“You feel so good,” he rasped. “Taste so good. You’re ready for me, right? You told me you were ready.”

“So ready.”

“We have to stop, though. We can’t do this here.”

Whimper. “I know.”

Panting, we broke apart.

A hard knock sounded at the door. “Cole,” Frosty called. “Your dad just walked in.”

Cole pressed his forehead into mine. “We’ll be out in a sec.”

Murmuring. Fading footsteps.

“One day,” he said to me, “we’re taking off, just the two of us.”

One day. I wanted that—wanted a future.

Cole’s eyes narrowed. “What you did was stupid, Ali.”

“Sometimes the wisest decision seems like the most foolish.”

“I should spank you.”

“Try. Please.”

He chuckled. “You thinking you’ll end up spanking me?”

“Knowing it.”

Before I realized what was happening, he was spinning me around and smacking me on the butt. “Come on. You can help us figure out the best course of action for tonight. In the morning, we’ll talk about our latest vision...and what you did with the antidote. And more about you being ready for me.”

I heard the husky promise in his voice. “Cole,” I began.

He shook his head. “Later.”

Yeah. That was probably for the best. I nodded.

Chapter 28

Game...Set...Death Match

The rest of the slayers arrived at different times throughout the day, and all of them had the same reaction upon spotting me. Absolute, utter shock. I was hugged. I was patted on top of the head. I was met with sad little smiles because everyone knew the situation wouldn’t last.

Took us a few hours, but we all finally agreed on a plan of attack.

I kinda felt sorry for the Hazmats.

When the sun began to set, Cole gave me a quick kiss and took his place among the chairs lining the far wall. “You see a zombie,” he said, “you light up and start ashing. Don’t waste your energy trying to fight. That’s what we’re here to do.”

“Sir, yes, sir.” I eased beside him.

“If your flames are red—”

“I know. Inject myself with the antidote, then run far, far away.”

He tweaked the end of my nose, a gesture of affection. “When it’s over, I’ll come find you. You better not have a single injury.”

“Same to you.”

Veronica walked toward us, and I watched her purse her lips as she noticed our easy banter.

You should see his chest, Ronny dear.

She sat across from me. The rest of the slayers joined us, and one by one we forced our spirits out of our bodies. The antidote continued to do its job, and I was able to stand with only the slightest resistance from Z.A.

The chill in the air was more pronounced than usual. Cole wrapped me in his arms, sharing his warmth, before leading the way out of the barn.

Night was in full swing, the sun completely gone, the moon in its place, and the halogens Mr. Holland kept around the property glowing brightly, illuminating our way. My eyes burned and watered against the glare.

We passed the gate at the property line, each of us on alert.

In the sky, Emma’s rabbit cloud pulsed, as though agitated.

I remembered the last time that had happened and gulped. “They’re close,” I said.

“No.” Cole’s expression was menacing. “The zombies are already here.”

They sure were. I looked, and saw multiple sets of red eyes glowing in the distance. Moans resounded, and the scent of rot drifted. I hadn’t expected things to kick off so fast, but that didn’t stop anticipation from firing me up.

Ethan had told the truth.

“Go, go, go,” Cole commanded.

As one cohesive mass we rushed forward. Cole fired his crossbow, the arrow sprouting four points at the end and slicing through a zombie’s throat. Trina picked up speed, surging ahead, already swinging her ax. Frosty and Bronx tag-teamed two zombies, whipping around the creatures and binding the pair with rope before slicing here, slicing there. The creatures could only endure the violence—before their legs were removed and they toppled to the ground.

Gavin stayed close to Veronica. She was in the process of shoving a row of zombies into the swing of his sword. Lucas, Derek and Cruz hacked through the second and third line of monsters. I stopped in the thick of it and spread my arms. A zombie tried to grab me, but Cole was there, swinging a short sword and removing the limb just before contact.

Another zombie made a play for me, but this time I was ready, filled with power—I could do this. Fire leaped from the tips of my fingers. It was white and tipped with gold, thank God, and in an instant it spread to my shoulders. I could have whooped with joy.

The zombie touched me and burst into ash.

I was grinning as the fire continued to spread to my head, then down my chest, to my waist, down my legs and over my ankles and feet. I gave myself up to the heat, basking in it, empowered by it, and marched forward, ghosting my fingertips over the spine of the zombie chomping at Cole.

Ash.

I moved to the next and the next. Ash. Ash. One touch, that was all that was needed. Soon there were no creatures left standing. The slayers were panting, watching me with rapt fascination.

“Dibs on being Ali’s partner,” Gavin said with a fist pump to the sky. “For, like, infinity.”

Veronica jabbed him in the stomach.

“What?” he said, frowning. “I believe it. I say it. I receive it. Right? That’s a spiritual law.”

“Not if you violate my free will.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “Was anyone bitten?”

“No,” echoed a welcome chorus.

“Good.” Cole nodded with satisfaction. “All right. It’s time to split up.” He looked to me. “You still good?”

My pores seemed to open up and suck the flames inside, but the heat stayed just under the surface, ready and eager for more. “I am. You?”

“Yeah.”

We held hands for a moment, only a moment, offering silent assurances, before I moved to Gavin’s side. The two of us parted from the group, heading for the road we’d seen in our vision, maintaining a normal, natural pace.

“You and Veronica seem awfully close,” I said to him. “Closer than usual.”

“Makes sense. We hooked up last night.”

“You did not.”

“It was good, but not great.” Amusement dripped from his tone. “Practically a pity fu—screw.”

“Ugh. You shouldn’t be telling me this.”

“Why not?”

“Telling people who you’ve banged is so low class.”

He shrugged. “Lucas walked in on us. It’s not like it’s some big secret.”

Still.

“You jealous?” he asked.

I rolled my eyes and made sure he noticed. “Gavin, I suddenly find you repulsive.”

“Funny. That’s what she said after I told her sex is sex, and I’d be willing to make myself available to her anytime she wanted it, but not to expect anything more. And you know what? She still jumped me.”

“Some girls have no taste.”

“In this case, you’re the one without it.”

That earned him another eye roll. “While she’s making herself available to you, you’re going to be seeing other women, aren’t you?”

“I thought I’d made that clear. Was that not clear?”

“The fact that I’ve had my tongue on your body...” I shuddered.

His grin was slow but full-wattage. “So we can joke about that now?”

“Why not?” I said, mocking him. It felt good to tease him, to act like the girl I used to be. “As terrible as it was, I don’t think there’s anything else we can do about it.”

“Terrible?”

“You practically checked my tonsils for infection, Gavin.”

He barked out a laugh. “Ha! If you were lucky enough to be kissed by me, you’d still be screaming with pleasure.”

“You say pleasure, I say—” I spotted the telltale red eyes in the distance. Inhaling sharply, I smelled the putrid stink of rot. My ears twitched, and I heard the grunts and groans of a hunger never to be satisfied. “They’re here.”