Crave 02 - Sacrifice by Melinda Metz, Laura J. Burns Read Free Book Online

because they didn’t need vampire blood to give them strength. Shay sat up slowly, running through a self-check. Breaking out of the room had taken its toll. She felt close to Shay-normal, which was ten steps below regular strength for most people. She doubted that she would have the stamina to get outside.
    “Maybe there’s a phone in the lobby,” she whispered, climbing slowly to her feet and starting down the hall. This was officially a laboratory funded by Duke University. They had to have a phone line. And maybe if she called for help during the day, and the vampires were sleeping, she could come up with some kind of story to keep the authorities from discovering the truth about Gabriel and his family. She could say she got lost and they let her use the phone, but they went into the caves to work. Or something. It wouldn’t matter. If she got the fire department here, they’d see that she was sick. They’d focus on getting her to a hospital.
    And they’ll call Mom and Martin. They’ll give me a blood transfusionof human blood. I’ll put my mother near the vampires who want to kill her, I’ll be back in Martin’s clutches, and I’ll end up dead from lack of vampire blood anyway.
    Shay started up the stairs, then paused. It seemed hopeless. Maybe the Escalade was still here and she could drive herself to a hospital without putting anyone in danger. She could stay off the grid, steal some blood and IV supplies. A transfusion would keep her alive for a day or two. Long enough for Gabriel to find her.
    She kept climbing, hanging on to the cold metal railing for help. One thing was clear: She couldn’t stay here, where they thought she was an abomination.
    At the top was the door leading to the research center. Shay waited until her heartbeat had slowed a bit, then pushed it open.
    The hand grabbed her immediately.
    “No!” Shay cried, instinctively jerking her arm away. It wasn’t fair to get caught now. The vampires should be sleeping.
    “It’s me. Shay, it’s me.” Gabriel’s voice was rough. It was the most wonderful thing Shay had ever heard.
    Shay threw her arms around him, pressing her body against his as he hugged her back. It felt incredible. It felt like life. But it wasn’t enough. She needed more. She buried her face in the side of his neck, breathing in the scent of him. Not enough. She shoved her hands under his shirt and ran her fingers over his bare back. Yes, this is what she needed. She needed the feel of his flesh. She needed proof that he was really there with her. She tightened her hold on him, her fingernails digging into his skin.
    Gabriel groaned, deep in his throat. He wound his fingers through her hair and urged her face up toward his. Then his mouthwas on hers, his tongue brushing against hers, and Shay let herself get lost in the sensation.
    He pulled away a tiny bit and gazed into her eyes, cupping her face with his hands. “I love you. I saw them pulling you away and it was . . . and I knew. I love you, Shay.”
    She wouldn’t have believed there was anything better than the relief of feeling his arms around her, his mouth on hers. But hearing those words, it was. Completely, totally,
exponentially
better.
    “I love you too,” Shay breathed. “I didn’t want to. It seemed like a stupid, stupid idea. But I couldn’t help it.”
    Gabriel smiled at her. She hadn’t been sure she’d ever see his smile again. “It
was
a stupid idea. Stupid and wonderful.” He stepped back, his voice becoming urgent. “But, Shay, we need to get out of here.”
    Shay jerked away from him. “No!” she cried. “I’m not going back down there.”
    Gabriel’s eyes widened . . . and then he got it. She could see it on his face—the shock, the fear, the devastation. Everything she had felt a split second before, when she saw Ernst appear in the doorway of the lab room across the hall.
    She cowered away from Gabriel, ignoring Ernst, pretending she hadn’t spotted him. “Just let me go.