“You have much experience setting things on fire?” Ephraim asked dryly.
“Well, no,” Frankie admitted.
“I’ll help you,” Ephraim repeated, moving around the house and gathering the discarded weapons. He
spared a quick glance at Snod, his lip twitching. “Just... take care of him.”
Snod couldn’t quite read Ephraim’s troubled expression; anger, disgust, fear. All of the emotions
were dripping from every pore, and Snod realized he was smelling them. He could almost taste them.
Beneath all of it, there was relief. It was small and a bit bitter, but Ephraim was relieved that Snod
was alive.
“Meet me here at sunrise after you put that one to bed,” Ephraim continued, jerking his head at Snod.
“I will,” Frankie said firmly.
“I’m really glad you’re both okay,” Lorenzo gushed, clapping a hand on Frankie’s shoulder. “I mean,
you are okay? I’m so sorry about Rees... and you did just murder your Maker and turn your boyfriend
into a vampire.”
“I’m fine,” Frankie soothed, gently embracing Lorenzo while being mindful of his injured arm. He
smiled sweetly, reassuring him, “Everything is going to be okay.”
Lorenzo didn’t seem to believe him, but left with Ephraim after making several promises to check in
later from the hospital.
Snod watched them leave, absently licking his lips. He had the oddest urge to chase after them, trying
to quell the hunger gnawing at his gut.
“Obe?” Frankie asked quietly, holding out his hand and taking Snod’s. “Are you all right?”
“I love you,” Snod replied, smiling softly at his first spoken words as a vampire.
“I love you, too,” Frankie said, squeezing Snod’s hand, “but are you okay?”
“I’m with you,” Snod sighed, grateful for Frankie’s gentle touch to ground him, ignoring the painful
stabs of hunger. “That’s all that matters.”
“Let’s go home,” Frankie said, pulling Snod close and holding him tight. “I promise I’ll take care of
you.”
“I know you will,” Snod nodded, nuzzling gently against Frankie’s cheek. “Forever.”
“Forever,” Frankie agreed, locking his arms around Snod’s waist. “Hold on.”
The entire world breezed by in a blur and he watched it all twirl around him like a wild
kaleidoscope.
