CHAPTERTHIRTEEN
MARCUS
"When arewe going to do this?" Merry asked.
She curled up against the headboard on the guest bed, bringing her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. But her gaze was steady as she met mine.
"As soon as we can," I said. "The longer you're vulnerable to Dumont, the longer you're in danger."
"Okay, then let's get it done."
"I'll get Ava from—"
Merry shook her head. "If everything happens the way you say it will, I'd prefer not to have an audience."
That was a relief because I didn't want an audience either. If I somehow lost control, Macgrath and Callum were just in the next room. I didn't point out to her that their hearing was sharp enough to catch every word or whisper from their current position.
"Standing or sitting?" she asked. Before I could tell her it didn't matter, she continued, "Sitting. You're so much taller than me, it would be a bad angle if we were both standing."
"Okay."
She released her legs and straightened as I came around the bed toward her. I moved slowly and tried to appear as non-threatening as possible.
"You know I'm going to take some of your blood, but you're also going to have to take some of mine," I said, sitting on the edge of the bed close to her feet.
She grimaced. "How much is some?"
"A few drops."
"I won't become a..."
I shook my head. "No. There's a process to the change and it does involve a blood exchange, but it's a lot more complex than this."
"That's a relief." Her eyes widened. "I mean, obviously, I don't think there's something wrong with you being a vampire, but I don't want to become one."
"I understood what you meant. No offense taken."
"I'm sorry."
I waved a hand. "Don't be sorry."
She rolled her lips inward and stared at me.
"Merry, I understand that not every human would want to be a vampire. As Callum would say, if I had feelings, it wouldn't hurt them."
"I know you have feelings," she said. "Otherwise, you wouldn't blush."
She smiled when she said it and I couldn't stop myself from smiling in return.
"So which side?" she asked.
"What?"
I had no idea what she was talking about.
"Of the neck?"
My face must have remained blank because it was her turn to blush.
