Free Scorch by Kaitlyn Davis

didn't want to think about
any of the past he didn't remember. Kira couldn't imagine the ideas
running through his head, the questions about the things he may
have done…
    "But Tristan doesn't remember," Kira
mumbled.
    "But none of us knew that, and a lot of
vampires would do anything to ensure that they are never human
again—that they never have to feel the weight of humanity run
through their veins ever again."
    "So they're after Kira now… well, again?"
Luke asked—no ounce of surprise tainted his words. This was
business as usual.
    "Some, yeah, but not me—and not a group of
vampires I've been talking to for the past few days."
    "What do they want?" Luke asked roughly, the
protector in him coming out full force.
    "Down boy," Pavia muttered, raising her
eyebrows in Kira's direction. "They heard Aldrich's story, but it
had the opposite effect. It excited them, energized them, gave them
a new hope for something more. What they want, Luke, is their
humanity back—what they want is to be human again."
    "What are they willing to do for it?" Kira
asked. She clenched her fists. Her powers were in there, but Kira
didn't know if they were up to the task, if Tristan had maybe been
a one-time thing.
    "I'm sure we can negotiate something. Right
now, all they want is to meet with you and to see that guy in the
flesh." Pavia pointed at Tristan, who was still doing his best to
tune out the conversation.
    "Absolutely not," Kira said, her voice harsh
and commanding. "I'm not taking Tristan there."
    "I'll do it," he said softly from the front
seat.
    "No," Kira shook her head, "I want you to
stay out of it."
    "I need to help," Tristan said, louder this
time, "I must do something."
    "You will," Kira put her hand on his
shoulder, squeezing softly, "I promise you will, but I can't let
you do this."
    "Kira," Luke interjected.
    "No," she shook her head. "No, Pavia will
just have to show them her memory of Tristan and that will have to
be enough."
    Pavia opened her mouth to speak, but then
thought better of it. Kira was not in a negotiating mood, not when
it came to Tristan. The last thing he needed was to be around
vampires, to get more and more confused about what his life had
been for the past hundred years. She wanted him to be safe, to
settle into a normal human life—or as normal as it could be. Kira
refused to save him just to put him in danger again. That was never
going to happen, not on her watch.
    "Luke and I will go, and that will have to be
enough."
    Pavia raised her hands in the air, as if to
say she was giving up, and nodded. "They should all be on their way
to Charleston—you are so predictable Kira. I'll set something up
once we get there."
    "Good," Kira said, trying to warm her voice
up a bit. She owed Pavia a lot, but man did that girl know how to
get on someone's nerves.
    "Conduits and vampires meeting in peace? To
strategize together? This has got to be a first," Luke shook his
head, his voice light with disbelief.
    "That's not the only thing vamps and conduits
can do together," Pavia said, her voice highly suggestive.
    "Pavia," Kira said sternly. The uncaring
vampire she didn't like very much was returning now that business
talk was done.
    "I was talking about car games. Get your mind
out of the gutter, Kira," she said with a wink. "Although, I can
see why thinking about Luke might send you there."
    Kira looked away, willing the blush to stop
before it reached her cheeks. Luke, always her savior, spoke up
from the front seat.
    "What car games did you have in mind? I'm
pretty much the champion of the alphabet game."
    "Oh please, there's no skill required in that
game. How about 20 questions?"
    "I'm down. Kira?" Luke asked. She nodded.
    "Okay, me first," Luke said, taking control,
"I've got it."
    "Is it a place?" Pavia asked.
    "Nope."
    "A person?"
    "Yup."
    "Is this person alive?"
    "Nope."
    "Dead?"
    "Nope."
    "Something can't be neither alive nor dead,
you are totally cheating," Pavia said.
    "Look who's talking," Luke