Free Drake Chronicles: 03 Out for Blood by Alyxandra Harvey Page B

by the scent of so many humans in one room. If my stomach growled they’d probably stake me before I could explain it was an involuntarily reaction.
    They craved donuts, I craved blood. It was just one of those things.
    “The screaming came from the girl who found him. The blood’s from when he tripped and fel on his own knife.”
    I snorted. They were shish kebabing themselves for us now. They may as wel offer themselves up on silver platters. Hunter shot me a look, as if she knew what I was thinking. I just shot her back a crooked grin. She wasn’t likely to apologize for accessorizing with stakes and I wasn’t going to apologize for my fangs.
    “ Hel-Blar tried to drink from him,” Kieran continued tersely. “Apparently got a mouthful before Wil got away.”
    Her eyes widened. “Crap. Wil he turn? Are there marks?”
    “I don’t think so. But no one can tel me for sure if there was any saliva or blood exchange. It was just a convenience feeding.”
    “So he needs the infirmary,” Hunter said.
    “There are some teachers on campus,” Kieran assured us. “But they’ve got their hands ful .”
    “I’l take him,” she offered right away.
    Kieran frowned. “Hunter, campus is crawling with Hel-Blar .”
    “Duh. And you have to stay here. You’re the one with the actual rank; the rest of us are just students. Plus, you’ve only got one good arm.”
    “Shit,” he grumbled. He knew she was right. “I don’t like it. It’s dangerous.” I didn’t like it either.
    “Blah, blah, blah,” Hunter cut him off. “Are you going to hold my hand every time we’re out in the field?”
    “There’s gratitude for you,” Kieran said.
    She kissed his cheek. I was oddly glad it looked like the kind of kiss Solange might give me. Sister to brother. “I love you, stupid.”
    “You too, idiot.”
    “So get out of my way already.” She had to shove him. “Give him some space,” she told the others, trying to get through the clump of horrified students. “You’l be fine, Wil .”
    “That’s a lot of blood,” someone said dubiously.
    “Which is why I’m taking him to the infirmary.” She hooked her arm under his shoulder and helped him up. He was clammy and pale and looked surprisingly heavy for someone so lanky. And he was about a foot tal er than she was, which didn’t help matters.
    “I’ve got him,” I murmured, coming up to support his other side. Wil jerked away wild-eyed, and then gagged on a sound of pain when his shoulder bled more profusely at the sudden movement.
    “Easy,” Hunter said gently. “He’s just helping.”
    I couldn’t stop my fangs from biting through my gums. I clamped my lips together. I was glad my eyes were hidden behind sunglasses. I knew they’d look too blue and too pale in this weird light.
    “Vampire,” Wil croaked.
    “Want to lose your arm?” Hunter asked him sharply. He shook his head, gulping.
    “Then shut up and let him help you.”
    “Yes, ma’am.” He nearly saluted.
    Kieran moved aside to let us out the door. “Watch her back,” he told me.
    I snorted. “I let you grope my little sister and I haven’t broken your other arm for it yet. You can trust your little sister with me.” Hunter paused. She skewered each of us with a stare. Someone in the room started to sweat, she was that good. I could have kissed her right then and there.
    “First— ew . Second—I can look after myself. If you guys want to do the macho knight-in-shining-armor thing, do it on your own time. And find yourself another damsel in distress, because I’m not her.”
    We exchanged a glance, then looked at her. Kieran sighed. “Just be careful, Hunter.”
    “I’m always careful.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    She stumbled a little. “Look, Wil ’s leaving a puddle of blood on the floor and he’s not getting any lighter. Stop worrying and let’s do this already.” At that moment the phone in the common room, al of the phones in the dorm, and every cel phone in every pocket