in my mouth. “Ouch, I think I bit my tongue,” I said, wiping the tip of my tongue on my hand and seeing blood. “Yup. Gross.”

Quinn went very stil .

I was an idiot.

I’d let myself forget what Quinn real y was.

I think, maybe, he’d forgotten a little too.

And now I was kneeling on the floor with blood in my mouth and there was no forgetting for either of us.

“Quinn?” I said softly. I didn’t move.

It was just my luck that I final y got what I thought might be a real boyfriend, and now I might have to stake him.

Quinn was even paler than usual, crouched in front of me, his lips lifting off his fangs, which protruded as far as they could. I barely breathed. There were so many conflicting emotions chasing across his features, I hardly knew how to read them al . Most prominently I saw fear, violent restraint, desire, hunger. He swal owed and the movement rippled his throat. He looked like he was in pain.

And then he smiled.

And I knew real fear for the first time.

There was nothing more unpredictable than a young vampire. Nothing stronger or faster either. Or more hypnotizing. Speaking of hypnotizing, my vial of Hypnos was sitting on top of my pack at the other end of the room, where it did me no good at al .

I looked away from Quinn’s burning eyes, from the flash of fang.

“Quinn,” I repeated, sternly this time, like a cross librarian.

He flinched. Agony sharpened his smile into a humorless smirk.

“Hunter, run,” he begged.

I lifted my chin. “No,” I said, even though adrenaline was pumping through me like a sudden monsoon in the jungle of my insides. I was flooded with biological chemicals that made me want to bare my teeth back at Quinn like some caged panther.

“Please run,” he pleaded again, but even as I shifted my weight, barely moving, he was on me.

His hand clamped around my wrist and he jerked me up as he surged to his feet. I was practical y plastered to his chest, even as I leaned back as far as I could. Only my head and neck and shoulders had any freedom of movement, and I felt like one of those half-swooning pale girls in a Victorian novel.

Not a particularly nice feeling, as it turns out.

Quinn struggled but the animal inside him was at the surface, scenting blood and prey. No one knew what beast slept inside the vampire; al we knew was that it had sharp teeth and an insatiable appetite.

And I had no intention of being someone’s supper, no matter how wel they kissed.

Quinn lifted my hand to his mouth, closing his lips over the side of my thumb. His tongue moved over my skin, licking at the smear of blood. I would never admit this to anyone at any time, but it made my knees weak. It should have grossed me out. I was sure my heart was pounding because I was afraid. Not because of the way he was looking up at me, his eyes the blue of the hottest part of a flame, the part that burns the most.

“You taste like … raspberries.”

I swal owed. “No, I don’t.”

“You do.” He was staring at my mouth now. I clamped my lips together. The tiny cut on my tongue throbbed. It felt like a beacon, only it was cal ing the ship toward the rocky shoreline instead of safely away. I ran my tongue over my teeth, trying to get rid of the blood.

“I can get that for you,” he purred.

I jerked back but I was stil trapped in the cage of his arms. I narrowed my eyes.

“Quinn Drake, stop it right now.”

“But I don’t want to,” he drawled. “I want more.”

“I don’t want to dust you.”

“I just want a little taste.”

“You’ve had one,” I pointed out.

“Not nearly enough. I’m greedy for you.”

I didn’t say anything, only stomped down suddenly, aiming for his instep. He easily spread his feet just as suddenly and leaned back against the wal , securing me between his legs.

“Damn it, Quinn.”

“When you get mad like that, your blood smel s even sweeter.”

“Then you’re about to go into sugar shock.”

“Let’s see, shal we?”

He kissed me, crowding out al the alarm bel s ringing in my head. I kissed him back, hoping to distract him from his thirst. His mouth was gentle when I expected it to be predatory. He was dangerous like water, soft and smooth, even as it fil ed up your lungs, relentlessly stealing your breath away.

My head tilted and I wasn’t sure if it was the pressure of his mouth on my jaw or my own movement. My throat was exposed and his fangs scraped the tender skin there, but he never pierced my neck. He didn’t drink from me until I col apsed, didn’t drain me until I was too weak to fight back, didn’t let the beast win. He went against everything I was ever taught.

