Turn him? What the fuck? How dare he!
But underneath my rage is fear, the memory of something bad threatening to surface. I push it back down into the murky pond with a shudder.
It’s definitely much safer for Elliott if he’s a thrall rather than a vampire. That way, I can look after him and protect him, and he won’t leave me.
I can’t even imagine what he’d be like as a vampire anyway. If he was, what would his power be? And would we be able to talk to each other telepathically?
But there’s no point thinking about it. My decision is final. I’m not turning him—not now, not ever!
Chapter 35
Elliott | Highlands, present day
‘I thought I’d be able to talk to you telepathically if I was a vampire,’ I say, kissing my way along Sadie’s jawline and burying my nose in her hair. She smells so good. I nibble on her earlobe, careful not to dislodge her gold ear cuff, and snake an arm around her trim waist. ‘But no go.’
She seems her usual self again, thank God. I thought after she’d discovered Lucy had turned me into a vampire and stormed off in a rage, that was it for us. But the way she’s leaning into my touch now suggests she must’ve been worried shitless about me.
‘Yeah, me too. I’m just getting static. That sucks balls,’ she murmurs, and I chuckle.
‘Knowing how much you hate Hester reading your thoughts, I doubt you’d like it if I did.’
‘I wouldn’t mind if it was you,’ she says softly, pulling down my zipper. A fire ignites in my belly as she touches my hard cock through my briefs. I haven’t washed in days, butshe doesn’t seem to care.
‘Mmm, bite me if you want,’ I say, angling my neck towards her lips as I can see her fangs have extended. I have scratchy stubble (which she hates), but I know she must be craving my blood. My own fangs are extended and itching to sink into her flesh, yet I hold myself back. This is about her.
Sadie strokes my shaft, and I moan, wishing we weren’t in a goddamn forest right now. But she’s hesitating.
‘Go on, take a drink, gorgeous,’ I urge. ‘I’m OK. I’m at full capacity from the boar.’
‘I want to, but ...’ Sadie flinches, fear flashing in her eyes. My eyebrows draw together at her reaction. I’ve never seen her afraid of anything.
‘What is it?’
‘I just ... I can’t,’ she gasps. Sadie yanks her hand from my cock, and I mourn the loss of it.
Low voices float on the air, and I take a step back and hastily zip up. Sadie’s mouth sets, and her blue eyes frost over when she hears Lucy’s high-pitched giggle amongst the others.
I wish I could convey my thoughts to Sadie, about how much Idon’twant Lucy. About how much I wanther.Uncertainly, I hold her hand as we wait for them to catch up, and she lets me. It’s enough for now. However, I senseit’s not the others’ untimely arrival that freaked her out. It’s something else.
***
The sky is rosy streaked as we tramp across a dew-laden field towards a modern-looking wood and stone house. It has a slanted roof covered in solar panels.
Now I’m the one who’s freaking out, knowing that I’m about to meet Tim Rhodes, Sadie’s ex. The only guy who’s ever proposed to her, as far as I’m aware. OK, she turned him down. But still. He took the initiative and asked her, so I do have a grudging respect for him.
Despite the unresolved issue with Alexander, the mood within our little vampiric group was positive on the walk back. The general consensus was that the jaunt into the forest had several great outcomes. These included finding me and Damian getting fed. ‘As well as gaining a new vampire friend!’ added Floss.
‘Thank you,’ said Lucy. ‘It’s really great to meet you all.’ She smiled at us but kept well away from Sadie, who was gnashing her teeth next to me.
I’ve never seen her so territorial. The way she’s acting makes me feel confident that she doesn’t have unresolved feelings for Tim. That she wants only me. But there’s stillsomething going on with her.
We pause outside the front door to adjust our clothes and flick twigs and dead leaves out of each other’s hair. Yet Damian and Lucy have dried blood crusted around their mouths, and I’m sure I don’t look any better.
‘Isn’t he going to freak having six vampires turn up on his doorstep when only four left last night? I’d be running for the hills,’ I say.
‘Tim’s cool,’ replies Sadie. ‘He’s got his own agenda.’
I’m not entirely sure what she means by that.
