It took Jaks so long to respond that Quentin thought he might not.
“No.Not anymore.A cursed being wouldn’t be lucky enough to have you.”
He sounded more self-congratulatory and smug than blessed.Quentin tilted his head and peeked at Jaks through his lashes.“Can vampires be blessed?I thought you were supposed to be some sort of unholy monster dragged up from the pits of hell?”
Jaks slid his fingers through Quentin’s hair and scratched at his scalp, eliciting a pleased sigh from Quentin.
“Well, unholy or not, I have a soul, and it is now bound to yours.Good morning, consort.”
“Consort?”
“Yes.”
Quentin licked his dry lips and wondered if screaming and running from the bed would be taken poorly.
“What time is it?”There wasn’t anything he could do about how his body tensed beside his vampire.Time would tell whether this was a positive move in their relationship or a step back.Luckily, it sounded as if they had plenty of time to worry over the details.
“Just after eleven.”
“What?”Quentin sat up.“I never sleep this late.”
“I suspect part of it was magical exhaustion.You had to carry the magical portion of the bonding for both of us.”
Dozens of theories flitted through his head.He’d have to research soul bonds.Vampires had to have some magic, limited or not, for their bodies to continue moving past death.Were they using their souls as batteries, or was there something more?Quentin’s scientific side demanded answers to questions he didn’t know if anyone had ever asked before.Damn, his research list kept getting longer and longer.At this rate, he’d have to camp out at the library.Unfortunately, the best resources hadn’t been converted to electronic format yet, and some of the best ones were in private libraries he’d never have access to.
“Here’s your phone.Someone left you a message last night.I was a good partner and didn’t listen to it.”
Quentin scoffed.“How would you even do that?”
“Hold it up to your face while you were sleeping,” Jaks replied without hesitation.
“Should I be concerned that you considered it?”
“I trust you.It isn’t like you are going to cheat on me.”Jaks tilted his nose up, sniffing his disdain.
Quentin grinned.“Of course not, you’d eat them.”
That earned him an unfriendly poke in the side.
A glance at his phone proved Jaks hadn’t exaggerated how late it was.He’d be more panicked if he had somewhere to be.Low employment was wreaking havoc on his motivation.One class twice a week wasn’t enough to keep him on a solid schedule.Scrolling through his calls, he didn’t recognize the last number.Luckily, they left a voicemail.
He listened to the message.“Hmm, he must have gotten a new burner phone.”
“Who’s that?”Jaks rubbed a hand up and down Quentin’s bare back, soothing tension he hadn’t noticed building.He could get used to having his very own vampire worry stone.
“Hafrey, but I didn’t recognize his number.It’s not the same one I have saved in my favorites list.He switches phones constantly.Sometimes it’s easier just to drop by his house to put in my order.”
“Why does he change them so often?”
“He’s worried the government is tracking him.”
Jaks frowned.“He sounds paranoid.”
“I didn’t say he wasn’t.”Quentin shrugged.“Whenever I ask why he thinks he’s being watched, he changes the subject.”
“Ah.And you are certain he is the one who called?”
“It sounds like him, and I asked him to get me some herbs I can’t find at the grocery store.I’m working on a new burn salve, and Hafrey’s got all kinds of contacts, some of which are even legal.Ordering through him is less hassle, and he gives me a friend discount.”
