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 ...