Annihilate (Hive Trilogy Book 3) (2 page)

We all winced then, an open wound around a bleeding vampire was a death sentence. Becca continued: “It was feared that the virus had entered her system. She remained in the hospital under lockdown until they could figure out what this meant for her. Would she turn or die? They were the only two options. But then nothing happened. She had a fever for a day but didn’t turn. They tested her blood, and tested it again, over and over almost right up until I was born. She never had any of the virus in her.”

“How is that possible?” Markus asked.

Rebecca shook her head. “It isn’t possible and yet it happened. They were saying it was a miracle, or that maybe none of her attackers’ blood landed on her wounds.”

Okay, this story was going to get all weird and sciency now. I just knew it.

“I have studied this virus now for many decades, and I’m starting to see the pattern. It’s smart; it develops and learns. It seeks out the strongest and wants to form bonds with that genetic pattern. Shape those cells. So when a pregnant woman receives the virus, it goes to the life it can shape the most, the fetus. But because a fetus is such a fast growing being, I was shaping and changing and fighting the virus every minute, every second. I was pumping out the cure to my mother, which is why she only had a fever for a day. Even being seven months developed in utero, the virus still managed to bond to my genome, and basically start the process of making me a born vampire, which in a way is like a cross of ash and vampire.”

Okay then. Ashpire was making much more sense now.

“It still takes a long time for the change to kick into effect, which is where we mimic the ash males, but we’re not ash. Our blood is different. Because the virus matures within our body and bloodstream during our early development, we create these antibodies to the virus as a natural part of our system. In a way, it’s almost as if we have cured the virus, and what was left was the best version of a vampire, something which mimics the ash.”

Holy shit. Hooollly shit. I remembered my mom’s story about being attacked when she was very early stages of being pregnant with me. She said that Carter Atwater, Original of the fourth house had saved her, but that he had been injured. Some of his blood must have mixed with hers, which is why I turned into an ashpire. Dammit, that meant the abusive dick of a father who had been in the army was really my biological dad.

I worried at my lip, unhappy about that. My hair color was from him after all. Still … in lots of ways Carter was as much my father. His blood was what changed my genome as I developed in the womb. I had been little more than a single cell when I received his blood. My mom hadn’t even known she was pregnant yet.

I needed more information. “So the antibodies we have is why my blood can cure vampires. Does it cure ash as well?” I had been wondering for a long time what would happen if an ash bit me.

Rebecca shook her head. “No, because ash don’t have the virus. They’re born of a mutated genome and technically never actually received the virus. Therefore, there’s nothing to cure.”

My brain sort of shorted out then because that shit made no sense to me, but she was super smart and it made sense to her so I just nodded.

“Can you cure vampires as well?” I asked. It would be so great if there were two of us helping to try and deal with the war that was no doubt going to explode in our world.

I was tense as I waited for her answer, and when she shook her head my heart sank a little. “Not really, not permanently. I have some curative properties, which I have been trying to manipulate for many years. Basically, if a vampire drinks from me, they’ll partly return to human form. They can walk in the sunlight, and enjoy human food, but unless they continue to drink from me, the virus reasserts itself and they return to vampire.”

My eyes found Ryder’s and I could see the questions in his as well. “I don’t actually know if my blood can long-term cure either, but the vampire we found was definitely human. And had been for a week or more.”

Rebecca’s eyes lit up. I could see her brain ticking away as she analyzed me and thought about that. “I need to test your blood. We might finally have the secret to this virus. To figuring out how to stop it.”

She looked like a kid in a candy shop, ready to drain my blood in the name of science. But curiosity was a dominant trait in my personality too, so hell yeah, let’s figure out how to cure these bloodsuckers. I nodded and she bounced up and down on the balls of her feet.

“Come, I’ll show you my lab!” Her glasses had fallen on the bridge of her nose and she pushed them up, looking 150% an adorable nerd.

And Sam had noticed.

He was watching her like she was some fascinating creature that he wanted to touch but knew was off limits. Did Becca even realize he felt something for her? Did she feel something for him? Had they hooked up? If not, which one of these idiots was the hold-up, because life was way too short.
Even for ash.

