“Keep reading,” Liv urged me. “It gets worse.”
I wasn’t sure what could possibly be worse than the knowledge that we had in fact fulfilled all three criteria for vampiric bonding, but I pressed on.
The first case of vampiric imprinting is well documented. The vampire and feeder imprinted and then slowly learned the grim reality of their new future together.
Oh no. Oh God, help me.
The vampire can never drink from another feeder (including animals) again without it tasting and acting like a poison to his/her system. Only the imprinted feeder’s blood will satisfy and keep that vampire alive.
The room swam as dizziness washed over me.
The feeder takes on the vampire’s symptoms of thirst until that vampire’s thirst is quenched. The symptoms are headaches, nausea, thirst, and rage.
I stilled. Headaches, check. Thirst, check. Nausea, check.
About to be in freaking rage mode … check.
Finally, all that is known of the vampiric imprinting process is that the vampire and feeder can share thoughts, form an extremely close bond, and will be that way until death. If the vampire dies, the feeder can live on so long as they regularly bloodlet to reduce platelet buildup. But if the feeder dies, the vampire will expire from thirst or poison trying to quench said thirst with outside blood. This is a magical and lifelong bond in which the feeder’s body begins to make more blood to feed the vampire regularly.
That was it, I couldn’t read any more. I closed the book and stared at the wall. Shock settled into my entire being as I sat there, frozen and unable to move or think. I just breathed, in and out, in and out.
“Aspen?” Liv rubbed my back. “Do you feel … any of the symptoms?”
All I could do was nod as a single tear ran down my cheek.
I was bound to Luka Drake for the rest of my life. Or his life…
Hadn’t the book said if he was killed I would live on just fine? All I’d have to do was donate blood regularly…
It was like lightning struck from the sky and I stood.
Praise God.
I charged into my bathroom. “I know what I have to do.”
“What!?” Liv called outside the door, as I started to run the shower.
“I’m going hunting!” I shouted. I was going to finish this job, end thisbond, and move on with my life.
* * *
“Are you sure about this?”Liv followed me toward the door. My hunter bag was slung across my shoulder.
I glared at her. “Since when do you protect bloodsuckers?”
She shook her head. “Not that. About going alone. I can totally help you. Make sure it gets done. Hell, if it’s hard for you, I can do it myself.”
I shook my head. “No, this is something I need to do.” This was a mess I’d gotten myself into, and Luka was a strong royal with compulsion. I couldn’t let Liv get hurt. She didn’t seem convinced.
“I’ll be fine,” I told her, wrenching the door open to find a sleeping Vazquez curled in a ball at my feet.
“Gross. Does he seriously think you’ll take him back?” I peered at the piece of crap who’d broken my bestie’s heart.
Our talking had stirred him. He bolted upright, wincing as he grabbed his head. Funny how the male hunter code of conduct conveniently left out drinking and sex. “Liv, baby, I messed up. Let me come in and talk.”
My bestie glared at him and then flicked her eyes up to me. “Call me if anything happens. I can meet you at the ice cream place.” She winked.
I nodded, brushing past Vaz, making sure to knee him in the collarbone as I passed.
