Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 55221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55221 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 276(@200wpm)___ 221(@250wpm)___ 184(@300wpm)
“Um, thanks. So, well, we’re here to talk about the vaccine. Wait, Liz is that you?” He shades his eyes with his hand.
I catch a glimpse of one of the soldiers stationed around the periphery, her hair in tight braids and her eyes on Wyatt.
“Focus,” Evie hisses.
“Right, um, the vaccine. And we can answer, you know, questions or something. But we’re really happy to have helped out, and we, um, we’re pretty cool, so you can ask what you want.” Wyatt pauses, his face going blank. “Or I think we’re supposed to talk for a while first maybe?”
“Such fantastic public speaking skills.” Valen crows.
“Oh don’t be mean, you know he’s doing the best he can.” I elbow him.
Evie leans over to the microphones. “What Wyatt meant to say is that we’re very happy to offer this safe and effective vaccine. The components are a mix of vampire blood, human blood, and inactive virus. We are both vaccinated and fully stand behind this vaccine. We’ve also conducted trials in conjunction with the US government, and all those records and findings have been peer reviewed by scientists both here and abroad.”
The smattering of press in the small crowd begins to raise their hands, some already shouting questions.
“Just like old times.” It’s only been a few years since I was here watching Juno field questions about the plague. It feels like several lifetimes.
“You certain you aren’t jealous you don’t get to take credit for it?” he asks, his fingers stroking along my side.
“I was never one for the limelight. You know that. Juno was built for life under the magnifying glass. Not me. I’m just glad we were able to do it, to finally beat this virus. We’re going to save a lot of lives.” I look up at him. “You are, too. You’re the one who arranged for the lab and all the supplies we needed. Maybe you didn’t do the science, but you’re a big part of the vaccine.”
He makes an uninterested face. “I only do what makes you happy.”
“You make me happy.” I lean against him, savoring this moment.
“—dude, what? No. We worked as fast as we could on this. No one was hiding a cure somewhere. That’s crazy talk.”
“Then why did you wait a whole year after the end of the war to trot it out?” a reporter shouts.
“Trot it out?” Evie’s tone turns cross. “We had to do research, testing, science. We can’t just magic up a cure out of thin air. It takes testing and more testing to ensure it’s safe and effective.”
“You were working with the vampires?” Another question.
“We needed vampire blood to create the vaccine. So, yes.” Evie shrugs.
Click.
Valen and I turn our heads at the same time. Then he’s gone.
I stare at a rooftop about fifty yards from where Evie and Wyatt are speaking. Quick movement, and then the snap of a neck breaking. Valen kills the would-be assassin before he can pull the trigger.
I breathe a sigh of relief as Wyatt rambles on about cooperation among species.
Valen returns, not a hair out of place, and hands me a small square of fabric, a halo embroidered in gold thread.
“Shit.” I stare at it.
“It seems the Saints were serious when they said they’d fight the vaccine.”
“Conspiracy theorist idiots.” I take the fabric and toss it away.
“True, but they aren’t going away. The humans will fight amongst themselves again. Maybe soon. It always happens.”
“Happens with vampires, too,” I retort.
He smirks. “Did I hit a nerve?” He wraps his arm around my shoulder again, pulling me to him. “Ready to defend your humans with fang and claw?”
I roll my eyes. “You’d defend my humans, too. Always pretending you can’t stand Wyatt, but I saw you smoking with him a few days ago.”
“You saw no such thing.”
“I did. Get a buzz?”
“No.” He frowns.
I laugh. “Don’t look so sullen. Wyatt can win anyone over. It’s his superpower.”
He stiffens, his gaze frozen on someone in the crowd.
“What is it?”
I follow his line of sight.
“Oh.” I see him. Red hair bright in the sunlight, his gaze riveted to us. “Surely, he can’t see—”
“The fucker is coming this way.” Valen grates.
He breaks into a jog.
“Maybe we should go.” I take a step back.
Valen pulls me forward again, holding me tightly. “And miss the captain’s tears and squirming? I’d rather not.”
“You don’t have to attend every fight you’re invited to.” I sigh.
“What rubbish. If I’m invited, it would be rude not to attend. If nothing else, I have my manners.” He’s grinning now, a cat ready to play with its prey.
“Can you give me a minute with—”
“No.”
“Valen.” I elbow him again. “Let me talk to him. I’m pretty sure he’s not going to ravage me while—”
He scoffs. “Ugh, don’t say such horrid things on this beautiful day.”
“Just a minute, okay? That’s all.” I get on my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “Please?”