Breed of Envy (The Breed Chronicles, #02)

by Jordan, Lanie

  An argument was there, but then she just sighed, like she saw my point.

  It was Greene’s facility, and he’d said it and proved it time and time again that much didn’t happen here that he didn’t know about. The way I figured it, he knew and didn’t care, or he knew and figured I’d handle it on my own.

  “I’m going to rescan now,” Doc said after five minutes, “then I’ll let you go.”

  I just nodded and waited.

  Instead of looking over the results immediately, like she usually did, she unhooked all the funny electrodes and motioned me to follow her. “Let’s see how long the damage will last,” she said, taking her seat and pressing buttons on the console. “This happened about three hours ago, right?”

  “Yeah, give or take. Dale drove like a maniac on the way back.”

  “Well, the ribs aren’t broken now, but I’m guessing they were.” She enlarged the hologram around my ribs, pointed to a section. “See these marks? They’re a little bit thicker than the rest. That’s bone remodeling. On most people, it’d probably be more prominent, but since you have accelerated healing, it’s less distinct.”

  “They’re healing, so that’s good.”

  “Yeah, it is. Unfortunately, ribs are used a lot. Well, not necessarily used, but they expand and retract as you breathe, move, turn. It’s going to be a painful healing.”

  “I’ve noticed,” I said wryly. I already had the painful thing down. “How long do you think until they’re completely healed?”

  “Probably in a few hours, to be honest. But I want you to take it easy the rest of the weekend, and come back tomorrow for another scan. I want to make sure they’re completely healed before you participate in any of your classes.” She eyed me. “I can wrap them for tonight if you want, but I’m afraid that’s about all I can do.”

  I would have said no to the wrapping, but then I thought about Rachel and her lot. They knew I was hurt, so if they saw me, they’d probably try hitting my ribs. Again. “I’ll take the wrapping. Can you add some extra padding or something?”

  Doc looked up in surprise. “Really? I was sure you’d argue.”

  “Better safe than sorry, right?”

  She knew there was more to it than that, but she didn’t ask or comment on it. “Sure. Do you want something for the pain? Even healing this fast, there’s still going to be some.”

  I considered it for a second, but then I just shook my head. “No, but thanks.”

  “Alright. But take some anti-inflammatories, at least. It might help a little.”

  “I will.”

  “Okay.” She smiled at me. “Let me go grab an ace bandage. I’ll be right back.”

  I took a seat when she left and let out a long sigh as I studied the hologram of my body some more. Hopefully, the padding wouldn’t be needed. If it was, Rachel and her lot wouldn’t be safe, but they would be sorry. I’d make sure of it.

  *~*~*

  When I was done with Doc, I quickly and stealthy (read: ran) back to my room. I didn’t see Rachel or her friends again, but I found Linc waiting for me outside my door. I smiled as I spotted him and breathed a sigh of relief. “Hey, Flyboy.”

  His head whipped around in my direction. “Hey.”

  My smile faltered as I reached him. “What’s wrong? Did you get in trouble or something? If you did, I’ll go kick someone. Greene, or Peter—”

  He shook his head. “I’m not in trouble.”

  I unlocked my door and waited for Linc to go in. “Then why do you look so…I don’t know. Sad, or maybe angry.”

  He let out a rough laugh as I shut the door. “You were almost killed.”

  “I was not. You had my back.” Carefully, I walked to my bed and sat down. “You always do.”

  “Well, having your back did you a lot of good.” He ran his hands over his scalp. “For crying out loud, Jade. You were hurt.”

  “I’m okay.” I patted the space beside me. “Come sit down. Talk to me.”

  He sat down, but he didn’t say anything, just stared at my wall.

  “Linc. Look at me.” When he didn’t, or wouldn’t, I put my hands on his face and made him. “I’m fine. Nothing a few hours won’t cure.” His gaze went to my ribs, or maybe the arm that was holding them, so I dropped it to the side. “Really.”

  Feather light, he ran his fingers down my side. He felt the ace bandage Doc had wrapped around them and his eyes flashed with guilt. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, looking away again.

