Whilst they’d bought drinks to maintain the illusion of humanity, Kit eyed the other patrons for his meal that night. A table of young women sat to their left, but he had no desire to interrupt their giggling. So, he was left with a mixed tableof older couples reminiscing together. When one of their party headed inside the pub, Kit got up and followed. “I’ll be back,” he murmured.
He stalked the man to the bathroom, making quick work of compelling and calming him before drinking from the man’s wrist. Kit avoided the neck at all costs. Too overfamiliar—too intimate.
The man’s blood had a floral taste, one which Kit found akin to inhaling a deep whiff of cheap perfume. Not his favourite, but he only wanted a nip. Kit sent the man back outside before making sure there were no errant drops of blood on his clothing. The mirror above the sink was rust-stained, with water marks that made Kit’s smooth skin look marred. He spent some time fixing his hair before returning outside.
“Have you eaten this evening?” he asked when he got back to the table.
All three heads bobbed in unison.
They caught up for a wee while longer until Kit made a show of looking at his watch. “The pub will close soon. Might need to head back before it gets too early.”
“We’re staying up near here for a few nights,” DJ said. “Figured we’d make a trip of it. Booked a cabin in the woods with a hot tub.” He waggled his eyebrows suggestively, pulling a smile from Kit even as he planned his exit.
“Sounds lovely. I’ll be having to get back up north tonight, so should head off,” he said, shutting down any notion that he might stay and join them on their romantic getaway.
Shaun pouted. “Aw.”
“That’s a shame,” Rake added, though in a manner that made it obvious he was performing at politeness and wouldhave hated if Kit took up the implied invitation.
“Shall I walk you to your car?” Shaun said, already moving to stand up.
“Sure. Uh, bye.” Kit waved awkwardly to the others. Rake sent a stilted one back, and DJ grinned wide, throwing some finger guns that Kit stared at in confusion.
“Next time, don’t let it go so long, Kitty boy,” DJ said.
Kit narrowed his eyes.
“Be back in a minute, guys. Love you!” Shaun said, before Kit could eviscerate DJ for the abominable nickname.
“Love you too!” DJ said, then elbowed Rake.
Rake rolled his eyes. “Love you three.”
DJ beamed, and Kit turned away to disguise the blatant expression of disgust on his face.
He and Shaun walked towards his car in the silent darkness. “Have you ever tried therapy?” Shaun asked out of the blue.
“What,” Kit asked, toneless.
“Therapy. You know, for the trauma?”
“For the what now?”
Shaun shifted from foot to foot, anxious energy emanating from him. “Rake and DJ reliably informed me that having to live with an abuser for so long can cause some trauma. So I went and spoke to a psychologist who specialises in supporting survivors of abuse. I found it quite helpful, and I still see her sometimes when I feel down.”
“That’s great for you, but it’s not for me,” Kit said, hoping that would shut Shaun down.
“It might be useful for you to work some things through.”
“And how did you explain to your therapist that yourabuser turned you into an immortal monster and cursed you to spend the rest of your life drinking blood and avoiding the sun in order to survive to see another night?”
“Psychologist,” Shaun corrected. “But you’re right, I had to lie to her. But the issues are the same whether we’re vampires or human. It was you who first made me realise that.”
“How?”
“You called Lawrence your rapist. I’d never thought of him like that. Until that point, I still considered him to be an asshole boyfriend who got off on hurting me. I’d never thought about how I never consented to any of it.”
Kit’s stomach threatened to expel the blood he’d just consumed. “Glad I was able to provide such a service,” he said, unable to keep the odious sarcasm from his voice.
