panicked ones, and she lunged for me.
Jenks blurred into motion, Ivy's katana slashing. She fell away, sprawling to roll on the pavement as she scrambled to remain out of his reach. My pulse leapt in fear when he followed, the sword clanging into the pavement three times, always an instant after she moved. My God, he was fast—and I think it was only his desire to stay between her and me that kept him from following to give a killing stroke.
'Jenks! Get out of my way!' she cried as she rolled to her feet with her hands raised placatingly. 'She needs me!'
'She doesn't need you,' he snarled. 'You almost killed her. You stupid vampire! You couldn't wait to get out from Piscary's influence, could you? You seduced her, and then almost killed her. You could have killed her!'
'It wasn't like that!' Ivy pleaded, crying now. 'Let me get to her. I can help!'
'Why the hell do you care?' There was another clang of stone and metal, and I forced myself to breathe when my vision started to go black.
'Rachel!' Ivy cried, drawing my gaze to her. 'I'm sorry. I didn't know this would happen! I thought I was better! I really did. I'm sorry. I'm sorry!'
Jenks made a fierce cry, lunging. Ivy sprang back, arms pinwheeling. He followed her down, and the two froze when she landed against the pavement. Blood leaked from between her fingers clenched about her upper arm, and my heart seemed to hesitate when Jenks ended his last sword swing inches from her throat. Fighting my numb daze, I dragged myself to the door. He was going to kill her. He had killed before to save my life. He was going to kill Ivy.
Jenks stood with his feet widespread and his stance terrible. 'You stupid, selfish whore of a vampire,' he intoned. 'You said you wouldn't. You promised. Now you've ruined everything. You couldn't accept what she could give, so you took it all!'
'I didn't.' Ivy sprawled in the sun with her sword at her throat, the sun glinting on it and her tears. 'I told her no. I told her to stop,' she wept. 'She asked me to.'
'She wouldn't ask for this,' he spat, jerking the sword so it touched her white skin to leave a line of red. 'You ruin everything you love. Everything, you screwed-up bitch. But I'll be damned before I let you ruin Rachel.'
Ivy's eyes darted to mine, her face tear-streaked and terrified. Her mouth moved but no words came out. My gut twisted when I saw her accept his words as truth. Jenks held the sword to her throat; he was going to use it and Ivy would do nothing to stop him.
Jenks shifted his grip. He pulled the sword back. Ivy looked at me, too lost in guilt to do anything.
'No,' I whispered, panicking. My grasping fingers reached the edge of the van and, feet scrabbling weakly, I pushed myself forward. Jax was in my way, shrilling something and his dragonfly wings sparkling in my darkening vision.
'Jenks, stop!' I cried out, falling out of the van. Ice hard and cold, the pavement hit my shoulder and hip, scraping my cheek. I took a breath that was more like a cry, focusing on the gray pavement as if it was my coming death. Oh God. Ivy was going to let Jenks kill her.
'Rachel!' There was the clatter of the sword falling, and suddenly Jenks was there, his arms picking me up and cushioning me against the hard ground. Struggling, I focused on him, shocked he was so close. He didn't like anyone touching him.
'It wasn't her fault,' I breathed, focusing on his eyes. They were so green, I forgot what I wanted to say. My breath sounded harsh and my throat hurt. 'It wasn't her fault.'
'Shhhh,' he whispered, his brow creasing when I moaned as he hoisted me into his arms and lurched to his feet. 'It's going to be all right. You're going to be all right. She's going to leave. You don't have to worry about her again. I won't let any vampire hurt you. I can do this. I'll stay big, and make sure no one hurts you again. It'll be okay. I'll make sure you're safe.'
The vampire saliva was wearing off fast. As he carried me, I could feel a heavy pain starting to take hold and unconsciousness gather. I was cold, and shivers shook me.
Jenks's motion stopped, and he cradled me close as he stood over Ivy. His arms filled with a hard tension. 'Leave,' Jenks said. 'Get your things and go. I want you out of the church by the time we get back. If you stay, you're going to kill her, just like everyone else stupid enough to love you.'
A sound broke from her, and he walked away, pace fast as he headed for the warm darkness of the motel room.
I couldn't find the air to speak. Ivy's heavy sobs came one after the other. I didn't want her to leave. Oh, God. I had only wanted to show I trusted her. I only wanted to understand her—and myself.
Jenks's shadow fell over me, and I trembled. Tears spilled from me as I saw everything crash down to ruin. I could hear her crying, alone and lost. She was going to leave. She was going to leave because of what I had asked her to do. And as I listened to Ivy crying, alone and guilt-strewn on the pavement, something broke inside. I couldn't lie to myself anymore. It was going to kill me.
'I asked her to bite me,' I whispered. 'Jenks, don't leave her there. She needs me. I asked her.' A sob rose in me, hurting as it broke free. 'I only wanted to know. I didn't think she'd lose control like that.'
Jenks jerked to a stop under the motel overhang. 'Rachel?' he said, bewildered. There was the snap of dragonfly wings, and I wondered how he could carry me if he was a pixy.
I couldn't see Ivy, but her sobs had stopped and I wondered if she had heard me. I choked on my harsh breath. Jenks's shocked eyes were inches from mine. I had promised I wouldn't leave, and I refused to let her run away in guilt. I needed them both. I needed Ivy.
'I had to know,' I whispered, and Jenks's face went panicked. 'Please,' I breathed, my vision starting to mercifully darken. 'Please get her. Don't leave her alone.' My eyes closed. 'I hurt her so badly. Don't let her be alone,' I said, but I didn't know if it made it into words before I passed out.
Twenty-three
I was moving, and it was confusing the hell out of me. I didn't think I was unconscious, and I certainly didn't know what was going on, but someone had their arms around me and I could smell the sharp scent of chlorophyll. Piecing together if I was outside with my eyes shut or inside with my eyes open was beyond me. I was cold, but I'd been cold for forever.
I did recognize the dropping sensation followed by a bed pressing into me. I tried to speak but failed. A wide hand cradled my head, and the pillow under it was pulled away. I sank deeper into the comforter as someone propped up my knees and tucked the pillow under it.
'Stay with me, Rache,' came a voice, accompanied by the smell of fudge, and I tried to remember how to open my eyes. Hands were on me, light and warm. 'Don't pass out. Let me get some water in you first, then you can rest.'
My head lolled, accompanied by a pulsing pain in my neck. The voice had been soft, but there was panic under it. The thought of water gave me a name to the feeling I couldn't figure out. I'm thirsty. Yes, that's what I'm feeling.
I felt sick, and my lids fluttered as I hung in a state too fatigued to move. I remembered this. I had done this before. 'Where's Keasley?' I whispered, hearing it come from me in a soft breath of air. No one heard me over the sound of running water.
'Jax, get a straw,' the intent voice said. 'In the trash by the TV.'
There was the sound of cellophane crackling, and someone moved my legs to wedge another pillow under them. It was as if a veil dropped away, and suddenly everything had meaning. My eyes opened and reality realigned itself. I was in the motel room. I was on the bed with my feet propped higher than my head. I was cold. Jenks had carried me in, and that winged spot of sunshine hovering by the TV was Jax.
Oh God. I had asked Ivy to bite me.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to sit up.
Jenks abruptly had his hands on me, pressing my shoulder down. He's got big hands, I thought, trying to focus. And warm.
'Not so fast,' he said. 'Can you swallow?'