  “Don’t be. The padding is just because of Rachel. She and her friends saw me on my way to see Doc. They’re like hound dogs, I swear, sniffing out weaknesses. But forget about them.” I looked down at his right hand. His knuckles were busted and one big, bluish purple bruise. I took his hand carefully in both of mine. “How are you doing? You okay?”

  He nodded. “The hand is fine.”

  “I’m not asking about your hand.” Leaning my forehead against his, I said, “I’m asking about you. How you are doing.”

  “I’m fine.” He backed away, and for a second, his gaze went back to my ribs. “I did what I had to. That’s all there is to it.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “You saved my life, you know,” I said softly. “Guess I owe you one.”

  “I almost got you killed. You don’t owe me anything.”

  I sighed, wishing I could think of the words to erase the guilt from his eyes. He hadn’t been responsible in the least. I’d wanted to go with him, even when I told him he didn’t have to take me. I’d still wanted to go, to be there for him. And even now, knowing how it’d all ended, I’d do it again, exactly the same way, without regrets.

  It was too bad I didn’t think Linc could say the same.

  CHAPTER 15

  Over the next week, things were kind of strained. Linc wouldn’t talk about the hunt anymore. I could still see the guilt in his eyes, but despite my best efforts, I couldn’t make him see that he wasn’t to blame. We weren’t fighting or anything, but he was unusually quiet and he’d barely kiss me, like he was afraid it’d hurt me.

  I couldn’t exactly blame him for not talking to me about it when I’d been so quiet about my own drama. I just wished he wouldn’t look so guilty all the time.

  I knew it probably bugged him, seeing me hurt, but no matter what I said to him, no matter how much I tried to reassure him, my words never seemed to sink in. He pretended they did, saying he knew or he believed me, but I could tell they didn’t.

  It didn’t happen as often now since it’d been a week, but every once in a while, he would glance at me and his gaze would fall on my ribs. I could see it in the way his jaw snapped shut that he was picturing, or remembering, what had happened that day.

  And that’s what he’d been doing for the last two hours as we studied in my room.

  I was sitting on my bed, he was at my desk, and every few minutes, he’d glance at me and frown. I sighed. “You’re being an idiot,” I said, shoving my tablet aside. I couldn’t take the looks anymore.

  His head snapped up. “What?”

  “I said, you’re being an idiot.”

  He set his tablet down. “About?”

  “About me. My ribs. The hunt. Take your pick. No one blames you. Not even Greene. You didn’t get yelled at or anything. The demon came after me.”

  He shrugged and his eyes went dark with guilt. “Either way.”

  I grabbed Linc’s hand, and then I pinched the top of it until he yelped. He yanked his hand back. I would’ve slapped his head, but I think he saw it coming and moved away.

  “What the hell was that for?”

  “For that guilty, brooding look. I’m tired of it. You. Were. Not. To. Blame,” I said, enunciating each word sharply. “So lose the look, or I’ll just keep pinching you.”

  His eyes stayed narrowed on mine and he kept his hands—and every other body part—safely out of my reach. Linc was a lot of things, but he wasn’t dumb. He knew I’d take the first op
portunity and cause him some violence. “Look, I know it’s not exactly—”

  I cut him off right there. “No, you look,” I snapped, pushing up from the bed. The chair rolled across the floor as he scooted away from me. “It wasn’t your fault at all. I wanted to be there.” I stalked toward him. There were really only a few feet between us, so I kept my movements slow, determined. He looked like he wanted to run, but he didn’t. Probably because he really had nowhere to go.

  “Jade…”

  “Don’t ‘Jade’ me. Nothing that has happened to me has been your fault. At all. The demon attacked me. Big deal. I’ve been through worse. And I would’ve been through a lot worse if you hadn’t stopped it.” I paused directly in front of him and crossed my arms over my chest as I looked down at him. “I mean, I know you dawdled and all, taking your time to get to me—”

  “I did not dawdle, damnit!” he said, curling his fingers into fists on the tops of his thighs.

  I raised an eyebrow. “No?”

