And now I’m going to use what I am to save the world.
17
Power cracklesin every part of me. I’m completely healed without a trace of pain anywhere. And I know in my bones I have what I need to do this.
I’m ready.
I slide out of Rafa, finally softening, and his heat is replaced with the kiss of cool room air. I gently clean our bodies with the discarded towel he’d used for his hair, and the scrape of the fabric’s nap against my skin makes my enhanced nerves buzz. Rafa drifts asleep somewhere in the middle of my caretaking, a satisfied smile on his lips.
There’s no longer the bridge of desire between us, but still, I wish I could stay. Not because I’m afraid of what’s next, but because I’d love to be close to him just a bit longer. But that world-ending ritual certainly isn’t going to wait just so I can have a moment.
I carefully climb out of the bed and go to grab yet another shower (at this point, I’ve honestly lost count!) before I shove myself back into my vampire-fighting club clothes. Even though what Rafa and I just did felt like ayear’s worth of intense, in reality, it only took about a half hour. It’s just 7:47 p.m. according to my stove clock. Full dark outside, but enough time to stop Valiente.
Enough time to save the day.
I check in on Rafa one last time before I go. Poking my head into the bedroom, I try not to wake him, but he still opens his eyes. His expression is serene.
“You’re heading out?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I keep my voice neutral and try my best to appear calm and confident. The way I expect he would be, if he wanted to reassure me that everything was going to be okay.
He nods, focusing on my face with tired eyes. I can tell he wants to come with me, but we’ve already been over how that would be a bad idea—for a lot of reasons. Then he props up a little on his elbows.
“That thing is not my father, Alvin,” he says, calmly.
My eyebrows shoot up at thatnon sequitur.
His smile is gentle. “I know you’ll worry about that. And I’m not going to lie, I really want him back. He was my whole world.” The memory fills his expression with warmth. “My abuelo sent him to a fancy prep school, hoping to get him out of the life. And sometimes hewouldsound like a college professor.” Rafa’s face darkens, just slightly. “But the way that creature spoke, like some sick criminal mastermind… And what it did, to those kids. Tome. He would never. Not ever.” He locks eyes with mine. “I don’t know what’s inside his body now, but my father died years ago, and that thing killed him. So, I don’t want you to hesitate. Not for either of them.”
“Rafa…” I’m not sure what I’m going to say next, butthese were his parents, and he loved them. (And I guess I am still holding on to this weird hope that at least one of them could be saved. Maybe his mom?)
“Alvin, whatever the sex did, my head is clearer now than it’s ever been. You are such a gentle guy.” He chuckles slightly. “Yeah, eveninnocent. And those things are monsters. Real monsters.” He narrows his eyes. “Promise that while you’re there, you won’t second-guess yourself because of me. And that if you get the chance, you will kill them.”
I frown, and he repeats himself.
“Alvin,promise.”
His gaze is so piercing, he’s so sure, I nod.
He sighs and relaxes back into his pillow. “Good. That was the only thing. You’re going to stop those godforsaken parasites, once and for all. I know it.” His eyes close, and his voice fades into a drowsy mumble. “I’ve never met anyone so strong.”
I struggle for some kind of response to that, but it turns out I don’t need one, because he slips immediately back to sleep. Peaceful and relaxed.
Even with the boost I got, there’s no way I can match his confidence, wherever it’s coming from. But I can make another promise, this time to myself:
I’m not going to let him down. I’m not going to let anyone down.
I don’t spare any speed racing to the Benevolent Society. Testing out my juiced-up muscles, I must hit seventy miles an hour on the sidewalks, sneaker treads barely gripping the concrete as I scream forward. It’s night. A few more people are out, but I duck around them sofast, there’s no way I’m going to wind up on someone’s social media feed. And when I get to the side street with the hulking Benevolent Society building, there’s no one in sight anywhere, even though it’s notthatlate.
A wrongness fills the air here: the astringent tang of wicked magic with an undertone of ozone. Strong enough to keep even the normals away. The ritual has already started.
With any luck, that’ll mean Valiente won’t be able to threaten the kids, because he’ll need them. But I’ve got to stop this, no matter what. I’ve got to be prepared to make hard choices.
The massive wooden door to the Gothic building has been propped back up from the inside, but the hinges are still broken. My enhanced strength lets me easily pull it aside without dropping it, and my night vision reveals that the marble foyer inside is empty.
The whole space is completely still. No one is lying in wait for me or anyone else. Collin did say most of the vampires were dead, and I dispatched even more on the way out. All the same, experience has shown I’m not the most observant guy in the world, so I give the cavernous room another more intense look over once I’m through the door.
That’s when I see it. A crumpled, lump-like body by the elevator.
