by K. M. Shea
“Are you sure?” I repeated the words I’d uttered when we first came in here. “Even with all the risks?”
The smallest smile tugged at his lips, and he leaned down so we were almost eye to eye despite our huge height difference. “Of course,” he said. “Because I’ve found something I love more than my survival.”
I couldn’t help myself. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him.
Yeah, I kissed Killian Drake.
And it was even better this time.
That electric tingle was still there, pulsing at the pads of my feet. But everything clicked together in a way it hadn’t before. It was still overwhelming and passionate, but I could feel magic breezing through my body.
Killian wasn’t a wizard, but this felt so perfect I couldn’t imagine anything better.
“Can I interpret this as a yes?” Killian murmured into my ear. “A yes to everything?”
“Yes,” I echoed. “But we still have a lot to talk about, and it will have to wait until after the fight.”
“What do we have to talk about? Unless there are body parts of yours that require permission to touch besides your apparently blessed-and-sanctified-butt that must be protected at all costs?”
I wriggled out of his grasp—I couldn’t let myself get too hopped up on his vampire pheromones or I’d forget why we were here in the first place. “There’s that.” I swiped up the water bottle and took a massive slug. “But there’s also a lot of details we’ll have to work out. Like what kind of schedule we’ll be on so we can make this work, how do we integrate our households, and, most importantly, how are we going to explain this to House Medeis without making it angry enough to inflict ice-cold showers on us for the rest of our lives.”
“Oh.” Killian paused and folded his arms across his chest. “Yes, that is a fair point. Fine. I’ll wait. Even longer.” He rolled his eyes to show what he thought of the idea.
I took another slug of water to give myself something to do, then wiped droplets off my chin. “So…about feeding you. How do we do this?”
This was the part that actually made me a little squirrely. Killian wouldn’t hurt me…but I was going to be pretty vulnerable while he drank.
Thinking of possible feeding methods, something in my stomach flopped. “Do you have to drink from my neck?”
“No,” Killian scoffed. “You’re tiny. If I fed off your neck and collapsed on you, you’d suffocate.”
“I think I’m strong enough to push you off,” I shook a finger at him. “I might have to push you onto the floor, but that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”
Killian gave me a flat look. “You dropped Gavino on your head while fighting him. Seeing how I’ll be too out of it to help, we’re going to take precautions. Your arm will work fine—specifically your wrist.”
I honestly felt a little relieved by that. It was a lot less intimidating to offer out my arm than my neck. “Okay.”
Killian made an inspection of the three couches that were in the room. “Besides, this isn’t one of those horrid romances we try selling the humans to convince them we’re not going to eat them.”
“You’re right. It’s just dinner,” I joked.
“Not at all.” Killian turned slightly so he could face me. The set of his mouth and eyebrows were serious. “It’s much bigger than that.”
I cleared my throat, suddenly feeling awkward under his glowing gaze. “Right. So how is this going to go down? Or, what I really want to know, is how much is this going to hurt?”
Killian slid his hands in the pockets of his pants. “There will be some discomfort when I first bite,” he said. “But it will fade after that. I’ll dampen my pheromones so you don’t get groggy off them—it was one of our original survival techniques when blood packs weren’t available and we had to feed off humans.”
I relaxed—I should have known Killian was going to be thoughtful about this. Giving him blood or whatever I should call it was maybe going to be a little embarrassing, but I’d be fine. “That would be great, thanks.”
“I won’t take enough to harm you.” He looked around the room once more, then sat down on the blue leather couch in front of us. “I physically wouldn’t be able to drink that much. Blood from a living being is extremely rich, and with all the magic in your blood I’d probably get violently ill.”
“Killian.” I sat down next to him, one leg folded underneath me, and set my hand on top of his. “I’m not worried that you’re going to harm me.”
He slowly nodded.
I smiled and held out my arm.
He touched my wrist as he slightly maneuvered himself so he wouldn’t be in danger of falling off the couch.
After a moment, he slowly raised my wrist, and kissed me there.
My heart gave an unsettling twist.
He was right—it wasn’t romantic. This was far too stripped down for anything like that. This was the same kind of raw connection I shared with my family and House.
I was nervous, and I could sense that Killian was just as tense as I was.
This won’t work. We need to relax.
So, of course I opened my big mouth. “This is super unsanitary.”
Killian exhaled loudly, his breath feathering my bare arm. “Did you get a nursing degree in the past few months that I am unaware of?”
“No, but you’re going to bite me,” I pointed out.
“Vampires have microorganisms in our spit and bodies that clean out things like bacteria and pathogens,” Killian said. “My spit is not contaminated—I’m more likely to get sick on your blood than the reverse.”
“Oh, so you’re like a dog,” I said.
“What.” Killian sat back in the couch after that, a look of disbelief etched on his handsome face.
“You know there’s a saying that a dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s,” I said.
Killian dropped my arm entirely and rubbed his eyes. “First of all, I can’t even begin to deconstruct how wrong that is.”
I couldn’t hold my laughter in any longer. It erupted from me. “Killian, I’m joking,” I said. “I was just lightening up the moment.”
