Within a second, I scooped him into my arms and laid him on the metal surgical table where Rick had been strapped. I gently gave him one last kiss-one last human kiss-and smoothed a lock of blond hair gently away from his face as I looked one last time at his beautiful human face. Then with tears streaming down my cheeks, I bit his neck, his arms, his ankles, his wrists, and his chest to try and get as much venom into his body as I possibly could. Zac didn't respond.
I turned to face Rick, who was watching it all along with Annie, standing by the other burning teen. "Rick, please tell me I'm not too late."
Rick shook his head. "I don't know, Abbey," Rick replied in a low voice, taking a step closer to me. "Time will tell, Hun. The venom will heal him."
"Why?" I asked through my tears
