Alpha Warriors of The Cause - Tamara Rose Blodgett Page 0,37

eyes.

I can't breathe, she tries to say. Opening her mouth allows his blood to enter hers, and Beth tastes it. The first drop, then the second.

It scalds her tongue.

She swallows, though she still can't breathe.

Beth's back arches off the sand. She chokes, coughing blood and lake water.

Slade moves her gently onto her side. He rubs his palm in slow circles over her back.

Beth's ashamed, but she reaches for the raw wound of his arm, taking what he offers. Sighing, she latches on then breaks away, coughing.

She strikes again, drinking deeply of his vein. When Beth is satiated, the sounds of fists against flesh recede, and she falls away.

“That is so disgusting!” Beth hears Jacky say, but her eyelids don't flicker.

Strong arms lift Beth, cradling her.

“Put her the fuck down.”

Groaning ensues from below her.

“No.” The hold tightens, and Beth knows she's safe. “Do not interrupt what I've done,” Slade says.

“What you've done is tie her more strongly to you,” Jeb growls.

“And what did you do, Reflective, but let your partner drown?”

“I was right there!” Jeb roars. “I had her, and she jumped to move closer to shore. If she had not, even now, she would be free of the poison of your veins.”

Beth's eyes slowly open, and her hand falls out of Slade's embrace. She beckons with her hand, and after a hard look at Slade, Jeb comes.

“Don't,” Beth coughs, and a bit of Slade's blood escapes her lips. She unselfconsciously licks it off. “He did what he could. I don't know what was causing the trouble. I couldn't tell—” She clears her throat, and Jeb takes her hand, resentment for Slade leaking from his pores. “I couldn’t tell how far away you were. I figured we'd both drown.”

“Bloodlings can't survive in water,” Slade says.

Gunnar gets to his feet. His face is swelling from the attack from Kennet, Jeb, and Calvin. Maddie is crying softly in the background.

Jeb has the grace to cast his eyes away. “He was trying to keep me from you.”

“I don't think he'd hurt me, Jeb. He just wanted to make sure I started breathing again, and Slade was making that happen.”

Beth sits up straight.

“Slowly, tiny frog,” Slade cautions.

“Where's the Reflective I saved?” Beth looks around frantically. “Did I save her?”

“Yes.”

Beth turns her head in the direction of the voice.

She knows that voice.

Daphne.

Beth flops back against Slade, throwing an arm over her face.

Figures.

“I'm sorry. I know you hate me.”

Beth's arm falls away, and she looks at the woman.

She doesn't look like the same highly coiffed Daphne of old. She looks like a barely put together, soaking-wet shell of who she used to be.

“I don't hate you,” Beth lies.

She shrugs her narrow shoulders, looking at the ground. “I was one of the females who regularly made fun of you.”

Beth lets out a deep breath. True.

She's about to be gracious after her near-drowning. “Maybe, but everything's different now, isn't it?”

Daphne nods, eyes still glued to the sand. “I can't swim. I didn't mean to…” She bursts into tears.

Maddie moves to her side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “We're all lucky Beth and Jeb came back.”

Daphne's tear-stained face rises, and raw accusation lies in her wide, sea-green eyes. “Why did you ever leave us in the first place? Do you know what we are now?”

“Put me down,” Beth says.

Slade sets her on her feet. He must sense she'll plant her face in the sand, because his grip remains firm.

Jeb moves to her side as Gunnar spits a wad of bloody mucus in the sand, eyeing the Reflectives warily.

“I know what Reflective Ryan did,” Beth confirms in a low voice. “I know that it's a miracle you and the other two Reflectives managed to leave whatever sector you were in and coincidentally jump to where we happened to be. And I know that you don't have to be what he forced you to be anymore. We're not going anywhere.”

Jeb takes Beth's hand again, and gives Slade a look that seems to clearly say, I've got her now.

Slade maintains his hold.

Beth gently drags the two behind her as she crosses the short distance to Daphne and Maddie.

The men are silent, even Jacky.

“The thing we accused you of, laughed at behind your back—we're so much worse, Reflective Jasper,” Daphne says with a defeated laugh.

“Whores for The Cause.”

Jeb releases Beth's hand, and she presses her fingers to the other woman's blue-tinged lips. “You are whores no longer. Choiceless no longer. Reflective Ryan will pay for his crimes, as will all those who share