He frowns, and I can almost see his mind working, trying to figure out what I’m about to say. “Oh?”
I take a deep breath. “You lost a lot of blood the night we brought you here. Too much.” I can see the moment he starts to realise. The shock, thehorrorfilling his eyes. “You would’ve died if Corey hadn’t given you some of his blood.”
Eyes wide as saucers, he opens his mouth and then closes it. It takes him another few seconds to find the words. “Corey’s a shifter?”
I nod. “He is.”
Blood drains from Morgans face, and it takes me an embarrassing amount of time to realise what’s going through his mind right now.
“You’re not going to turn,” I say quickly. “A blood transfusion isn’t enough to change you into a shifter.”
“How do you know? Have you done this before?” His tone is accusatory, as well it might be, because the answer is no.
I shake my head.
“Then how do youknow?”
“Because you have to be bitten. There has to be intent.” I give in to my instincts and reach for his hand, my heart missing a beat when he clasps it tight instead of shoving me away. “And you would’ve already changed by now.”
He stares at me for a good few seconds, and I pray he can see the truth in my eyes.
“Corey thinks the transfusion might have gifted you with enhanced senses and emotions though. A side effect of mixing shifter and human blood.” I wait a beat for him to absorb this. “That’s why you’re reacting the way you are.”
I hear his whispered, “Fuck,” and tighten my grip.
He still doesn’t let go and I hold my breath, waiting for him to process it all. I need him to be okay with this for what I want to happen next. Because if he can’t accept that shifter blood runs through his veins now, then he’ll never accept what I want to share with him.
What Ineedto.
“Is it permanent?” he asks finally.
“We don’t know.” I shrug. “It’s not like we go around giving humans our blood.”
There’s a beat of silence and then the smallest huff of laughter from Morgan, but I’ll take it. “No. I guess not.” He scrubs both hands over his face, and I’d give anything to know what he’s thinking right now. “Jesus.” He flops back against the pillows again with another huff of laughter. This time a little less bitter, more incredulous. “How is this my fucking life now?”
Pretty sure that’s a rhetorical question, so I ignore it and give him the other piece of news I decided on the way up here. “I’m giving you your own room.”
His gaze shoots to mine, voice rising slightly. “What for?”
I know what he’s thinking this time. That he won’t be here long enough to warrant his own room, and he’s probably right, but I can’t focus on that without wanting to growl and the last thing I want is to scare him again. “I thought you’d like your own space while you’re here. Unless you want to stay in this room.”
He glances around, probably taking in the lack of privacy. “No.” He shakes his head. “Even if it’s only for a day or two, it’ll be nice not to wake up to someone staring at me.”
No time like the present.
I cast a glance at the fading sun. I need to hurry this along if we’re going to catch the last of the daylight. “If you’re up for it, we can go there now. Then there’s something I want to show you after.”
He manages a wry smile. “I hope it’s something tame and boring. I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
I grin at him instead of answering, then stand and tug him up with me. I don’t know if he realises he’s still holding my hand, but he keeps it wrapped in mine all the way to his new room.
14
MORGAN
“Wear something warm,”Lynx says as he leans against the door.
I’m still reeling from the fact he held my hand all the way here.
