I lowered myself to the couch. Karson handed me a handkerchief. I dabbed it softly against my lip, watching Ethan gulp a third drink down. I did what I always did when I didn’t know what else to do, I made an inappropriate comment.
“Steady up, Drac, we wouldn’t want you losing a tooth at midnight.”
I didn’t expect to see the pain on his face when he looked back. A deep torment etched into his eyes. Immediately, I felt incredibly guilty, for the joke, for bleeding. I got up quickly, mentally cursing the pain in my chest.
“Ethan, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“You’re sorry?” He shook his head, baffled. “I nearly bit you and you’re the one that’s sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, I’ll be more careful,” I agreed.
He was studying me with continued bafflement and what looked like guilt on his face.
“You have no need to feel guilty, Ethan. You wouldn’t have done anything. Although, I am looking pretty damn gorgeous at the moment, so I could hardly blame you if you took a nibble.”
His eyes danced. “Let’s just say, with a face like that I’m certain you won’t be picking up for a while.”
“Oh shame, I was going to go out and try out one of those one-night-stands you find so appealing.”
“The only one-night-stand you’d get tonight would vibrate.”
I covered my mouth with my hand and tried hard not to laugh. “Oh God, you’re so gross.”
You have to ask yourself why a vampire would ask you, of all people, to move in with him.
Caron’s words settled uneasily in my stomach. I sat back down. “If resisting blood is so hard for you then why did you let me move in?” My voice was too high pitched to be casual.
He poured himself another drink and glanced across with a shrug.
“You needed somewhere to go, I have plenty of space and I get bored sometimes. Your personality is bearable, and I thought if it didn’t work out, I’d kick you out.” He took a sip of whiskey and moved over to the armchair, sitting down and flicking his ankle across his thigh casually.
It made sense, maybe. My mind turned to the time he’d told me he’d never met a girl he wanted to bring home. Our situation wasn’t romantic, though, so maybe that’s why it was different. My head throbbed from all the thinking. Suddenly, alcohol called my name.
“I think I need a drink,” I said, under a quiet breath.
Karson went to the cabinet, grabbed a glass and poured a baby-sized whiskey. I raised my brow. Just the one, the other one was already raised from the swollen eye. I took a sip, thealcohol climbed into the cut on my lips and inside my mouth. Bee stings swamped my lip. I waved my hand madly in front of my face in a hopeless attempt to cool the sting. It was as useless as a condom in a convent. I sat the glass down on the coffee table.
Monique and Michael walked in. I brushed my hair forward and dropped my head to cover the side of my face.
“Gone. Witches for certain, I can smell their putrid stink a mile away. It faded and I lost it. They must have had a car waiting,” Monique said.
“Caron?” Karson questioned.
“No, I called Dahlia, she said it’s not them. They’re unlikely to stand back and not help,” Michael answered.
I glanced up, Monique’s lips curved into a sly smile.
“I do like the new look, Amy, it’s quite the improvement.”
“Amelia, don’t listen to her, you look gorgeous as always.” Michael leant down and kissed my good cheek.
“Michael, if you’re going to lie, make it believable at least,” I said, “when did you get back and how long are you staying for?”
“We got to town this afternoon. A few days, maybe longer now.”
They got to town the same afternoon I was attacked. I couldn’t help feeling concerned by the news, but it had to be coincidence. Just a coincidence.
“We will find out who did this and take care of it, you have my word,” Michael added, giving my arm a gentle, comforting squeeze.
