Page 106 of Bitten By the Basilisk

That phrase went through her mind several more times as she tried moving more of her arm and successfully shifted it to the side in a somewhat jerky motion.

She kept trying, eventually lifting it, then explored her level of control, which improved with every second. Soon, she could move her neck and turn her head. After another moment of struggle, she was able to turn on her side and sit up.

By the time she stumbled to her feet, more out of panic than any lingering impairment, the warm glow under her skin had nearly faded, her new power having counteracted the venom by burning it out.

But as crazy as that was, she couldn’t think about it right then.

“Silas,” she gasped, glancing at the clock.

The car sent to pick her up would be outside until seven thirty. It was five minutes past that.

Cursing, she grabbed her clutch off the floor, dug her phone out of it, and called Silas.

“Please pick up,” she whispered. “Please, please pick up.”

In case the driver hadn’t left yet, she snatched up the gift bag and raced out of the apartment.

Silas’s voicemail picked up just as she reached the parking lot. Holding back a whine, she tried calling again, then peered into the window of the only vehicle that was currently idling—a black town car with the license plate NEST3.

The person in the driver’s seat was slumped over the wheel.

With a gasp, she hurried to the driver-side door, which was thankfully unlocked. The light-haired male sitting inside scanned as fae. She checked his pulse and found it beating steadily. Spots of blood on his sleeve suggested Eric had bitten him through his shirt. She eased him off the steering wheel, sitting him upright in the seat. His eyes were partway open.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” she said, certain he could hear her. “But if I don’t get to my destination as soon as possible, someone important to me…h-he’ll die. Please forgive me, but I need to move you.”

How, though? While she could probably drag him out of the car, she couldn’t just leave him on the ground when he was defenseless. And she doubted she had the strength to get him in the passenger seat. The guy looked like he weighed at least one-eighty.

Just as she was contemplating reclining his seat and dragging him to the rear one, someone with an Australian accent spoke up behind her, startling the hell out of her.

“Need a hand, love?”

“Holy shit!” she shrieked, spinning around. A familiar vampire stood an arm’s length away. “Brett?”

“You look rather nice,” he remarked in a friendly tone, whereas he wore much the same outfit as the last time she’d seen him. “Going somewhere fancy?”

“Uh…yeah,” she stammered, her brain racing to catch up. She gestured at the paralyzed driver. “He was supposed to take me there, but…”

“Oh? Where are you headed? I could give you a lift. We’d be there in a flash.”

She frowned with skepticism. “Silas’s place. The Nest.”

Brett grimaced. “Ah, I can’t get in there. Not even past the gate.”

“I think the car will open it,” she said of the open vehicle. “I just need to be able to get in the driver’s seat.”

“Ahh. Well, that’s easy. I can take him for you. Get him somewhere safe.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

The vampire raised his hands in a placating gesture. “I don’t drink from fae. If I did, they’d make me watch the next sunrise. I’m in enough trouble with your mom as it is. A couple nights ago, the vampire hunter Blade was standing over me when I woke up. Scared the shit out of me.”

At any other time, she would’ve found that amusing.

Her ability said he was telling the truth, and Brett didn’t seem strong-willed enough to slip one past her. She sighed, not liking that she had to trust him, but she was keenly aware of each second that passed.

“Okay. Take him directly to someone he could reasonably trust. No detours.”

Brett nodded, looking relieved. “I know just the place.”