??
I closed my eyes and listened as his blood roared to life beneath my touch almost as if it was attempting to escape his body and join with mine. I’d never felt another person’s blood call so strong, like an invisible tether beneath the skin just waiting to latch on.
As the silence stretched, I was able to focus more and more.
The blood started to chant “King, King, King” like before.
He stopped brushing his thumb over my skin.
I opened my eyes just as one last chant fell from the blood. “Yours.”
He removed his hand and pulled away, his eyes searching mine with intensity I hadn’t been prepared for.
“What did you hear, vampire?”
“King,” I said honestly. “Your blood says King.”
He jerked his head away; his eyes focused in on the moon again as if it would help him with the heaviness that he carried with him like a battle scar. “What else?”
“What makes you think there’s more?” I asked cautiously.
He gulped. “Nothing.” He shook his head. “It’s… nothing. You should sleep. I’ll check on you later—”
“Wait!”
He turned on his heel. “Yes?”
“Can I maybe… go downstairs and watch a movie or something? I’m going a little stir-crazy up here?” I knew it was a long shot. The guy liked to be alone, and apparently, howling at the moon was his favorite pastime.
I waited.
He eyed me up and down then bit firmly on his bottom lip before tucking his hair behind his ears in obvious irritation. “Fine.”
It was more of a bark than an actual word, but I was taking what I could get when it came to him, and I was desperate to leave my bed. Besides, I had an entire season of Outlander to watch.
I’d just been getting started on the last season when I’d fallen asleep and then somehow been attacked as I’d been searching for the man who’d called to me.
I shivered and followed Mason out of the room, slowly measuring each step as a wince of pain rocked through me with each movement.
I would do anything for blood.
Blood would fix this.
Blood would make me feel better.
I felt my vision blur just as Mason’s strong arms wrapped around me. Why hadn’t they at least offered blood? Ethan was one of the oldest vampires in the world; he had to know I needed blood.
Why hadn’t any of that occurred to me before?
Mason grunted and placed me on a soft leather couch then pointed to a blanket. “Genesis calls it a throw. I don’t know why the hell a blanket of fur is called a throw, but regardless, if you get cold, you can use it.”
I wanted to remind him that vampires rarely got cold when another tremor wracked my body, reminding me yet again that my vampire side hadn’t been itself ever since Mason had licked me.
“Is Ethan here?” I asked in a small voice.
He full-on glared. “Why would you need Ethan? He’s mated.”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I said in annoyance. “I just figured since he’s a vampire, he’d know my ne—”