“Maybe it will be.” Snod smiled, feeling Frankie’s body starting to slowly cool down. It was
comforting, nuzzling his cheek into Frankie’s hair. There was a tiny part of him that hoped they
wouldn’t ever find a cure. He wanted Frankie as he was now, perfect and powerful and totally
beautiful.
He remembered the passage that Rees had quoted to him, about two people in love keeping one
another warm. Perhaps being warm was overrated, he mused to himself. Keeping cool was just as
good, if not better. He smirked at that funny little thought, sighing happily and slowly dozing back off
to sleep.
Chapter Fourteen
When Snod woke up the next morning, he was alone. He could distantly hear Frankie off in the
kitchen, no doubt making breakfast for him. He smiled, rolling over and stretching his legs. He
reached for Frankie’s pillow, hugging it tight and savoring the scent of him.
He hadn’t slept this well all week, his heart aching at the thought of having to go without Frankie
being in his arms again.
A distant thought of Athaliah reminded him that his time with Frankie was limited, regardless of
whose bed he slept in.
Pulling himself up, Snod stared down at his feet as they met the floor. Maybe he and Frankie could go
kidnap Athaliah, he thought crazily to himself. Then he wouldn’t have a reason to ever go back to the
Order.
He used the bathroom, washed his face, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. He looked at all of his
scars, twisting around to glance at the ones on his back. There were dozens upon dozens, dark and
twisted, a lifetime of lessons.
Lessons that might have been wrong.
When he looked at his reflection again, he realized how uncertain he was. He didn’t even trust the
man peering back at him, eyes full of doubt, lips drawn back in a grimace.
There was a time when he knew all vampires had to be cleansed from this earth. He knew that lying
with a man was disgusting and wrong. He knew that everyone outside the Order were fools, blind and
ignorant heathens.
So much that he used to know had become ash, crumbling away now with a quick puff of scrutinizing
breath.