  “No!” He realized he was practically yelling and lowered his tone. “No. As soon as I saw it attacking you, I—”

  “Stopped it?”

  “Yes! I wasn’t going to let it hurt…” He swallowed. “I wasn’t going to let it keep attacking you.”

  “You did everything you could, then?” I pressed, glaring down at him angrily. “Is that what you’re saying?”

  Hurt flashed across his eyes. “Of course I did. How could you think, for even a second, that I would—”

  “So you weren’t to blame.”

  His chest rose and fell quickly. “No.”

  I raised my eyebrows again.

  His eyes went slightly wide, like he’d just realized what he’d said and realized the last thing I said hadn’t been a question but a statement. “Wait—”

  “No waiting. You had it right the first time. You weren’t to blame. You saved my life.” He tried to turn his head away from me, but I grabbed it and held it still. “You know you weren’t to blame, and you know, deep down, that I don’t blame you for what happened, and that no one else does. I know you did everything you could. You’re the only one who isn’t convinced.”

  His eyes narrowed but his breathing leveled out as he exhaled a sigh. He sat quietly for a moment, then let out another sigh. “That was a dirty girl trick.”

  “Maybe. But you needed it. And maybe I did, too.”

  “Why did you need it?”

  “Because I’ve been feeling guilty about you feeling guilty, which is equally—if not more—stupid than you feeling guilty in the first place.”

  His eyebrows creased. “I’m not following.”

  “I’m the one who got hurt. I’m the one that stupid demon kept coming after. If I hadn’t gone, Greene would’ve had the stupid demon and you wouldn’t keep looking at me like I’m going to break in half if you look at me too hard.” I let out a huff of breath. “I feel like I should have just said no and kept it at no.”

  He didn’t say anything immediately, but then he nodded. “I wanted you to go with me, and I’m glad you were there. I probably would’ve killed the demon, but then it wouldn’t have been for a good reason. So thank you. For going, and for stopping me from killing it the first time.” He took one of my hands and kissed it. “I mean it. Thank you.”

  I looked down at the hand he just kissed. My stomach fluttered. “Oh. Well, you’re welcome.”

  “And you’re right. We’re both idiots.”

  “Agreed.” I laughed, then I stopped and added, “But you were definitely the bigger idiot this time.”

  He grabbed my hand and, before I knew what he was doing, pulled me onto his lap and wrapped his arms around my waist. I could feel the heat from his arms on my stomach, even through my shirt. It felt like fireflies dancing across my skin. “Why am I the bigger idiot?”

  “Because you’re taller. Duh.”

  Shaking his head, he laughed and said, “You’re something else, Hall.”

  I grinned. “So, are you done having your girly moment now?”

  Linc’s lips twitched as he fought a smile. “Girly moment?”

  “Yeah. Your girly moment.”

  “Fair enough.” He nodded. “Girly moment over.”

  “About damn time,” I said with feeling. Maybe things would get back to normal now.

  He shook his head. “Thanks, Jade.”

  “For calling you an idiot?”

  He rolled his eyes. “That, too. But, you know. For everything. For being there.”

  I laid a kiss on his lips. “Anytime. Always.”

  And I meant it.

  *~*~*

  Valentine’s Day was the next day, on Sunday, so Greene let everyone go into New Orlando for the day. Tasha, Linc, Chris, and I had dinner at a small restaurant with rude service and so-so food, and then we all went to see a movie together. Chris and Linc vetoed anything even semi-romantic, so me and Tasha had been stuck watching some suspense-y horror flick instead. I’d spent the majority of the time hiding behind Linc, but then he’d decided the movie was boring so we held hands and made out.

  By the time the movie ended, I’d decided that maybe watching a suspense-y horror flick with a hot guy wasn’t so bad after all.

  When we got back that night, Linc gave me a gift. I’d half-expected flowers or something, but he seemed to have guessed that I wasn’t the flower and candy type of girl, so instead he gave me a little bag type thing. It wasn’t really a bag, but it wasn’t quite a purse either. It was made of smooth, black leather, with a long shoulder strap, and it had just enough room for my personal tablet, the lipstick knife he’d given me for Christmas, and a little pocket for any cards or money.

