Page 76 of Wicked Thirst
“She said not going to make it.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “That means whoever or whatever is behind this door is alive . . . barely. We have to help.”
Prisha licked her lips and looked through the window beside the door. “Oh god, get in there now.”
Jester let my hand go and I yanked the door wide open. My adrenaline rushed through my veins as I walked into the dark room. There, on the floor, was a tiny vampire. She was slight, with dark, shaggy black hair and pale skin. She wore a thin grey sweater that seemed too big for her and baggy black jeans. Her body quivered in a pool of her own blood and sweat. Her eyes were closed up tight and her head lulled back and forth as she muttered incoherently to herself.
I dropped to my knees beside her and placed my hand on her head. “She’s burning up.”
“We need to get her out of here. Now.” Jester placed his hands under her legs and around her back. In one fast move he was on his feet with this tiny vampire in his arms.
Prisha popped her head in the door. “I think there’s more.”
“More?” My voice went up an octave. “What the hell is he doing to these vampires?”
Jester started for the door. “I don’t know exactly, but I have an idea.”
Prisha looked down at the girl. “She looks like she’s caught the sickness.”
“What if it’s not just the sickness? What if he’s doing something to them to make them sick?” I didn’t want to think this possible or that anyone would do this to anyone on purpose, but all arrows pointed toward Marius, especially because his people knew where these vampires were and were taking them somewhere.
“No, it can’t be.” Her lips turned down into a scowl. “On second thought . . .”
“I wouldn’t put it past Marius.” Jester hiked the tiny vampire up in his arms.
I nodded toward the girl. “Do you recognize her?”
Prisha shook her head. “No.”
I leaned over her and held her cheek in my hand. “What’s your name?”
“I’m no one,” she murmured back.
“We have to go.” Jester headed for the door, and I followed quickly behind him with Prisha beside me.
All the while, the tiny vampire repeated, “I’m no one. I’m no one.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
PIPER
My head swam as a wave of dizziness overcame me. My stomach cramped with hunger and black dots swarmed my vision.No, not now. I fought for control over myself. When I glanced down at the pearl on my necklace, it was slowly turning darker. I hunched over and pressed my fist to my stomach, hoping to subside the pain. I needed Grayson or his blood and I needed him now. I thought I had longer. I wanted longer to handle this. But here we were in the middle of the midlands of England with no prospect of ending this chase.
“What can I do?” Astrid hovered over me and rubbed my back.
“Cage me.” I gritted out the words through clenched teeth. Sweat broke out over my body, and I felt my fangs start to throb.
“What? No, I can’t.” She kept rubbing small circles on my back.
“Put me in a cage. I don’t want to hurt you or anyone else.” I knelt on the ground and curled in on myself. Pain shot through my stomach and nausea rolled up my throat.
Astrid took a step back and held her hand over me. Golden magic sparkled all around me, and a large cage with thick bars surrounded me in an instant. I sucked in a deep breath as the waves of hunger slowly receded. I dropped down onto the ground and sat there for a moment just sucking in deep breaths. It would only get worse from here, and I didn’t want to lose my shit in front of them. I just met them, and although we had a common goal, I wanted to keep these friendships. They all seemed so accepting of whatever was thrown at them and genuinely wanted to help.
Astrid squatted down on the other side of the bars and met my eye. “Better?”
“Yeah, for now.” I leaned back and rested on my hands. I crossed my legs and groaned.
“Maybe if you rest? We’ve been looking for Grayson for some time.” Beckett walked up behind Astrid. “It might subside if we give you a minute.”
I shook my head. “No, I’m . . . thirsty.”
