Her nostrils flare, and then something flickers in her expression. She puts more distance between us, moving across the bed. It feels as wide as the ocean right now.
“Oh, wait. This is about the blood match thing, isn’t it? You’re afraid that if you lose me, you’ll be toast.”
“It’s not like that.” I know it isn’t… I’m sure. I think.
“It’s exactly like that.” She tosses her head. “I should have known this would happen. You bloodsuckers are all alike. Selfish, arrogant, self-serving—”
“Twatwaffles?” I try for levity.
“You think this is a joke?”
“On the contrary. I’ve never been more serious. And I’m not letting you go back there.”
“Like I said, not your call. I’m not going to sit around here, being your personal snackbar while the real work is done out there. My family needs me. My people need me.”
“Snackbar?” I tilt my head, lifting a knee and resting a forearm across it as I look at her. “How many times have I drunk from you, Kara?”
“I—” She stops short. “That’s not the point.”
“That’s entirely the point.” I glance at her neck. “And yet I could have, couldn’t I?”
She shakes her head.
“Kara…?” I lift an eyebrow. We both know she’s lying. “I could have taken your blood anytime I wanted. And you would have loved every second of it.”
“Bullshit,” she whispers.
“I could do it right now.” I lick my lips. Just the thought of her sweet blood has my fangs extending, but I don’t act on it. Just as I haven’t any time I’ve touched her. Though it’s killed me.
Her cheeks are flaming. She doesn’t meet my eye. “I want you to leave.” She’s still whispering.
“Because you know it’s true?” I watch as she gets up off the bed, awkwardly wrapping the sheet around her as she walks to the bathroom.
“No,” she says, her voice muffled as she goes in and then returns. “Because this was a mistake.” She has my shirt and pants bundled in her arms.
“Oh, sweet witch…” I shake my head. “This was a lot of things. But a mistake isn’t one of them.” I rise from the bed and stand in front of her, towering over her. Her throat works as she stares at a point in the middle of my chest.
“I don’t want to talk about it. Now get out.” She shoves my clothes at me and points at the door.
I look down at her silently for a moment. At her studiously fixed expression and her heaving chest. I heave out a long breath, and then, taking my clothing, I turn. And I leave.
18
Chapter 18
Kara
Themoonhangslowover the ocean, casting silver ripples across the dark water. I lean against the railing, breathing in the salt air as the ship cuts through the waves. Behind me, the massive cruise liner stretches endlessly, but up here on the private deck, it’s just us three sisters.
“This is ridiculous,” I mutter, watching phosphorescent creatures flash beneath the surface. “We should be out there doing something, not trapped on this floating prison.”
What’s even more ridiculous is that I just wasted precious hours having sexcapades with a vampire.
Mia settles next to me, her auburn hair catching the moonlight. “At least the view’s nice.”
“The view won’t help Gran,” I snap, then immediately regret my tone. “Sorry. I just… I hate feeling useless.”
Rowan joins us, completing our little circle. “We’re not useless. We’re regrouping.”
