“You just said she’s infected.”
“She is, butIhaven’t tested the delivery in a living subject yet.Idon’t know how strong the reaction will be, and the bite will cause immediate orgasm when the essence hits her bloodstream.”Severinlooked atCassandra, forcing himself to be honest, even though he didn’t want to scare her.“IfIbite you, it may heal you.Itmay also overwhelm you and incapacitated you, especially in your current state.Ican’t risk until we’re someplace safe.”
Cassandra’s face went pale, but she held his gaze.
“All right.Thenwe’ll wait.”
“I’ll have to bite you eventually,” he told her.“Butnot in a dark bunker during a power failure unless there is no other choice.”
Ravik growled in frustration.
“So the cure is in you, but you won’t use it?”
“I will use it whenImust,”Severinsnapped.“Notbecause you suddenly approve of me biting her but still refuse to consider that you need the same cure.”
Cassandra looked between them.
“Boys,Ireallyneed you to save the fight for later.”
Severin took a breath.Shewas right—they needed to hurry and there was no time for this argument.
“We move now,” he said, slinging a second bag over his shoulder.“Weneed to send a signal asking for transport and the communications tower is less than two kilometers away through the maintenance ravine.Ifthe ravine is clear, we may reach it quickly.Ifit is not, we improvise.”
“And if theInfectedare everywhere?”Cassandraasked, her face still pale.
“Then we run faster,”Raviksaid.
Severin shot him a look.
Ravik shrugged.
“What?It’sa plan.”
“It is barely a sentence wearing a plan’s clothing,”Severinsaid.
“Don’t be a smart ass,Sev.”ButRavik’smouth twitched despite himself andCassandragave a small, short laugh.
For one brief, absurd moment, they were almost themselves—two lifelong best friends and the human woman who had become so important to them both.Thensomething slammed against the bunker again, and the moment was shattered.
They moved quickly after that.
Severin led them through the lab’s rear storage corridor, his belt light cutting a narrow path through the dark.Themain exit was too risky if theInfectedhad found the hatch, but theVisskousscientist who owned the bunker had installed a secondary maintenance shaft that led up through the ravine.Ithad been intended for equipment deliveries and discreet escapes, if the logs were to be believed.
The corridor smelled stale without the ventilation system running and the air was warming quickly.Cassandrastayed between them, the charge baton gripped in both hands and her shoulders squared in a way that madeSeverin’sheart fist in his chest.Shewas frightened—he could smell it beneath the sharper, sweeter scent of her viral need—but she kept moving anyway.
Ravik followed behind her, silent now…maybetoosilent.
Severin glanced back at his friend.
“Still with us?”
Ravik’s golden eyes lifted to his.
“Still here,”Raviksaid.Thenhis mouth tightened.“Don’tfuckin’ start—Ifeel fine.”
Severin faced forward again, jaw clenched.
Hewantedto start—he wanted to demand thatRavikacknowledge the danger, acknowledge the fog, acknowledge the fact that his stubbornness might cost them everything.Butthe maintenance corridor was not the place for that conversation, andSeverinwas painfully aware that if he pushed too hard now,Ravikmight dig in deeper out of pride alone.
