Rose stared at Kara, her chest tight. “Why are you saying this?”
Kara smiled. “Because that blood you consumed was full of some really powerful pain medicine, which means…you won’t remember a word of this.”
“Oh,” Rose said, frowning as she tried to decide whether she wanted to remember it or not. “I wish you wouldn’t have said that. It confuses me.” She cringed in pain as Liv continued to bandage her wound. Her words slurred lazily as she spoke. “I mean…it’s bad enough that you turn me on just by existing. But now, you go and say something that makes me feel more than that, something that makes me think that maybe what I feel for you isn’t just infatuation.”
Kara’s eyes widened at the drug-induced confession. “Rose…”
Rose relaxed a little as Liv stepped back to inspect the bandage, and she looked up at Kara again, blinking innocently. “What?” she slurred. “Oh, no… I said something embarrassing, didn’t I? I always do this when I take medicine.”
Kara just stared down at Rose, stunned that Rose had already forgotten what she’d said. Meanwhile, the words were still blaring in Kara’s mind, unleashing a plethora of emotions inside of her. She offered Rose a playful smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll just pretend that I didn’t hear that last part of what you said.”
Rose’s brows furrowed at that. “The last part? Well, what was it?”
Kara grinned. “I have no idea. I didn’t hear it.”
“Yes, you did!” Rose argued, frowning. “Oh, yeah, you’re pretending.”
Kara laughed, “Liv gave you way too much pain medicine.”
“No one told me she had such a low tolerance for it,” Liv muttered.
Rose ignored them, still worried about whatever she’d said to Kara. “You said the last part, so what about the first part? Tell me the first part.”
Kara flashed a flirty smirk. “You said that I turn you on just by existing.”
Rose blanched in horror. “Oh my word. I didn’t. Please, tell me I didn’t.”
Kara wrinkled her nose and nodded, chuckling. “You really did.”
Rose pressed her head back against the pillow, squeezing her eyes shut and groaning in frustration. She opened her eyes and scowled at Kara. “Well, then, that is the part you need to pretend that you didn’t hear!” she complained.
“Not a chance,” Kara said with a smirk. She leaned in close, pressing her nose playfully against Rose’s nose. “I’ll remember that until the day I die.”
Rose giggled at Kara’s playfulness. Even though the pain still throbbed intensely throughout her body, Rose felt a pleasant warmth unfurling in her chest—happiness, she realized—and a buzz of attraction shooting through her veins like electricity. Despite her injuries and the pain medicine that hadn’t worn off yet—or maybe because of it—she felt an overwhelming urge to tilt her face and press her lips against Kara’s lips. She struggled to remember why she was resisting that urge. “Well,” she said, laughing, “what could I have possibly said that was worse than that? Did I say that I fantasize about you or something?”
Kara snorted, “No. But I am very eager to hear about that.”
Heat rushed to Rose’s face. “What? No, no, no!” she rambled quickly. “I didn’t mean that I do. That was just an example! I…I don’t fantasize about you. Or anyone! I’m not really a fantasizer. I’m more of a doer. Oh, dear God, what am I saying? That sounds even worse! I should just stop talking. For good.”
Kara nearly fell backward, laughing, tears leaking out of her light blue eyes as she cackled uncontrollably. “This is turning out to be an amazing day.”
“You mean an embarrassing day,” Rose corrected with a scowl.
“All done,” Liv announced as she finished bandaging the gruesome wound in Rose’s chest. She rocked back on her heels and smiled at Kara. “Thank you for keeping her distracted. Things went much smoother than I expected.”
Kara shrugged. “And I didn’t even have to try Plan B.”
“There was a Plan B? What was it?” Rose asked worriedly.
Kara raked Rose with one of the most seductive, smoldering looks that Rose had ever seen. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” she said with a flirty smirk.
“Uh, yeah, I would, actually,” Rose said, frowning. “That’s why I asked.”
“I should go,” Liv said as she pulled off her gloves and threw them away. She returned her things to her large, medical bag. “Is Elise still out there?”
“Yeah,” Kara said, sliding her hands into the pockets of her thin, leather jacket. She motioned toward the door with a tilt of her head. “I’ll walk you out.”
Liv slung the large, black bag over her shoulder, and together, she and Kara walked to the door. “I hope that helps,” she told Kara quietly. “I wish I could do more. But my degrees are all in human medicine, not vampire medicine.”
Kara laughed. “Yeah, but if they ever do offer a degree in vampire medicine, I know you will be the first person in line,” she teased, “won’t you?”
Liv giggled, “It’s just so fascinating!”
Kara leaned against the wall with her shoulder pressed against it, her hands still deep in the pockets of her jacket. “I really appreciate what you did.”
Liv blushed. “It’s fine. I like her, actually. I hope she gets better.”
“I owe you,” Kara said, intensity burning in her cornflower-blue eyes.
“No, you really don’t,” Liv disagreed, reaching out and resting her hand on the doorknob. She smiled gently at Kara. “You know, you were…easily the most attractive woman I had ever laid eyes on, and you were…so good at everything—the kissing, the dancing, the touching, the sex itself—but I think we both assumed that what happened that night was just…a one-night-stand.”