  The purse/bag had been quickly forgotten when Linc had kissed me. That wasn’t exactly abnormal, since as soon as his lips were on mine, I was doing good to remember my name or how to stand on my own two feet.

  So basically, Valentine’s Day had been great.

  The rest of the month was another story altogether. The P2 classes (and the others, if I had to guess) had picked up in pace again and the assignments took more and more time. All of the classes were getting harder—especially Demonology, despite the fact that I was so far ahead. Or maybe because I was so far ahead. And according to Mr. Sheldon, at the rate I was going, I’d be completely finished with the class, save the final exam, well before July.

  Surprisingly, even the work on the DD was getting extreme because there were still more attacks than usual happening.

  Tasha’s birthday was February twenty-fourth and Linc’s, a week later, on March third. Tasha loved shoes, so I got her a gift certificate to some fancy shoe place. She squealed and then threatened to kill me if I told anyone.

  Linc was…a lot harder to get a present for. I wracked my brain for three weeks before I finally thought of something. And then I spent a week thinking it was a stupid present. He loved movies (new and old), so I bought him a video tablet with a year subscription to an online video archive. And it was probably a weird side gift, but I talked Peter into giving him some extra training on the side. He seemed to like both, so I was relieved.

  After our Spring Break at the beginning of April, I had my birthday (on the 17th). I hadn’t told anyone, but somehow Tasha and Linc found out anyway. They woke me up at seven on Saturday—my birthday—with a loud chorus of Happy Birthday that woke up half the fourth floor and had people yelling for them to shut up, and then followed it up by breakfast in bed. Linc and I had woke Tasha up at seven on her birthday (with singing and breakfast in bed), and then she and I had done the same thing to Linc on his. I figured it was fair game and only muttered a few mean words.

  We’d all spent the morning together, then after Tasha had given me my gift (a cute pair of sandals she claimed every girl needed), she had deserted us, claiming she needed more sleep. I was pretty sure she wasn’t lying exactly, but I was also pretty sure she wanted to, A) spend some time with Chris, and, B) give Linc and me some time together. Both were cool with me.<
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  Linc and I had spent time just talking on the catwalk, and now we were back in my room.

  “So,” he said, sitting across from me. “Want your gift?”

  “You didn’t have to get me anything. You’ve gone above and beyond in the gift-giving department in the past few months.”

  “You got me something for my birthday. Two somethings, actually.”

  I frowned. “Yeah, but they were both kinda self-serving. I mean, I only got you the video thing so you’d leave me alone about movies—”

  “You know what? You’re full of shit, Jade.”

  I laughed. “Okay, but seriously. You’re still ahead. I never got you anything for Christmas.”

  Linc rolled his eyes. “You helped me study. Hell, you taught me everything I needed to know.”

  “Brain power is not a gift.”

  “You couldn’t have done or given me anything better. Drop it. Zip it, too,” he added when I was about to argue. He stood up and pulled a small black disc from his pocket. It looked like one the holo-tree bases.

  My gaze automatically went to my dresser where mine was sitting. Only it wasn’t there. “You stole my holo-disc?”

  “Borrowed, Hall. I borrowed your holo-disc.”

  “When? I never saw you take it.”

  He grinned. “This morning. You’re really not a morning person.”

  I laughed again. “Sometimes, I don’t know if I want to strangle you or kiss you.”

  He winked. “You can kiss me later.” He walked over to the dresser, set the holo-disc on top. “Turn around and close your eyes.”

  “Seriously?”

  He made a face at me. Given his options, I was pretty sure he would’ve settled on strangling me. “Just do it.”

  “Fine,” I grumbled half-heartedly as I twisted around on the bed and closed my eyes. “Would you like me to cover them, too?”

  “No, smarty pants. Just don’t peek.”

  “I’m facing a wall. There’s nothing to peek at.” Picturing what he was probably doing behind me, I grinned. “And don’t roll your eyes at me.”

  “What, you have eyes in the back of your head now?”