Becca walked us back through a narrow hallway that opened up into a huge science lab, all stainless steel benches, fluorescent lighting, massive machines, and shelves filled with beakers, vials, and other science paraphernalia.

“I have all of the latest technology, and I get blood donations from a local blood bank under the guise that I’m researching human diseases. Which I do on the side for fun.”

Of course she did. Jayden and I shared a smile.

She continued: “That’s how we’ll get our food. I have more than enough blood to feed us and continue my human research.”

My eyes were roaming over all of the expensive equipment when I saw Sam pick up a white lab coat off the far wall and pull gloves on. Oh hell no. If Sam was mysterious, sexy, a pilot,
and
a smarty pants, I was going to lose it.

“How do you pay for all this? You said your grant was only twenty years? It must have run out by now.” I glanced around the room again, chuckling as Kyle touched a heated coil and pulled his hand back, getting burned. Dumbass.

“Sammy funds all of my research now,” she said guilelessly.

Of course he does … probably hacks into crooked politicians’ bank accounts to pay for it.

I met Sam’s eyes and he winked, confirming my thoughts. He was a bad boy to the core.

“Sam, can you ready the centrifuge?” Becca asked, opening a blood-drawing kit.

Sam nodded and walked over to a big machine and began tinkering with it. Wow, I couldn’t imagine these two playing lab partners for decades and not having tumbled between the sheets at least once. I was actually dying to know, and when I looked at Jayden I could see him trying to figure it out too. I knew my BAFF; his gaze was all over these two.

In a smooth, relatively painless move, Becca took a sample of my blood. The moment it exited my veins and entered the tube, the scent of it hit the air. Her nostrils flared, eyes pulsing as she looked at me.

“Incredible! I have the urge to bite you. It’s my immune system wanting the cure! It must be worse for full-fledged vampires…”

Okay ... homegirl was cute and totally socially awkward. I was kind of beginning to like her.

“There’s something you should know,” I said as she pulled the needle from my arm. “My vampire father or sire or whatever is an Original.”

I waited for her shock, but she just smiled.

“I know. Sammy told me. That’s why I’m so eager to get a look at your blood.”

My jaw dropped as I pinned Sam to the wall with my glare. “You told her!”

His expression did turn slightly regretful, but before he could speak, Becca stuck up for him. Again. “Don’t be mad. We’re best friends, he tells me everything.”

What sort of fucking alternate universe was I in? Sam was sitting around some shipping container in Alaska with a hot-ass nerdy doctor, spilling his secrets. I had known him months now and he had said about fifty-six words. Fifty-four of them in the last hour. FML.

Ryder moved then, approaching Sam, who was just placing my blood vials into the centri-whatever thingy.

“Lots of secrets, bro,” Ryder said, sounding casual, but we all heard the undertones.

Oliver had Ryder’s back. “Not cool.”

For the first time in forever I saw Sam look vulnerable, like an orphaned puppy. Eyes wide, bottom lip turned under.

Sam met Ryder’s eyes. “You know my story. You know why I keep secrets.”

What the hell? I wanted to know his story.

Ryder sighed. “I know, but we’re your brothers. You can trust us. Always.”

My heart broke a little then. Ryder’s voice was filled with emotion. A lot of which felt sad. His best friend had been hiding an ashpire for decades. Hiding information which could have helped me in the early days when we were playing in the dark with my magical blood. A part of him had to be feeling betrayed by this, I knew it.

Sam gritted his jaw. “The less you know, the safer you are.”

Kyle came around behind Sam. “Only one way to settle this.”

Jared smiled. “I got first round.”

Becca looked alarmed. “What’s going on? You’re not going to hurt him, right?”

Ten minutes later we all stood around the kitchen and dining room. It was a skinny galley kitchen that opened up to a large dining space that could easily fit twenty seats. These shipping containers were super cool, and with the high-quality finishes inside you totally forgot you were in a metal box. My guess was that this lab was built for an entire research team and once fully stocked could house dozens for many months.

A cheer went up then as the male-idiots in the room continued their games. Sam had already beaten Markus and Kyle in arm wrestling. Now it was Oliver’s turn. Oliver put his game face on as Jayden gave him a little tap on the butt to cheer him on.