“It was,” Kara assured her.
“But then, you fed from me,” Liv continued.
“I’m sorry about that,” Kara interrupted. “I tried to resist, but…”
“I know, and like I’ve told you a million times,” Liv scolded, her brown hair falling forward as she leaned toward Kara, “you don’t have to apologize. It felt amazing, actually, and then, you gave me your blood, which felt even more amazing. It was just…a great experience for me.” She shrugged, offering a guilty smile. “But then, I started finding these gifts—flowers, chocolate, books…”
Kara winced as she realized where this was going. “Blood bonds create an emotional and physical link. I could feel your emotions, which means that I knew when you were depressed.” She shrugged. “I just wanted to cheer you up.”
Liv smiled warmly. “And you did. Every time. It was the sweetest thing.”
Embarrassed that Liv knew that she had done something so sickeningly sappy, Kara ducked her head, her sleek, dark hair shielding her face. “Depression sucks,” she muttered, “but it sucks a little less when you know someone cares.”
“Yeah,” Liv agreed, her brown eyes softening with gratitude.
“I didn’t realize you would know that it was me,” Kara said, wincing.
“You were the only woman in my life at the time,” Liv told her.
Kara raised an eyebrow and smiled. “But not now?”
Liv blushed. “I may have a date this Saturday.”
“Knock ‘em dead,” Kara quipped, winking. Then, her smile faded as a thought occurred to her. “Not literally, though. That would be a bad first date.”
Liv laughed, “I suppose, as a vampire, you have to make that distinction.”
Kara grunted. “Yeah…that and the fact that my ex-girlfriend likes to literally knock them dead,” she muttered, “and…while we’re on that subject, I need you to promise me that you’ll do something for the next several days.”
Liv frowned at the change of subject. “Um…okay. What?”
“Don’t go home,” Kara said. “Go somewhere completely unusual for you—a hotel room, a coworker’s house, anywhere else…just not your house.”
Liv cocked her head to the side. “Is something wr
ong?”
“No,” Kara said. She grimaced and bounced on the balls of her feet, clearly agitated. She sighed, “It’s just…I have this psychotic ex-girlfriend, and…”
“Don’t we all,” Liv quipped.
Kara scowled. “You really have no idea,” she muttered under her breath, shaking her head. “Anyway, I just don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
Liv shrugged. “Okay, I guess,” she said, frowning. “I’ll stay in a hotel.”
“Thank you,” Kara said, “and thank you again for helping Rose.”
Liv smiled. “It’s no problem. You two are a beautiful couple.”
Kara laughed, “She’s actually with someone else.”
“But you have feelings for each other,” Liv stated, as if it were a fact.
Kara’s smile faded. “I don’t… I’m attracted to her, but…”
Liv rolled her eyes. “I may be younger than your ancient ass, but I wasn’t born yesterday,” she said playfully. She glanced toward Rose, who lay on the bed, her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling slowly. Then, she looked back at Kara and winked. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone that you’re falling in love.”
Kara’s mouth fell open, and she was so stunned by the accusation that she didn’t even realize that Liv had left until the door closed behind her.
—
As the warm, sweet scent of violets enveloped her, Rose knew, without even opening her eyes, that Kara had returned to her side. Her lips curved into a tired smile, and she opened her eyes, reached up, and touched Kara’s thin, leather jacket. “You’re going somewhere,” she said drowsily, “aren’t you?”
Kara’s lips twitched in amusement at the sight of Rose sleepily playing with her jacket, but the smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Before I came in here, Aaron informed me that he sent Erik after Alana,” she sighed, “alone.”
That seemed to draw Rose out of her tired haze. “But Erik can’t resist Alana’s telepathic control,” she said worriedly. “What was Aaron thinking?”
“Aaron was thinking that the only person that Alana will let near her right now is Erik,” Kara answered. “But the reason Alana will let Erik come to her is that she knows she can manipulate him. Aaron knows that, but he’s willing to take the risk.” She shook her head and sighed, “I respect Aaron. I wouldn’t serve him if I didn’t. He is a strong leader, and for the most part, everything he does is to protect the vampire and human races as a whole. But…he’s a selfish asshole and doesn’t mind sacrificing people for the cause. And Erik’s my friend.”
Rose stared up at Kara. “What are you planning to do?”
Kara offered her a small smile. “What I always do. I’ll sneak in.”
Rose frowned. “You know where she lives?”
Kara shrugged. “Not yet. But I have ways of finding out.”
“And then what?” Rose asked curiously.
“I’ll find out what Alana’s plan is, and then, I’ll probably end up saving Erik’s ass,” Kara explained, offering another shrug, “as usual.”
“Alana will recognize your scent,” Rose warned. “She’ll catch you.”
Kara grinned. “Don’t underestimate me. I’m good at this, remember?”
To Kara’s surprise, Rose suddenly grabbed her hand, clutching it tightly. Worry flashed in her bright blue eyes. “You can’t go alone. You’ll get hurt.”
Kara stared at their joined hands, trying not to notice how wonderfully soft Rose’s hand felt against hers. “I think you’re still a little intoxicated from the blood. Erik is your friend. He is the one you should be worried about. Not me.”
