“Conner,” Warin’s voice cuts through whatever Conner was going to say like a sharp knife. “Don’t you have other things you need to be doing? Like not standing in the kitchen,” he says, not looking at me, only staring at Conner.
“Right. Yup. Loads to do. See ya later,” Conner directs at me, and Warin glares at him further.
I take a sip of my red wine and Warin faces me, his face unreadable as he watches me drink. I clear my throat and I’mthankful that I was almost done eating my meal or else this would be even more awkward.
“Did you find where I left your wand?” he asks.
“I did,” I reply, taking another sip.
“Hmm. I see,” he says, glancing at the stool across from mine.
“It’s your house. If you want to sit down, you can.”
“Right,” he says, quickly taking his seat across from me. He’s more casual tonight and dare I say, he looks nervous.
I make this super rich, ridiculously attractive vampire anxious?
“Do you sleep?” I blurt out, and Warin blinks at me with his serene eyes.
“Sometimes.”
“Because you need to?” I inquire, trying to get more of a story out of him than his usual riddles.
“Vampires who rest more frequently tend to not go mad. It’s a way to cure boredom, but it isn’t completely necessary. A vampire who doesn’t rest for a long time may have symptoms of sluggishness or irritability. Same as if we don’t feed for a while, we usually need more rest.”
I’m shocked he answers my question so easily and without snark.
“Interesting. Do you sleep in a coffin?”
His lips twitch. “If you wish to see my private quarters, all you need to do is ask.”
I click my tongue. “Yup, now I remember why I don’t ask you questions,” I say.
“No, I don’t sleep in a coffin,” he says, backpedaling. “Did you sleep well in your new accommodations?”
“I can't deny that the bed is probably the best one I’ve ever slept in. Keep sending food up to the room and Gus will never want to leave.”
“What about you? What would it take for you to want to not leave?”
I blink at him a few times, taken completely off guard. “I’m just here until the Slayer is out of the picture. I have a coven, responsibilities,” I say, and even as I do I can feel heat rising to my cheeks.
“Hmm. I see. I don’t know how long it will take to find the Slayer.”
“But there is a time limit on our arrangement,” I remind him and he hums again. “An arrangement that didn’t involve me living here.”
“We could amend that, you know.”
“I don’t think that's necessary. I appreciate you keeping me safe here until we figure out the Slayer situation, but once it’s taken care of, I’ll have to get back to my life,” I tell him.
What was my life before Warin crashed into it? Rather boring, I was doubting myself, having these feelings I couldn’t express to anyone. It doesn’t matter though, even if I did let myself indulge in what I want, it would never work anyway.
Something tells me if I let myself even get a taste of the fantasy I’ve been thinking about, I’d never be able to let it go.
I stare at Warin’s fang and he tilts his head at me.
“Right. Until the Slayer is handled,” he reiterates.
I clear my throat. No indulgence, we’ll ride this wave out, get the hell out of here and get out of this arrangement or finish it up. So far he’s asked nothing nefarious of me, only giving me new spells to protect myself.