Becca looked confused as she leaned into me and whispered. “I don’t understand. What is this solving?”

I smiled. “Sam lied to everyone. Trust has been broken, feelings hurt, so they’re hashing it out this way.”

Becca’s thick eyebrows drew together. “Still makes no sense.”

I sighed. Homegirl had some serious social catching up to do. She clearly wasn’t used to being around a bunch of burly males.

“Okay, it’s like animals in the wild. One of the wolves in the pack does something to piss off the alpha, they need to put him in his place.”

A slamming sound had both of us looking up. Oliver was rubbing his arm; it looked rather red around the wrist.

Becca finally nodded, seeming to like my animal analogy. “So Sam’s the alpha right? He’s winning.
”

I grinned. Ryder hadn’t had a turn yet.

Jared was next. “You’re going down, Sammy.” He was trying to rile him up by using Becca’s term of endearment.

Sam wasn’t fazed. He actually chuckled and held his arm up.

“Go!” Ryder called, and Sam slammed Jared’s hand down in seconds.

“Wait, wait. I wasn’t ready!” Jared pleaded, but Ryder just moved him along.

“Jayden, you want a go?” Ryder asked my BAFF.

Jayden grinned, showcasing all of his beautiful white teeth. “I’ll pass, dear. I’m secure with the length of my manhood.”

Becca’s mouth dropped open.

Oh snap! God I loved that man. Ryder just shoved the comment off and sat in front of Sam. They engaged in an epic staredown. This was the battle of the alphas, and just like wolves, neither looked away.

“You could have trusted me with this,” Ryder finally said.

Sam sighed. “It wasn’t your burden to bear. You had enough going on.”

I knew he was talking about Molly, Ryder’s fiancée.

Sam held up his hand and Ryder gripped it tightly.

Sam leaned himself over the table. “You know this isn’t a fair fight. You’re a descendent from the house of strength.”

Ryder grinned his cockiest of grins. “What’s wrong? Scared?”

It was on; they both flexed their muscles and Sam’s hand started shifting backwards. He grunted and I thought the veins in his face might burst if he kept this up much longer.

With a slam, in the end Ryder won with ease.

Sam looked resigned. “I should have told you.”

Ryder nodded and clapped Sam on the shoulder. Just like that, everything was great between the boys again. My animal analogy was really not far from the truth; men had changed very little over the thousands of years of humanity.

Jayden ran forward. “Group hug!”

Oliver laughed as Jayden tackle-hugged a bewildered Sam and Ryder and I decided why the hell not and got in on the pileup. Sam was still sitting in the chair so we ended up just sitting on him or hugging him from the back. Jared reached forward and yanked a hair off Sam’s head.

“Ow! Did someone pull my hair!” I heard the silent enforcer yell.

“It was me, mate. Payback.”

Gotta love Australians and their payback.

Becca stood there awkwardly and I felt bad for her. She didn’t seem to quite fit in with our group yet. But something told me she would, one day.

Sam’s muffled voice came out again: “Okay, you’ve tortured me enough. I’ll never lie again. Please, God, just get off of me.”

We all laughed and backed away from the Sam love pile. A weight lifted from my chest. Sam was forgiven and we were back to being one big happy family again. I was so relieved to know that I could stop worrying and doubting one of my guys. It was us against the vampire world, and we had to have total trust in each other. Speaking of…

“Okay, now that all of this is worked out, Sam, I need you to find out what’s going on back at the Hive. Is Tessa safe? What happened to Lucas? Has Carter updated with anything about him and my mom?”

Sam smoothed back his mussed hair and nodded. “I have a secure computer here.”

Jayden pointed at Becca. “You.”

Becca paled. “Me?” she all but squeaked.

Jayden nodded. “You need to take me shopping. I refuse to wear this…” He was at a loss for words to describe his sweatpants and flip-flops. “Any longer.”

Becca smiled. “You won’t like any of the shops in town, but we get deliveries out here. So you can order anything online.”

Jayden’s mouth popped open and his eyes almost rolled back in his head. He looked like he was having a mini-orgasm.