“I am worried about him,” Rose said. “But I care about you, too, Kara.”
Kara’s brows furrowed. “Why, Rose? Why would you care about me?”
Rose seemed suddenly very interested in Kara’s hand, turning it over in her hand, examining their intertwined fingers, clearly doing whatever she could to avoid Kara’s gaze. “Because…you’re my…my…friend,” she finished finally.
Kara raised an eyebrow. “Did you just friendzone me?”
Rose scrunched up her face in confusion. “How do you even know what that word means?” she asked incredulously. She waved their intertwined hands wildly, apparently still extremely intoxicated. “You’re an ancient vampire!”
Kara shrugged one shoulder. “I fuck a lot of college girls.”
Rose wrinkled her nose. “Did you really just say that?”
Kara chuckled. “So…just a friend, huh?” she teased.
“I never said just,” Rose corrected. As Kara stared down at her with wide eyes, Rose lay her head back sleepily, her eyes fluttering closed. “I don’t know what to call you, honestly,” she slurred, bringing Kara’s hand to her mouth and kissing it softly. “I just know that I care about you a lot. More than I should.”
Kara exhaled shakily, not sure whether the emotions blossoming inside of her were caused by the sensation of Rose’s soft, warm lips against the back of her hand or the things that Rose kept saying. “I should go,” she said nervously.
“I want to come with you,” Rose mumbled drowsily, “to protect you.”
Kara smiled. “You can’t even move.”
Rose sighed and released Kara’s hand. “Please, be careful.”
“I will,” Kara assured her, and then, before she could think better of it, she leaned down and pressed a gentle, affectionate kiss against Rose’s cheek.
Rose opened her eyes, suddenly fully-awake, as her body roared to life with emotion. Kara avoided Rose’s gaze as she turned and left, her boots thudding against the floor, the door closing with a quiet click, as Rose stared at the ceiling, wondering how a kiss on the cheek could make her feel so much.
19
Deception and Manipulation
Erik followed Alana up the winding staircase, listening to the delicate click of her footsteps against the white, marble stairs. He glanced at the unfamiliar portraits on the white walls, portraits of a brown-haired man, a woman with curly, gray-streaked, black hair, and three dark-haired children. Obviously not portraits of Alana. “Nice place,” he commented. “Who does it belong to?”
Alana glanced over her shoulder at him. “Me,” she laughed, “now.”
“Take what you want,” Erik muttered bitterly. “The Viking motto.”
Her shoulders stiffened. “Is insulting me your idea of foreplay?”
“Well, we always did have good make-up sex,” Erik quipped.
Alana froze on the top step, her eyebrows lifting. She spun around and placed her hand on his chest, pushing him back against the wall. Her full, soft lips curved into a seductive smile. “You seem to have had a change of heart.”
“You know,” Erik mused, “I could take it as an insult that you find it insulting to be compared to a Viking. I am a Viking, after all. Do you hate me?”
“No,” Alana said, “but I hate what your people did to me.”
His smile faded. “I hate what they did to you, too,” he said sincerely.
Alana raised an eyebrow. “Are you trying to fight with me,” she asked seductively, trailing her fingernail slowly down his chest, “or have sex with me?”
Erik caught her wrist in his hand, pulling her against him. “Both.”
Alana stared up at him, her dark blue eyes narrowing suspiciously. “I hope you’re not trying to manipulate me, Erik. Because you will fail,” she hissed.
“Why would I try to manipulate the master of manipulation?” he snarled.
She slapped him with her free hand. “Stop insulting me!” she yelled.
His face burning from the slap, he grabbed that hand as well, holding her still, as he leaned forward, his lips brushing hers, and growled, “Make me.”
She didn’t hesitate. She kissed him, her lips pressing harshly against his, as if she were trying to bruise his mouth with her own. Erik groaned at the forceful kiss and released her wrists so that he could trail his own hands down her body, along the delicate curve of
her hips, back to the gentle arch at the base of her spine, down to the softness of her ass. Alana slid her arms around his neck, holding him close, as she deepened the kiss, pressing her body harder against his. “Stop,” she whispered, pulling back. “We’re being watched.” She cast a pointed glance at a couple of the guards in the foyer. “Let’s go to my room.”
He gave her butt a playful squeeze. “Move faster,” he urged, grinning.
Alana giggled at his playfulness and stepped out of his arms. She led the way up the remaining stairs and into a long, bright hallway. She chattered casually as they walked, “I already warned one of them that I would force him to claw out his own eyeballs if I caught him watching me again. I guess he didn’t listen.”
Erik blinked. “You’re not actually going to make him do that, are you?”
“Well, I wouldn’t want anyone to call me a liar, now would I?” she said.
“As opposed to a psychotic murderer?” he asked, his eyes wide.
“Silly Erik,” she scoffed, giggling at him. “People can live without eyes.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but then, giving up, he closed it again.
She stopped in front of a heavy wooden door and offered him a cute, coy smile. “This is it,” she said happily, opening the door. “My humble abode.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Alana, nothing of yours has ever been humble.”
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