Then I remembered he was a master of compulsion.
My eyes widened as I wondered if I would even know if he used compulsion on me. Why was I doing all of these things so willingly?
“Have you used compulsion on me?” I suddenly spat, accusatorially.
He pulled back from my wrist in shock, licking the two pinpricks of blood there with his tongue; it sent a shot of heat straight to my groin. I growled and yanked my hand from his, folding it into my chest.
He looked better, more alive. There was color to his cheeks and his eyes lost their black edging. He sat up, crossing his arms over his knees and stared at me.
“I wouldneveruse compulsion on a woman like that. Ever,” he said through clenched teeth, as if I’d accused him of rape.
The weird part was Ifeltthe truth in that statement.
“You’re different from your family,” I observed.
He stood, slowly, and went over to the sink, before proceeding to brush his teeth. I just watched him, like we were some couple who were dating and brushing our teeth in front of each other was totally normal.
Why am I still here? What the heck am I doing?
When he was done, he turned and faced me, looking tired. “Maybe that’s why they are always trying to kill me. I am too modern for this monarchy.”
Damn.I thought of Morgana, his aunt, and how she’d been the one to hire the Shadow Bloods who’d tried to kill us. I would need some serious therapy if my own family put a hit out on me. That was majorly messed up.
He eyed my blade on the ground and I bent down, picking it up and sheathing it.
I cleared my throat, standing. “We need to talk.”
I had the distinct feeling he didn’t know what we were. Or I was. Or whatever this bond thing was.
He looked down at his chest as if in awe of his sudden strength and health, then his gaze snapped to me suspiciously. “Why don’t I feel like death anymore?”
I swallowed hard. “Yeah, about that…” I don’t know why I brought the book, but I’d slipped it in my hunter bag. I pulled it out, opened to the pages I’d read, and handed it to him.
“What’s this?” he asked and glanced down. The moment his eyes widened, I knew I wouldn’t need to explain any further. “Oh,” he said, and then stumbled out of the bathroom, holding the book open as he read. I followed him as he stepped into the living room and away from the gruesome scene in the bathroom. As a vampire hunter who regularly beheaded people, blood and guts didn’t faze me, but it was nice to be out here and not reminded of the fact that I’d just let him feed from me for the second time. He finished reading the page and then closed the book with a hard snap.
“Well…” He rubbed his face and then looked up at me. “I thought this was a myth.”
“So it’s real? I’m … we’re …bonded?Forever?” I swallowed hard.
He cleared his throat, raising his arms above his head and hooking them behind his neck, giving me a full view of his shirtless chest.
“Do you own t-shirts? Because if we are going to come to some arrangement, then I’m going to need that put in there,” I growled.
A halfcocked grin slowly pulled at his face and my legs nearly melted, unable to hold up my body. If Sterling was an eleven, Luka Drake was a twelve.
No. I sent up a quick prayer to be protected from his demon magic, but I was starting to question if magic was afoot, or just a really good looking guy.
“So, we have an arrangement?” he asked, raising one dark eyebrow.
“Maybe.” I crossed my arms and glared at him. Maybe if I threw more anger at him, it would stop the fire building inside of me.
“Why didn’t you kill me?” he asked suddenly.
“Why did you pull me into the rafters, and then carry me back to your place when you were injured?” I shot back.
“Touché.” He released his hands and cleared his throat. “Okay. If you’re going to be my full-time feeder, I’m going to take care of you.”
What were those stupid butterflies doing in my stomach? He didn’t meantake care of me. He meant take care of my blood, or pay me, which was all gross.
