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Ryan was pale, but he had stopped coughing up blood I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not

He ed a weak smile for Claire "How about a kissjust in case?"

Claire tenderly touched his forehead "I'l tel you what, Cowboy You come out of this alive, and I'l kiss you"

"You pro go of his hand

In the e room, Jared sat on the sofa next to me, Kim kept to herself, alone in a chair, and Claire stood with Bex in the corner No one spoke, further discussion was unnecessary We aiting for someone to tel us if they had saved Ryan, or if Claire would die

Claire kept her eyes closed, concentrating on everything she felt from Ryan Her clothes were ripped and filthy, and her platinuo Once in a while she would twitch, and I wondered if she could sense when they used the scalpel, or if it was difficult while he was under anesthesia to sense anything at alJared would have answered my questions, but it was hardly the time

The tension in the roo orse

I watched the faces of the people walking by So around the room, passers-by would no doubt wonder if we'd been in soe that was once St Anne's would soon spread, and I worried that the hospital would be crawling with police officer's soon

The rando had no idea the pretty platinum blonde they couldn't help but notice could be dead in the next forty-eight hours Claire was the strongest,woman I had ever met, and she looked so helpless in that moment--so hopeless

Final y, she broke the silence "That's it," she snapped, sto her way to the door

Bex stopped her "Whoawhere do you think you're going?"

Claire shoved at her brother, fighting to get free "I can help hi; I can't just sit here!"

Bex grabbed her face, cupping her cherubic cheeks in his hands "They won't let you in there, and if force your way in, you'l just distract the on"

Claire slao!"

Bex rip on Claire's arreith fear

"He's fading They're losing hihtened

Claire's body bent backwards, stiff and unnatural

I stood, cupping ?" I cried

Jared stood withme with his hands on my shoulders as Bex cradled his sister, and then helped her to the ground

Claire relaxed, and then stiffened again

"Help her! She's having a seizure!" I said

Jared turnedon the floor "No, she's not They're shocking hi away fro," she whispered, a single tear fal ing from the corner of her eye, down her temple, into her ear Her eyes were nearly vacant, fixed on the ceiling

"No," Bex said He closed his eyes "Don't take her," he said softly "Please don't take her, too"

A sob escaped my throat, and I buried my face in Jared's chest "They can't do this to us," I said I pushed away froe "You can't do this to us! We are the good guys, and this is e get? How dare you! How! Dare! You!"

"Nina," Jared said

"It's not fair!" I screamed

Jared enveloped ers pressed intoJared was suffering the agony of losing his baby sister, and then feelinghi al ofmy efforts "You don't have to do that," he whispered

"I don't want you to hurt any down e tone

I closed my eyes, terrified to peek out from Jared's arms to see Claire's lifeless body There was stil so much I didn't know about Hybrids and the curse Jared had prayed for Gabriel to take him quickly; maybe Samuel had taken mercy on her, and couldn't bear to see her suffer

"Nina," Jared said, nudgingherself over, and then to the doorway She didn't speak, she just waited Final y, a nurse walked in, slightly confused by the spectacle on the floor

"Erwe just stabilized Ryan We had to rehter I'l come back e know , stunned "UmI'm sorry Th-Thank you"

Out of the corner of ure appeared next toat Jared until I realized who it was

"Samuel," Jared breathed

I frowned, and Sa Grey"

"You haven't been ry to hold back

He smiled, his white teeth a stark contrast to his rich, dark skin "It appears tohis way to Claire He leaned down, touching the top of her head with his massive hand "Ryan wil be fine, I' from her eye "Thank you, Sam"

Bex and Claire embraced each other with raw relief For the first tiht, and the sound of her laughter chi with her, wiping the tears froether

Jared squeezed rin It was as if we could al breathe again

"He's going to make it?" I said The question was redundant, but I had to hear it again

Samuel nodded once "Yes," he said, confident

He returned to my side, and I wondered if any of the passers-by could see hiiant in the room

"We stil need your help," I said "We've read the book We've al caet our hands on it to find a loophole Jared didn't find anything"

Samuel looked to Jared, who shook his head with a frustrated expression

"I think you already know the answer," Sa that would be a last resort"

Samuel touched Jared's shoulder "It's a means to an end, isn't it?"

With his last words, Samuel blinked from the space he had once occupied Jared sat in the chair, pul ing ht

Bex helped Claire to her feet, and then walked her to the sofa "He's right It's what you should have done al along"

"Stop," Jared said

The nurse returned, this ti wel "