Chapter 11
“Odd.” Jenny tapped a stylus against her lips as she eyed the e-pad in her hand. “The only way to know if it’s a reaction to Keeper blood is to give you more.”
Sam, exhausted and trembling beneath a blanket on a med bed in the infirmary, was already shaking her head.
“I know,” Jenny’s brows dipped. “We can’t do that now because your wound re-opened and we can’t chance another attack. I don’t think your body can take it right now.” Lowering the e-pad to her side, she tucked the stylus into the pocket on her lab coat and looked at Keo. “Are there any humans here?”
He nodded. “Rohm’s mate, Nyree.”
Jenny pursed her lips and shot Sam a disapproving look.
Sam knew what the doctor was thinking. Sam needed human blood, and it would be a tall order to expect Nyree to make that happen for an admitted Megalya. Hell, even if Nyree was down, there was no way Rohm would ever let it happen.
Jenny shot Keo a hopeful look. “Any other humans?”
He shook his head.
Fuck!
Mirroring Sam’s sentiment, Jenny muttered, “Fuck!” She looked at Sam. “Bellis’ blood worked though, right?”
Sam nodded weakly. “It wasn’t enough though.”
“Fine.” Jenny turned to a drawer and pulled some things out. “We’ll use my blood. Bellis was a Walker, I’m a Walker. Should be fine.” She glanced at Sam over her shoulder. “But you’re not biting me and I’m not cutting my wrist.” Donning gloves, she guided a wheeled stool with her foot to a silver tray she placed several items on. Taking a seat, she wrapped an elastic around her arm and flicked at the veins in the bend of her arm. Grabbing a needle, she twisted and pulled the vial off the end before attaching a tube. The end of the tube she set inside a small plastic cup before inserting the needle into her arm. Once the blood started flowing she released the elastic and asked, “How much do you need?”
Sam rolled her eyes. “Don’t know. Never measured.”
Jenny shot her a dark look and filled the cup to almost full before pulling the needle free and bending her arm. She didn’t get up from the stool as she directed, “Keo, give her the cup.”
He did, careful not to spill it as he slid a hand behind Sam to help her sit up.
Wordlessly, Sam let Keo guide the cup to her lips, and she took a tentative sip as if she were afraid of what would happen. Moments passed and nothing adverse happened, so she took another, bigger swallow.
Keo grinned and looked at Jenny who was watching Sam intently. When he looked back to Sam he cursed, “Shit!”
Jerking to the side, Sam gripped the rail on the med bed and puked Jenny’s blood all over the pristine white floor.
“Goddamn it,” Jenny snarled, shooting to her feet and shooing Keo away as she grabbed Sam’s wrist. She checked her pulse and shook her head. “Are you a vampire, Sam? And if so, what in the actual fuck is going on? A few hours ago you drank from Bellis just fine. This doesn’t make any sense.”
She was right, and it had Sam more worried than either Keo or Jenny knew. When she finally relaxed back against the pillow, shaking and spent, Jenny frowned at Keo.
Jerking her chin toward the floor, Jenny barked, “Clean that up. I’m going to find Nyree.”
“Rohm won’t permit it.”
“Let me worry about that.”
As Jenny left, Sam hoped the doctor could be as convincing as she was confident, because right now she was genuinely worried about whether or not she was going to survive the night.
Wrapping her arms over her belly, Sam pinched her eyes shut against the waves of nausea crashing over her as she listened to Keo clean her mess.
“S-sorry,” she muttered. Her charade of playing nice with this Keeper would have to continue if she hoped to have any ally here at the North Fortress.
“Don’t apologize for being sick, Sam.”
Too sick, and feeling more wretched than she had in a very long time, Sam didn’t respond.
After long minutes, the scent of piney cleaner filled the room. It made her want to puke again, but she held it back.
Finally, something wet swiped her lips and her eyes shot open as her body tensed. Keo was standing over her with a wet cloth as he gave her a concerned look before dipping his eyes back to her lips where he wiped again explaining, “You’re covered in blood.”
After puking his and then Jenny’s blood, and with her own blood staining where her wound reopened, she imagined she looked like a murder scene.
Keo quietly worked to clean her face and neck before grabbing one of her hands and cleaning it too and then the other.
Sam hated every second of it. She’d never had to rely on anyone for her own personal comfort before, and being ill was new. Sure, when she’d been fully human she’d gotten sick a time or two, but nothing too serious, and she’d always just faked good health and taken care of herself out of the sight of Odium and his beasts. A sharp pang of guilt hit hard, because she realized she could capitalize on her female frailty. “Are…are you looking for a mate, Keo?”
Her question brought his eyes shooting up to hers.
He dipped his head in a nod, but his voice was sad when he said, “But you’re not viable, Sam. It’s been decreed. You will be no Keeper’s mate.”
“What about something temporary? Can you…” She swallowed, hating the offer she’d have to make. “I’ll be yours if you agree to keep me until I’m fully healed.”
“Why?” He cocked his head. “What happens when you’re healed, Sam?”
“Then I can defend myself.”
He smiled, but it was hollow. “You’re worried about what’s going to happen to you here. You’ve heard how we are?” He didn’t wait for a response. “Even if you were a man you’d stand no chance against a Keeper. Being a fully healthy female won’t help.”
“I want the chance.”
“To fight for your survival, or to fight off Keeper males?”
She’d wondered if the second should be a concern. After Rohm’s speech, she’d thought not, but Keo’s words had just confirmed it. She didn’t blink, her dark eyes locked with his. “Yes.”
Keo lowered her hand. “And what exactly do you mean, ‘you’ll agree to be mine’? What happens if I take on the burden of you and wish to use you for my enjoyment?”
Sam hated this. How many times had she had to bargain the use of her body for her life? Too many. She feigned indifference. “There’s no enjoyment to be found with me, but…” she drew in a deep breath that lifted her chest. “For your promise of protection, I’d allow you the use of my body.”