“Liv, this is serious. Devon tells me you haven’t drunk human blood in eight months apart from small amounts the last couple of days and this much human blood in a long while. How much is a long while?”
“Are you really asking me how long it’s been since I drained, or nearly drained, a human?” I ask in disbelief.
He looks at me as if to say “Well, yeah!”
I exhale in exasperation. “1810. His name was Patrick. I drained him and killed him all because he looked like…” I trail off with tears in my eyes.
“Oh, hush, my sweet,” CK says quietly. “Don’t be upset. I’m sorry. I should have known it had been so long. I really thought you had indulged your killer instinct sooner than that.”
“Well, I haven’t!” I snap and leap up to go to Cole’s side. He looks just the same.
CK joins me at his side. “Nico has a Feeder here for you. You should drink or the cravings will start to drive you crazy.”
I nod absently and let him lead me away to the back of the chapel. I can feel the need to feed clawing at me. I’m glad that CK had the presence of mind to get someone for me.
I see her sitting there. A human, provided specifically for me to feed from in exchange for a hefty wad of cash and a threat of her death if she ever told our secret. I know that she must already be on CK’s payroll for Nico to have gotten her here so quickly.
She’s a pretty young thing just sitting there, casually waiting for me. She looks so smug to be a part of our secret that it inflames me. I snarl at her and dive onto her neck, in a move so sudden, she didn’t expect it. She tastes so good. In modern day research, Vampires have been proven to prefer their own blood type. In light of such research, it seems CK, Devon, and I are all AB negative. I also knew this about Cole before I drank from him.
I feel her blood pumping out of her heart and into my mouth as I bite harder, hurting her. I go beyond the limit, the safe amount for a human to give, and now her life is in my hands. A small voice in the back of my head calls to me, “Don’t do this. This isn’t you anymore. Cole wouldn’t want you to be this because of him.” I listen to the voice and snap my fangs back. The woman is unconscious, but she’s alive. She’ll be fine. Also, probably well compensated for my faux pas.
CK hauls me to the side. “For Christ’s sake, Aefre, I haven’t seen you this out of control, ever!” he snaps.
I look abashed. “I’m sorry. I’m nervous and thirsty. Get me more wine. It will offset the cravings,” I say hopefully.
He motions to Nico, who returns almost immediately with a bottle of wine and Devon. I hand it to him, and he does the honors while my eyes never leave Cole. I take Devon’s hand and lead him to the discarded glasses on the old pew.
“Sit with me,” I say and of course he does. He pours out two glasses, then we sit in silence. Time ticks away and soon, it's midnight. I have curled up in Devon’s lap and the others have left us alone.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
A t first, I thought it was tiredness, bloodlust, and the wine that caused me to see it. I sit up, jolting Devon awake. Cole’s fingers are twitching. I stand quickly and move to his side. I take his hand and stroke his face. He turns instinctively into my hand and I know he’s going to be okay.
“He’s waking up, Devon,” I say excitedly.
Wide awake now, Devon jumps up in search of the others. I continue to stroke Cole’s face as he comes to. Eventually his eyes open, the same blue-gray eyes I love, just as Devon rushes back in with CK, Nico, and what I presume is the Feeder.
I turn to them in amazement. “He’s awake. Less than twelve hours and he’s awake!” I exclaim in delight.
“Liv,” he croaks in confusion.
“Yes, baby. It’s me. I’m here. How do you feel?”
“Thirsty,” he says.
I turn to beckon the Feeder over, but CK is at my side with a bottle of water. “This first, remember,” he chides.
Cole grabs it and gulps it down. He sits up and looks at all of us, looking at him. I take his face in my hands. “Baby, you need to feed. I’ll walk you through it, okay?”
Within seconds, his fangs have dropped, and he grabs me to sink them into my neck.
Whoa, Mama!
I hear CK snicker behind me and mutter, “Oh, like sire, like charge!”
I know he is referring to me pouncing on him in a similar fashion.
I push Cole away and tell him he needs human blood. His fangs snap back, and he shakes his head. “No. I just want you,” he says.