The longer we kissed, the more his hold loosened. He final y let me go, shoving himself farther against the wal .

“You should have staked me,” he said. He looked as if he’d been in a battle, as if he should be carrying a stained sword and a battered shield. “I have to get out of here.” He yanked the door open like it was rope and he was dangling from a cliff top.

“Wait.”

“I have to go!” He snarled and the door slammed shut behind him.

Chapter 21

•

Quinn

Later Sunday night

When I got home, Lucy was lying on the couch saying the same thing she’d been saying when I left.

“I’m
fine.
”

Solange was wearing sunglasses and sitting on a chair as far away as she could and stil be in the same room, looking like she was about to throw up.

“Stop it.” Lucy threw a pil ow at her. Solange didn’t move, and it hit her in the chest.

Lucy snorted. “Nice vampire reflexes you got there.” Nicholas came in holding a painted tray with a steaming mug. Lucy sat up, glaring at him.

“No way.”

He blinked at her. “What?”

“I am not drinking one more cup of chamomile tea. You can’t make me.” She folded her arms over her chest.

“You have a head wound.”

“Yeah, and it hasn’t affected my taste buds.” She rol ed her eyes. “Anyway, I have three tiny stitches. That’s hardly a real head wound. They always look worse than they real y are. Your uncle said so.”

“You didn’t see yourself passed out in the river,” he said stubbornly. “We thought

…” He trailed off.

Lucy’s expression gentled slightly. “I’m okay, Nicholas. Promise. A little headache now, that’s al .”

“Are you sure?”

“For the hundredth time, yes.” She looked sheepish. “I passed out when I saw the blood. It just took me by surprise.”

I leaned in the doorway, feeling as if I couldn’t catch my breath. I could stil taste Hunter’s blood on my tongue, like candy. I shuddered.

Lucy looked at me, then at Nicholas, who was hovering with a worried scowl, and then at Solange, who was sitting with her knees up to her chest. She let out a disgruntled sigh. “What is
wrong
with you guys?” Nicholas and Solange exploded at the same time.

“You nearly died!” Nicholas shouted.

“I could have eaten you!” Solange added.

Silence throbbed for a long moment before Lucy rubbed her face. “You’re both dumb. And way overdramatic.” They just stared at her, clearly expecting a different reaction. There were smudges under her eyes but otherwise she looked fine.

Uncle G. had checked her out. He had a couple of medical degrees stashed away, another benefit of a long life span. “Nicholas, stop worrying. I’ve been hurt worse in gym class. Solange, you like blood. Duh.” She pushed three layers of afghans off her lap. “Hel o? Vampire.”

“You don’t understand.”

Lucy glowered. “Don’t you dare pul that crap on me, Solange Drake. You might be a vampire but I’ve known you practical y our whole lives. I total y understand. Give me some credit.” She turned suddenly, jabbing a finger in my direction. “And you look weird.”

I felt weird. Hunter just did that to me. But even she would understand the danger in being the only human in a room ful of monsters. Lucy was stubbornly oblivious.

“I’m fine,” I said with a dry smile. “Drink your chamomile tea.”

“Only if it magical y turns into hot chocolate.” Lucy smirked suddenly. “You’re al dressed up.”

“Am not. I just natural y look good.”

She grinned. “You went to see Hunter Wild, didn’t you? That is so much more fun to talk about than my stupid stitches and Solange’s meltdown.”

“I did not have a meltdown,” Solange protested.

“Please, you total y did.” Lucy smiled briefly. “And I love you for it. But cut it out already.” She waggled her eyebrows at me. The light reflected off her dark-rimmed glasses. “Did you kiss her?” She stopped. “Of
course
you kissed her. How was it?”

“I’m not a girl, Lucy. I don’t want to braid your hair and talk about kissing.” Solange stared at me, sniffing the air delicately. She looked confused. “Did you bite her?”

“No, I didn’t bite her,” I answered, a little more roughly than I’d intended. “Instead of talking about me, why don’t we talk about what the hel were you doing out in the woods in the first place?”

“Yeah,” Nicholas agreed silkily. “Let’s talk about that.” He nudged Lucy into a chair. When he reached for the teacup, she narrowed her eyes at him.

