“Of course.”
He lifted my hair from my neck and lowered his mouth there, licking across my flesh until it goose bumped. “I’m going to take the slightest pull on your blood. It will release my vamp venom into your system and calm you, like a balm. I’ll not do too much or you’ll just want to sleep again.”
“Okay.”
Flynn bit down and my core pulsed wanting to be sated once more. But as fast as he bit he licked over the wound sealing it.
“Done. Give it a moment.”
I could already feel it. Like a calmness moving through my veins. I felt much more relaxed and although I remained nervous, now I didn’t feel like I was going to have a cardiac arrest right there and then.
“Let’s get you showered and to the clinic.” He said.
The medical facility was a fifty minute drive away in Santa Clarita. Built on a secluded estate at the end of Iron Canyon, the house was entered through a gated driveway and to its neighbors just appeared to be a residential property in the area. But to those in the know it was where people were turned into vampires. We drove down the long winding driveway for a few minutes before pulling up in front of the property.
I shivered as Flynn opened the car door. Stepping outside I breathed in the fresh mountain air and took in the views. It was certainly a good place to recuperate.
Jayden took my duffel from the trunk of the car and Smith walked on ahead. As we were about to walk inside the clinic, another car sped up to us blowing dust in its wake. Carter had brought his own car as he would be leaving here partway through my treatment to attend his audition. The others had given him a hard time, and I’d had to remind them that this was a huge deal to Carter and I still had the three others to fuss around me. To be honest, with how much they were fussing I wondered if I’d have been better off just getting on with things on my own.
“Okay, the reception’s this way.” Smith pointed straight in front of us.
“Really? The reception is at the front of the building with that big sign on it saying reception. Wow. Complicated.” I pushed on Smith’s arm laughing at him.
He picked me up and flew toward the entrance with me in double quick time. “Put me down.” I squealed.
“Are you going to behave yourself?” He held me up in the air as if I weighed nothing. Of course here in the seclusion Smith could be entirely himself.
“I will for now. Help me.” I shouted to the others.
“Smith, put her down for God’s sake, and try to act even a little professional and like an adult.” Flynn almost growled at him.
“Loosen up, man.” Smith pouted.
But my serious man couldn’t because he was worried about me. I knew they all were in their own way. Smith was hiding behind his humor; Flynn serious, Jayden helpful; and Carter… well he was so nervous about his forthcoming audition he made me look brave.
We were greeted by a receptionist who took my details and then a nurse came and showed me to my suite. As I walked inside I cast my eyes around the room. There was a Queen bed, and the walls were positioned so that although it was all part of one room the bedroom was screened off. In the rest of the room was a closet, a fireplace, and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower. There were views over the mountains to the left of my bed and also from the bathroom. A balcony wrapped around the outside, entered from the patio doors at the front of the room, again giving breathtaking views—a couch placed in front for me to relax and look.
“Once you are in recovery you will stay here. Now, I understand your circumstances but only one person is permitted to be with you at a time.”
“Yes, Mr. Kelly will remain here with me the first evening.” I told the nurse who introduced herself as Maria. She was a middle-aged woman with a red bob, of medium build, and with kind eyes.
“You’re in good hands, Serena.” She said, patting my arm. “I’ll leave you to get settled in and the doctor will come through to see you in around thirty minutes.”
“Is there a coffee machine?” I asked, not having seen one and now being desperate for a mug of steaming nectar.
“No. Anything you need, you ring the buzzer at the side of your bed and it will be brought to you.”
Maria left.
“All this and no coffee machine.” I laughed.
“Most people who come here don’t require a coffee, babe.” Smith stared at me.
Oh God, of course.
It was another stark reminder of what was to come. Yes I’d still be able to drink it and enjoy it, but from then on the caffeine would give me an extra buzz to the blood I’d have consumed.
“You’ll enjoy it, but you’ll not crave it anymore.” He said. “You’ll be satisfied by the blood and if you crave that then you aren’t consuming enough, or we’ve taken too much.”