Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress #5)(51)
Author: Gena Showalter

“As you know, we can’t take a sample of Schön infected blood because the virus is alive and won’t leave the victim’s body if there’s not a living being nearby. So filling a vial is impossible. To test, we have to feed the vampire blood to an already diseased individual.”

“And were you able to do that?” The only living victim—besides Johnny—was the human from the bar. That she knew of, that is.

“No, but let me backtrack a little. We were able to test McKell’s blood on its own to determine if it was like Bride’s. And in some ways, it is. Much more so than the other vampires we’ve tested.”

She’d had no idea other vampires had submitted—willingly or not—to AIR testing. So what the hell else didn’t she know? “That’s good, right?”

“Yes and no.”

More non-answers. Wonderful. Ava fell against the back of the chair, and the stupid thing flattened like a cot. She barely cut off her yelp of surprise. “Could you please give me straight facts?” she asked, shoving her tumbling curls from her face.

“Bride’s blood healed human disease, but left the blood … untainted, for lack of a better word. Still human. McKell’s rejuvenates human blood, as well, only his … takes over. It’s so strong, so potent, that the blood it’s mixed with becomes vampire, as well.”

If she’d been standing, she would have fallen. “So anyone who drinks his blood will become a vampire?” She rubbed her throat, mind racing. Had she had a sip? A single drop?

“Yes. Human, animal, doesn’t matter. Whoever ingests his blood becomes vampiric. Just like in those old movies. I’d compare him to a human man with too much testosterone. What makes him vampire practically seeps from his pores.”

Panic bloomed, and it felt as if thousands of little needles were poking at her. If she’d had a single drop … No, no. She thought back. He’d sucked hers, but she’d never tasted his. More than that, she was still human, normal.

Slowly she relaxed. Good. Okay. Fine. But she would be very careful in the future, never forgetting what could happen if a kiss spun out of control. She didn’t want to become a vampire. Ever. To only be allowed to venture out at night? Even McKell hated that. Sure, he was looking for a way to live successfully in the sunlight, but what if he never found it?

And to only ever be able to drink blood? McKell’s blood, at that, since they were supposedly mates. There’d be no more butterscotch for her. Not without sickening. No, no, and no!

On the plus side, her always aching body added, McKell might finally view her as good enough for him. Ava frowned. She didn’t want to be considered good enough simply because she had grown fangs. She wanted to be good enough for who she was and what she’d made of herself. On her own.

Not that she was thinking about dating McKell. Or sleeping with him. Well, she might be thinking about sleeping with him—stupid fantasies of writhing together, naked and moaning, never left her head—but that didn’t mean she’d ever follow through. Last time they’d ventured down that road, she’d found only disaster. He’d stopped abruptly, left, and now she had no idea where he was or what he was doing.

“Still there, Sans?”

“Yes. Was just thinking, sorry. So, are you going to feed McKell’s blood to Johnny?”

“We’re still debating. I think I told you that Johnny’s already had some of Bride’s blood, but another thing we’ve discovered is that vampire blood doesn’t always mix well with other vampire blood.”

What exactly did “doesn’t always mix well” mean? The recipient exploded? And did it have to do with vampire mating habits?

Before she could ask, Mia added, “Another problem with McKell’s sample is that, what if his blood doesn’t destroy the Schön disease? Then we’ll have a Schön-infected vampire who’s stronger than ever and in need of drinking blood as well as infecting others to stay strong.”

Good point. “So what would happen if McKell was infected by the Schön?”

“Don’t know. And I’m afraid to find out.”

A knock sounded at Ava’s door. She popped to her feet, heart suddenly pounding against her ribs. McKell? Surely not. Like Noelle, he could now let himself in. That didn’t stop hope from sprouting wings and flying through her.

God, she had to get herself under control where that man was concerned.

“Thanks for the information, Agent Snow.”

“Welcome. I’ll expect a new sample ASAP.”

“You’ll get it.” Again, maybe.

They severed the connection. Ava placed the phone on a side table she’d spent months saving for and padded to the door. McKell’s strong, beautiful image filled the ID screen, a relieving déjà vu of the last time he’d visited. He was here, and he was fine. And as always when she spotted him, her skin tingled.

She pressed a few buttons, fingers trembling, and the door slid open. Suddenly, only air separated them. And such sweet air it was. He smelled of the earth, like rain and crisp leaves, yet there was just a hint of butterscotch. On purpose? He wore a fresh black T-shirt, a pair of black slacks, and both fit him perfectly.

His dark hair shagged around his face, but it wasn’t tangled. The strands were brushed to a blue-black shine. Clearly he’d just come from an enzyme shower. Whose? she thought, hands fisting.

“Why didn’t you just walk in?” she asked. She wouldn’t throw accusations around. She’d ask nicely. She’d taunted him with her phone call, made it seem like she was going back on her word to mess around with him and only him. Sure, it had seemed like a good idea at the time, a way to show him two could stray. Now … she would just have to deal with the consequences.

“I’m being polite,” he replied.

So he was polite now? That was new. “We have a few things to discuss,” she said, happy that she sounded calm, assured.

“Then we will discuss them.” He strode inside, a bag slung over his shoulder. That bag, big and bulky, banged into her chest and knocked her backward. No apology was issued.

Frowning, she followed him into her bedroom. The frown faded as she became enthralled by a vision of McKell stripping, crawling into bed, cocking a finger at her, silently commanding her to join him. Enthralled, yeah, but she panicked, too, because she was already edging down that road again, the one where she forgot the rest of the world and thought only of sex and blood.