“You have an inappropriate sense of humor.” Although his words were critical, the lines of his muscles were more relaxed.
“I don’t know why you were expecting anything different,” I said. “I beat a wizard senseless with a dictionary.”
A tiny smile pulled on his lips. “Thank you.” He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. “We’ll be fine.”
He raised my wrist to his mouth again, glancing at me when I didn’t object, and then bit.
It stung a little like a shot—a momentary pinch of pain. I felt it when his pheromones or microorganisms in his spit or whatever it was kicked in. The pain faded away, and I felt just a tiny bit bubbly—like I’d just downed a shot of espresso.
Maybe that was adrenaline, though?
I couldn’t feel his teeth anymore, just the gentle brush of his lips—although I had the nagging sensation that I wanted to itch the spot where his mouth was.
But after a few seconds, I realized something was very, very different.
I didn’t feel hot.
Wizards ran hot due to magic, and since I’d unsealed my magic my body temperature spiked into sweaty at the drop of a hat. I was always hot.
Except the spot where Killian’s lips brushed my wrist was…cool. Like putting your feet in a lake at sunset.
Even better, I could feel the sensation ripple slowly through my body. The uncontainable heat slowly faded, leaving a cool, calming sensation behind. I felt…balanced.
That sensation was why I didn’t freak out even though the feeding process took a lot longer than I thought it would.
I assumed it’d be a minute maximum. It was closer to five before Killian licked the spot (like a dog—but I wasn’t going to push my luck twice in such a short span of time) and my blood clotted.
I don’t know if it was the vampire spit or what, but th
e bite mark scabbed over within seconds.
I was so busy marveling over my arm I almost missed it when Killian fell back against the couch, his head sagging on his neck. “You taste so much better than I thought.” His British accent was so strong I could practically poke it, and his eyes were lazily lowered to half-mast.
“I taste like Christmas dinner, good to know,” I said.
Killian snorted. “No. You taste like sunlight. I didn’t know how much I’ve missed it—how it used to feel. Now it just dulls the senses…You let me experience something I’d forgotten, something I thought I’d never have again.” He flicked his eyes in my direction as he sagged deeper into the couch. “In more than one way.” He tried to brush my cheek, but the high of drinking fresh blood must have gotten to him because he couldn’t quite raise his hand high enough. “And that’s all there is to it.” His words were slurring together more—he probably didn’t have long before he was going to pass out.
I glanced down at my arm—which now held no sign of the bite mark, not like it mattered, I would wear a coat for the fight anyway. “You don’t need any more?”
“No,” Killian said. “But if you leave me, I’ll come find you.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said.
“Good.” He shut his eyes and exhaled, and for the first time since I’d set eyes on Killian while running from Mason, he relaxed.
Every muscle in his body loosened, and he yawned widely, resembling a cat.
One of his shoulders dropped, and he jerked in the couch.
“Here, just lie down.” I stood—pleasantly surprised when I moved that I didn’t feel any ill side effects from the process—and crouched next to the couch.
Killian obediently stretched out, his long limbs draped over the cushions. “It won’t be too long,” he said.
“Yep. Just sleep it off. When you wake up we’ll finish preparing to face the Night Court.” I brushed some of his hair out of his face.
He didn’t move or reply.
I waited several more seconds before I realized he was sleeping.
I studied the fearsome Eminence who I’d gone through so much with, and who had stood by and believed in me when my own people wouldn’t. He was terrifying, and yet he’d just given me the greatest gift he could have given: his trust. “Thank you, Killian.” My heart brimmed with joy, my body still felt blissfully cool, and I’m sure I grinned like a moron as I lightly brushed my lips against Killian’s. “I love you.”
Killian
When I woke up, I knew something was different.
Hazel was using her magic.
Even before I cracked my eyes open, I knew it. I could feel it in the air—a side effect of her blood, probably.
Since the magic in her blood would protect me from her powers, it made sense I’d be able to feel it.
However, for a second, it put me on edge.
Why was she using her powers? We were locked in a saferoom. There was no reason for her to be flinging magic around…unless?
She’s practicing, you paranoid numbskull, I realized, relaxing again.
I trusted Hazel with my life, but I wasn’t going to overcome years of guarding myself in just a few days. Besides, this was the first time I could actually remember feeding. I’d been on bagged and bottled blood for so long I couldn’t even remember what it was like previously.
The first public and successful blood transfusion was done in 1840, but vampires had long figured out ways to extract blood even before then. It was safe to say I hadn’t fed on a human in centuries.
Enough. It’s fine. I trust her, and she’s probably…
I opened my eyes, and everything in me ground to a halt.
Hazel was standing a few feet away from the room’s entrance, her fists engulfed in blue flames as she stared at the door, which she had fortified with a massive blue shield forged of magic.
She peered up and down the wall, her wizard mark a stark black flourish on her skin as blue pulses of magic rippled from her as she stood watch.
That’s what she was doing, guarding me.
Even though she didn’t agree with my paranoia, even though she believed better in everyone…she knew that feeding like this preyed upon my worst fears, and so she was protecting me even when I wasn’t awake to see it.
