“I didn’t.” Peder spoke into the thick silence. He crouched low under both their sharp gazes. “I listened to stories the old ones told. Actually, I begged them to re-tell them when I could. About when the vampires first arrived on our lands.”
“And what is your idea?” Sorin prompted his resourceful omega.
“We’ll need a cart, some peasant’s clothes that fit me and a skunk.”
Sorin refused to blink, afraid if he looked away, he’d miss his Peder blooming into a possible hunter.
“Sounds like the making of a nasty joke.” Ahote chuckled.
“We’ll separate and meet back here. Peder, you find the clothes and I’ll get the cart.”
“What? That leaves me with the…“ Ahote’s eyes went wide and he grimaced.
Chapter Thirty–Seven
With a racing heart, Susan clung to her chair, afraid if she let go she’d make a fool of herself by attacking Benic, a vampire ten times stronger and faster.
“Separating you from Sorin is a tragedy I would have avoided but I doubt he would have agreed to sit quietly while I study your reaction to the virus.” Benic leaned against his lab table, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m not a cruel person. I have good reason to do this.”
The conniving trickster sounded sincere. Then again, all professional liars did. “Let me go. You’ve infected me already.” She jumped to her feet and ran for the exit.
Benic blocked her way using his supernatural speed once more. “Not yet. You’ll die without my help.”
“You bastard.” Her heart shattered into sharp shards. She’d probably never see Sorin again. “This is wrong. You’ve violated me on a cellular level.” She gazed at her diseased body. “Most people died from the virus. What makes you think I won’t?” A sob choked her last word.
“We’ve made advances since that time. Come…” He supported her by the elbow. “I’ve had my servants make a comfortable bed for you to recover on. No need to—”
She yanked her arm from his grasp.
“—make this unpleasant.”
“How are you so sure I’ll become vampire and not a shifter?”
“As the disease spread worldwide the virus mutated. Different continents begot changes matching the strains. Europa vampires, Aphreka cat shifters, North Amerigo wolf shifters, Rossiya yetis, South Amerigo incubus, Ch’in dragons—”
“Dragons?” She couldn’t sort through the tangle of emotions knotting her thoughts. “Australia?” Her voice sounded faint even to her own ears.
“You must mean Astralaya. Selkies. Merpeople have settled all the oceans.” Benic gave her a small smile. “You’ll have all eternity to explore this world and solve its mysteries as a vampire.”
She took a deep, shuddering breath. “You know about virus mutation?” Medieval housing with more advanced science than she’d assumed. How the hell did they miss inventing electricity? “I—I can’t figure out how you can know about microscopes and genetics…and—and not other things.”
“I don’t know what other things you hint at, but since we’ve existed blood has always held a fascination for my people.”
A thin layer of sweat covered her skin. She wanted to smack herself in the forehead and kick-start her brain. Of course, hematology would be a vampire hobby, dumbass. Shivers ran through her limbs.
“You look pale. Maybe you should lie down.”
“This is happening too fast. I just drank your—your blood.” She fought nausea as her stomach went squishy. “The virus needs time to incubate before I should show symptoms.” Wobbling, she grasped the edge of the table before she fell on her ass.
“You know much about viruses?” Benic slipped his iron-strong arm around her waist and guided her to the cot by the wall.
“Of course I do.” She took a walk down the green mile as she approached the bed. Her hopes for the future faded with each step. Would she wake as Susan, if at all? A tear slid from the corner of her eye.
“The antibodies you produce will be your salvation.” He laid her against the pillows and wiped her cheeks dry. “No need of these. You received a concentrated dose of the virus in your wine but I will boost your immunity. You will survive.” He brushed loose strands of hair from her face. “You have to.”
She turned away from him, betrayal a bitter comfort. How could the world population change so drastically? From Benic’s legends it sounded as if humans transformed overnight. A latent gene? Maybe the mutation was already present and the virus triggered the cells to regenerate quickly, activating changes.
Presto chango, those who survived the infection awoke non-human.
Cramps assaulted her legs and she curled into a ball. Either way, something of her would die today. “If you’re going to help me, better do it soon.”
“We’ve made great advances in medicine since the plague. Boosting your immunity will increase the chances of your survival.” He frowned and touched her chin. “I’m sorry for the pain. I can’t risk mixing medicines in your system.”
“Bastard.” She rubbed her calves as sweat trickled off her forehead.
Benic grabbed a cloth and wiped it. “I’m prepared to stay with you. I’m not evil, Susan. I wish you’d believe that. I’m desperate.”
“For what?” she shouted. The absurdity of everything shattered her sanity. She’d traveled dimensions to be transformed into a vampire.
He stared at the window and cleared his throat. The sun was setting the sky on fire as it slid behind the horizon. “I am part of an endangered species. Vampires never could breed like the other races. The longer the life span, the more infertile the people. Only one out of ten vampires born is female.”
The cramps grew worse but she could care less as the meaning of what he told her dawned. “I’m for breeding?” She rolled onto her back, ready for the nightmare to end.
“Shh…” Benic wiped her forehead again. “Not like some animal. A wife. A cherished, pampered and worshipped wife.” The cloth traveled down her cheek and under her chin, where his hand guided her face toward his.
“Your wife.” So hell on Eorthe really did exist. She groaned and closed her eyes.
“I’d never force you—”
“But you’d infect me against my will.”
“I couldn’t take the chance you’d say no. It’s too important.” He rose and backed away. “Take another vampire as a mate. As long as you have children…” His voice went hoarse and he turned toward the lab table. “I need to prepare the medicine.”
Benic handled a delicate glass vial where he would mix the concentrated essences of herbs and the adrenal hormones of a rare shark he’d discovered off the tip of South Amerigo. He’d spent a day preparing the ingredients for the immunity-boosting drug so all would be ready for when he brought Susan home.
He had hoped once she comprehended his motives for violating all his ethics, she’d comply. He was a fool and could have handled that better. She’d never agree to be the mother of his children now. The forgotten glass vial in his fist creaked. He was desperate—he’d had no choice. Susan was the first glimpse of hope he’d seen in what felt like ages.
Grinding his teeth, careful not to chip a fang, he set the expensive vessel back on the laboratory table. He grabbed a flask of strong-smelling liquid then measured some into a beaker sitting over an open flame. It had to be sterilized before he could inject Susan.
“A good dose of this should increase your white blood cells as well. Your body will be well-armed to fight the virus enough to survive the infection.”
Susan lay quiet on the cot. Fever raged through her body. Her gaze never left him though, her hatred palpable on his skin. His heart grew heavier and would settle in his feet soon. Too late for regrets; he’d crossed a line he never thought possible and would accept any consequences.