Nora's POV
"Are you still breathing?" I grip the steering wheel of the Warren, my knuckles white as I wait for traffic to clear. The bloody blanket we discarded feels like it happened hours ago, though it's only been minutes since we helped Lena clean the salt from her floor.
"No," James responds, giving me a look like I just asked if water was dry.
"Are you certain? You mentioned you still inhale and exhale out of habit."
"Most vampires do, but it serves no purpose. Watch." He settles back against the passenger seat and goes completely motionless. I stare at his bare chest, counting the seconds as it remains perfectly still for what feels like an eternity. "See? No breathing."
I nod and focus on the road ahead. Lena's words about hearing a heartbeat echo in my mind. I wanted to tell James, needed to tell him, but the words wouldn't come. Not with Zed watching our every move.