Her magic heated my body, and I could feel in my bones that she was using it as a sort of rudimentary warning system. If someone attacked the room, she’d feel it, and she was ready for them.
And in that instant, I knew she was the one.
The one that came rarely in a vampire’s lifetime, and sometimes not at all. The one who I would love for all of my existence, and trust to guard my back, fight at my side, and laugh with me during the day.
She was more than I imagined, a dream I hadn’t thought could exist for me.
And as I stared at her, she turned around, a smile brightening her face.
“You’re up!” Instead of coming over to my couch, she grabbed the shiny silver plate her fruit and water had been placed on.
“Yes.” I cautiously sat up, blinking as I tried to adjust.
Hazel’s blood had been a daydream to drink. But now that it was actually flowing through my system, I felt…alive again.
“You’re feeling okay?” Hazel flipped the plate a time or two in her hands.
“I feel wonderful,” I admitted. “Everything seems…brighter. Do you live like this all the time? With your magic, I mean.”
Hazel tapped her chin with the plate. “Maybe? I can’t say what living like a vampire is like, so it might just be a side effect from drinking fresh blood.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I don’t recall feeling quite this…alive. And I can tell I feel stronger—not just physically, but there’s something about the magic in your blood. It’s amazing.” I eyed her in concern. “I can see, now, why your temperamental blood is a necessary survival technique. We’re going to have to take special care of the rest of your House to make sure no one goes around getting any ideas…”
“It’ll be fine,” Hazel said. “My people won’t trust just anyone. The stink of their blood will drive away any vampires who get any bright ideas.”
“Perhaps,” I said, unconvinced. “Regardless, Queen Nyte and Consort Ira will regret the day they crossed the Drake Family and House Medeis.”
“Funny you should mention that.” Hazel laughed nervously. “We need to make a slight adjustment to our battle plan. I’m not going to be able to use any magic until it’s time to fry Nyte and Ira.”
I rubbed my jaw, and rested a hand on Hazel’s hip when she drew close enough. “Why is that?”
Hazel handed me the reflective plate. I glanced down at it and did a double take.
Spreading up my forehead, down my cheek, and crawling down my neck was a black wizard mark. It had the same flourishes and swirls as Hazel’s, a perfect twin.
“I’m pretty sure they’re going to figure out fast what our secret is if they see your new decoration.” Hazel extinguished her magic.
It took a while, but our marks faded at approximately the same time. I pressed my lips together, thinking, and passed her back the plate. “We can deal with it.”
Hazel tapped the plate on her thigh. “You think so? It means I can’t fight at all until we get the monarchs.”
“I half expected something to happen,” I admitted. “Not this exactly, but something. A vampire hasn’t fed off a wizard for so long, it’s only natural that there would be side effects that were lost in history. I had prepared for worse.”
Hazel exhaled. “Good. I think we’ll be okay, too. But I didn’t know how much it would mess stuff up.”
“Hardly at all.”
“Great.” She looked down at me, then hesitantly reached out and pushed a bit of my hair off my forehead in a sweet gesture that simultaneously warmed me and caught me a little off guard. “Are you ready to head out? We’ll need to tell everyone about this change in plans.”
I st
ared up at her.
No, I wasn’t ready at all to leave.
Hazel was the one. There was so much I wanted to talk to her about, so much I needed to tell her…including the fact that as a vampire feeding off her, I could significantly extend the length of her life if I wanted. (And oh, did I want to.)
Since I’d be drinking her blood, it wouldn’t be too difficult to flip the magic switch for a chemical compound I could secrete in my spit to give her a longer life.
In the past century—and even before then—we vampires hadn’t often used this particular ability of ours. The last thing we wanted was people chasing us down in the search for eternal youth. But I’d bend the rules for Hazel.
I didn’t want to tell her about my plans, though.
It would be ideal if she didn’t realize what I was doing until she was forty and was still getting carded.
But…with the warmth of her blood pushing its way through my cold body, and remembering how she had stood guard in front of the door, I knew I needed to tell her. And sooner as opposed to later.
However, I was going to stack the deck in my favor. I could drop the near-eternal-youth bomb at a time when she was so happy she wouldn’t be able to refuse. Or maybe I could use it as a bargaining chip?
Either way, I’d have to come up with a way to tell her. But I didn’t think it was necessary to do so right now. Particularly since I’d need to do a little more research to figure it out, first.
So I smiled. “Yes, I’m ready to leave.” I stood, and it again took a moment to adjust to the subtle difference in the world.
“Great. I hope you remember the knock we’re supposed to use to warn them we’re coming out. Josh made it overly difficult, so I had no hope of memorizing it,” Hazel grumbled.
I took her hand, moving at more of an amble so she didn’t have to hurry to keep up as we made for the door.
“No need to fret. I remember it.” We reached the door and I paused, my knuckles hovering over the door as I recalled a very important detail I’d almost forgotten in the high of drinking her blood. “Oh, yes. Hazel?”
“Hmm?” Hazel looked innocently up at me.