“I wil pour that on your head.”

He didn’t look particularly worried. “I’l tel Mom you’re not resting.” Her mouth gaped open. “Dirty pool.”

“Hel , yeah.”

At least no one was talking about my love life anymore. “Solange, seriously,” I said. “What the hel ?”

“I just needed to get out,” she said quietly. “With the abductions and the assassination attempts and the bloodchange, forgive me for feeling a little overwhelmed.” She lifted her sunglasses. “And look at my eyes.” Her pupils were stil ringed in red, the whites bloodshot. They hadn’t changed back.

“Ouch,” Lucy winced. “Do they have vampire Visine for that?” Solange didn’t smile. “Anyway, you guys patrol al the time,” she told Nicholas and me.

“Not alone!” he shot back.

“She wasn’t alone,” Lucy interrupted. “I was with her.” She smiled sheepishly. “I fol owed her,” she admitted.

“Why?” I asked.

“I don’t know. I guess I was worried. But I knew she needed some time alone so I didn’t want to bug her.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Montmartre’s dead. And so’s Greyhaven, and he was Montmartre’s lieutenant or whatever, so I figured we were okay. It’s not like the Host could have regrouped that fast.”

“Did you conveniently forget about al the
Hel-Blar
?” Nicholas asked them with disgust. They both shrugged. He looked like his head was going to explode. My little brother had his hands ful with those two. I just wanted to lie in a dark room and try not to replay every moment of that kiss.

You know, before I fanged out on the girl.

The
vampire hunter
girl.

I groaned, turning to stomp up the stairs. I didn’t need super-sensitive vampire senses to know Lucy was chasing me.

“Oh no way, Quinn. No headache is going to keep me from getting the dirt.” She was as unshakable as a gnat. I couldn’t help but shoot a grin at her over my shoulder. “I had no idea you were so kinky.”

She flicked me. “If you want to save your brother’s and your sister’s undead lives, you wil distract me right now.”

“What, cal ing you a perv isn’t distracting enough?” She tilted her head. “I have photos of your superhero phase. I’m sure Hunter would love to see the one of you in the Batman tights and cape from that Hal oween when you were ten.”

“Remind me never to piss you off,” I said.

“It’s a basic life skil ,” she agreed cheerful y. “But an important one.” She perched on the edge of my bed. “So spil , Casanova.”

“Dream on.”

She pouted. “I’m injured, remember?”

“Oh, so
now
you play the injured card.”

She grinned unrepentantly, popping back to her feet. She’d never been any good at sitting stil . “Why are you stil al fangy?”

I ran my tongue over my fangs, being careful not to slice it open. I had no intention of tel ing her I’d had the urge to turn Hunter into a wineglass and drink her down like red wine. “Only you would reduce centuries of the mythical undead to ‘fangy. ’ ”

“I cal ’em like I see ’em, fangboy.” She paused at the window, frowning slightly.

“There she goes,” she said quietly.

“Who, Solange?”

She nodded. “She’s going to hide in her pottery shed. I’m worried about her, Quinn.”

“Why?”

She gnawed on her lower lip. “Because she’s being weird. She told Kieran not to come over tonight.”

“That’s not weird.”

“No, it’s the way she said it.” She sighed. “And my parents are coming back home the day after tomorrow, and I’m worried you guys are going to try and freeze me out. You know,” she made sarcastic air quotes, “for my own good.”

“We wouldn’t,” I lied. We total y would. We were a dangerous family to know right now. In fact, kissing Hunter and then actual y tasting her blood had stirred my inner vampire closer to the surface. Even Lucy smel ed good right now, and I was as used to her scent as to any of my siblings’. It rarely bothered me.

It was bothering me now.

“Lucy, I’m glad you’re okay. If you do something stupid like that again, I’l kil you myself.” I smiled to soften the scold. “Now go away. I’m tired.” She glowered at me. “You’re not tired. You’re trying to get rid of me.” I shoved her gently toward the door. Her neck was bare, washed clean with antiseptic, but I thought I could stil smel very faint blood from the stitches under her bandage. “Wel , then take a hint.”