Amplified by Alexia Purdy Page B

answer to the antidote problem.”
    My ears perked up at this , and I waited, impatiently, for him to tell me more. My knees knocked under the table, and I buried my hands deeper in my pockets to hide my fidgetiness. “What do you mean?”
    “I mean that the antidote was having some issues working without any side effects.”
    “What sort of side effects?”
    “Well, some people … err… vampires… died from it. They’re body couldn’t separate from the virus without tearing up the person inside.” He wrinkled his nose and dipped a dropper into the vial he’d just mixed, letting one fat droplet ease onto a slide.
    I gulped. “ So why in the hell were you were going to shoot me up with that crap?”
    “Well, we hadn ’t tried it on a human hybrid yet. Your mother’s blood hadn’t converted to hybrid, and it was impossible to test how well it would work.”
    “I could ’ve died, and you didn’t want to test it on my blood first?”
    “I wasn ’t given a choice. Mercer wanted it tested on you immediately.”
    “And if it had killed me?” He didn’t answer. “Who would you test it on then?”
    “I don ’t know, April. I’m working blind here. I really didn’t want to do it.”
    “That doesn ’t make me feel better.”
    “I ’m sorry. I’ll have to show you what it can do later.”
    He was silent as he worked and didn ’t look up again. I was left stewing at his words. Moments later, I was still steaming, tapping my fingertips furiously on the black tabletop, but he’d decided I’d calmed down enough.
    “Look, I know that would ’ve been the better route to take, get a sample of your blood and test it on that first. But Mercer is very impatient and even convinced Christian to help wrangle you up. I didn’t know what his real intentions were until I got to your door. It was only then that he ordered me to inject you with it. I’m really sorry.”
    “You can shove th at apology where you know it will hurt most, Rick,” I hissed and pushed off the stool, sending it toppling over. Bad idea. The room spun, and I grabbed at the table to steady myself.
    “W hoa, there, cowgirl.” Christian’s hands were on my sides, holding me up. I wanted to hit him in the chest with my frustration and hurt, but I just let him hold me instead. I was tired, and it was making me think all screwy. It wasn’t a good position to be in. Weak, vulnerable.
    “I ’m going to lie down.” I shoved his arms away, but he didn’t let go.
    “Did you eat anything?”
    “Yes, breakfast.” I glared at him, but his twinkling eyes found it amusing and not dismissive as I had wished it to be.
    “It ’s lunchtime already.”
    I hung my head and closed my eyes. I decided the fatigue might fade some with food. I relented. “Okay. What’s on the menu?”
    “Steak.”
    My eyebrow lifted, questioning the choice. “You have steak?” My question would’ve been unusual before the end of the world. Now it was so foreign to talk about meat. Fresh meat, at that.
    He nodded. “Yep. Fat cows and sheep in the underground pastures. Just like the City of Vida.”
    I grinned. A steak might be good for me. Iron, protein. I was game.
    “Got any hamburgers?”
    “With the works.”
    “About time something goes my way.” My mouth was already salivating, but I swallowed it back.
    “Indeed.”
    Now that the room wasn’t spinning like I’d just gotten off an amusement ride, I managed to keep up with Christian as he headed toward the dining room. He ordered a burger with the works for me. I glanced around the crowded eating area and cringed. It was full of hybrid vamps. Lots of them, with hungry eyes and deafening whispers as I passed them by. Déjà vu sucked eggs. I wasn’t ready to fight, not here, not against these vampires. I had no weapons, no juju, nothing. I wouldn’t stand a chance.
    “Don ’t worry. They have strict orders to not touch you.”
    “I ’ve heard that one before.” I groaned and turned away before I