Page 100 of Healer’s Betrayal

What’s the last thing you remember?

I think back. I remember Garrett and Emma coming to our room to talk to us; I don’t really remember anything after that.

He doesn’t respond at first, and I feel him shift, probably trying to get more comfortable. It's pretty much impossible. You went to the bathroom. How is that? Are you good now, or are you still bleeding?

I don’t allow myself to get embarrassed; we’ve got bigger problems. Whatever they did to me must have made it stop.

He takes that in; we both know that’s probably not a good thing. But I’m just grateful I didn’t have to worry about my period on top of everything else the last few days. Emma dropped, and I realized Noah had as well. I came into the bathroom, and you were facedown on the floor. Scared me to death, he admits. We got you all out to fresh air, and then Alicia showed up. His contempt for her translates through our link. She gave us an ultimatum. You all would die within twenty-four hours if we didn’t get you here for the antidote. I take in everything he’s saying. I talked Alicia into a deal. You would come here, but I would come with. I knew nobody would threaten your life because it’s tied to Alicia’s.

I still at that. What?

He turns, so that our eyes meet. That shot Alicia gave you was a vampire serum of some sorts, and it tied your life to hers. She said it’s similar to siring a vampire.

I swallow hard and try not to panic. So, you and I came here.

The other females and Noah had to come with too to get the antidote. As soon as they had the antidote, Alicia took them and delivered them to a drop-off location.

How do you know they actually got there? I question.

I talked to Garrett; it was part of the deal. I had to confirm.

My head is spinning. So, they’re all okay; it’s just you and me here.

Yes. Garrett confirmed. Ransom and Lucien originally were going to come with; Alicia agreed to that. But then somebody higher up than her said no, so they stayed behind.

What about the other humans in the hotel? I ask.

I don’t know, he offers.

I squeeze my eyes shut a minute and try to process everything he’s telling me. Was I unconscious for all this?

Yes I don’t know when you actually woke up. His voice is harsher now.

I almost don’t ask him, but I need to know. What did they do to you, Jackson?

Nothing I didn’t expect them to do.

Please tell me, I push.

I’ll make a deal. I’ll tell you what they did to me if you do the same for me.

Okay.

He waits only a moment. After the others left, they took me to the room where they do their science, if you want to call it that. They took me to one of those small rooms and hooked me up.

I’m almost afraid to ask, but I need to know. Did they hurt you?

His arm flexes. No. They started their work on me.

What did they do?

The vampires have been trying for years to recreate vampires without having to sire because siring only produces one vampire. If they sire a vampire, their life is tied to the one they sired, which is dangerous and weakens them. If you know anything about vampires, they’re all about strength and control. So, they’ve been trying to find alternative ways to create them. That's what they were doing to me. They gave me their vampire serum once they hooked me up to their machines.

I feel sucker punched. Is that why your eyes were all red?

I’m so sorry I scared you. Once they hooked me up, I spent the entire time in my wolf’s head, trying to purge the serum from our body quicker than they sent it in. When you showed up, it startled me. I forgot how fast you move with that stuff coursing through your veins. I just wanted to talk to you; I was desperate to check with you. I just didn’t realize how fast I would move or how aggressive it would seem. I’m sorry.

It’s okay, I rush to assure him. So, do you have vampire serum in you now?