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Lydia rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. “It’s not so bad, Wolfman. I actually like being stronger than men like you.”

Sam snorted. “Maybe human men.”

“Wanna test that?” she asked, tilting her head and showing a bit of fang.

“Let’s not,” I said firmly. “Lydia, please have a seat.”

She pulled out a chair and sat as far from Sam as possible. “Finish what you were talking about so I can have a turn. Obviously, I’m not supposed to leave. That should prove how important this is.”

“If it’s that vital then get on with it,” Sam said, making a you-first gesture.

“I told you I can’t.” Lydia’s eyes burned scarlet.

Jumping to my feet in an effort to prevent bloodshed, I swayed, and my vision blanked. I’d moved too fast for my current state.

Two sets of arms caught me on either side and lowered me to the chair.

“She needs a healer,” Sam said.

“No, she needs something sugary,” Lydia answered. “Make yourself useful and grab her some OJ and cookies.”

“Why? Did you bite her?” Sam growled. “That’s what helps with blood loss.”

“No,” Lydia’s voice deepened to an almost demonic tone. “Go get the snacks, Wolfman.”

Sam turned and the elevator appeared for him to take. When it was gone again, I gaped up at Lydia who perched on my desk.

“Did you just glamour him?” I asked.

She shrugged. “He was bugging me. Hot men like that think too much of themselves. Now listen, I can’t talk in front of others, but you’re one of us now.”

“One of who?” I asked, wincing through the fog in my head.

“Never mind. I need to know if you still have that cure you offered me.”

“Yes. I saved it. It’s in my belt.” I gestured at the buckle where the endless hidden compartment held both the cure to GodKiller and the Vampire virus. I only had a couple of each, and I wasn’t risking another person getting their hands on it by letting them out of my possession. “But if you want to take it, you’ll have to feed first or you’ll die. You aren’t as new as when I offered it.”

“It’s not for me,” she said. “But thanks. We need to do this tonight while Silas is off the island getting…supplies.” She started pacing.

I was about to ask why and where he went when Sam reappeared with my sugar rush, glaring at Lydia with molten silver.

“Thanks,” I said, taking the cookies and ripping them open.

“Anytime,” he said, still glaring at my friend.

“I should go.” Lydia backed toward the elevator. “After dinner, we’ll go back to your place and take care of this. I got your back, Doc.”

Smiling, I watched her disappear. She’d called me that to bug me when we worked together because I’d always insisted we were equals and it made me feel old. The part of me that had been frightened I’d lost her finally sighed in relief. I still blamed myself for her circumstances, but maybe it was time I started believing that she truly liked being a vampire.

“She distracted me with her hotness,” Sam grumbled.

“Excuse me?” I turned my attention back to him as I sipped the juice.

“I wouldn’t normally let my guard down enough to look one of them in the eye, but I was trying to avoid staring at her cleavage. I don’t like being rude, even to blood suckers.” He stuffed a cookie in his mouth.

I giggled. “I see. Well, she only did it to talk to me.” My smile fell. Was she in some kind of trouble? Whatever it was, we’d deal with it tonight. I wouldn’t let her be hurt again.

“So, back to the missing kids,” I said, pressing fingers to my throbbing temples. “Was Em able to tell us anything?”