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He caressed the fading bruise on her face that started to show through her worn makeup, recalling the information Riley shared the day before about Blaire’s stepbrother. It made him angry to hear what she’d been through, and he vowed not to make her suffer through anything like that again. The insight was a big reason why he kept his distance after she rejected him. He didn’t want her to label him another creep like her stepbrother seeking to take advantage of her. Why was she still bruised like this? He knew humans didn’t heal like Vasirian, but shouldn’t something like this already be gone?

His movements caused Blaire to shift and open her eyes.

Startled, she pressed her head into the pillow to move away from him. He shot off the bed, away from her.

“Sorry! I…” He looked around the room nervously. “Sorry,” he muttered again and stalked across the room to sit on his bed, removing his boots before pausing with a heavy sigh. “I didn’t scare you, did I?”

Blaire sat up and rubbed her eyes. “No… just surprised me. Where am I?”

Lukas switched on the lamp and the room filled with light.

“Home. You fell asleep, and I had to carry you.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up? I could have walked.”

He ran a hand through his hair. “It wasn’t a big deal. Don’t overthink it.” He cringed at how harsh he sounded and cursed himself internally. He stood and pulled his shirt off over his head. Why did he say it like that? He tossed his shirt in front of the desk at the foot of his bed. “I’m sorry. I just thought you looked comfort—”

He stopped short as he turned around, noticing the way Blaire stared at him. No, not at his face; her eyes were focused on his exposed torso.

Lukas shivered with pride at the appreciative look on her face as her eyes raked over his shoulders and bare pecs. He licked his lips and swallowed hard, enduring her silent appraisal of his body. Her eyes moved down to his abs and the faint trail of hair leading from his navel into his jeans. He tensed as his body stirred with arousal. He didn’t want to scare her.

Lukas cleared his throat. Face turning scarlet, she snapped her gaze up to meet his.

When he turned away, she jumped up quickly and ran into the closet, returning with pajamas in her arms. She didn’t even look at him as she rushed into the bathroom.

Moments later, the shower turned on. He finished changing into black sweatpants and climbed into bed, turning his back to where she would sleep near him, knowing he wouldn’t be able to look at her once she returned, not after everything that happened tonight. He wanted her more than words could say.

Lukas thought back to earlier in the night, to the way she snuggled into his body and smelled him. Blaire’s responses to him told him she felt the bond, even if she didn’t know what it was. As he listened to the shower, he wondered if the bond was the only reason she responded. He doubted it. He could tell from the first day she felt attraction toward him, and he couldn’t deny he wanted her too. He needed to do something to reach her so she wouldn’t be afraid.

The bathroom door opened, and Lukas closed his eyes as Blaire padded quietly across to her side of the room. He listened to the rustle of her covers as she turned down her bed and climbed inside. The lamp clicked and cast the room into darkness as he opened his eyes again.

It was going to be another long night.

13

REVELATIONS

The next morning, Blaire stood with Riley in the hall before the start of their shared class. Blaire had relaxed, but this morning Lukas acted weird around her. He didn’t say anything rude or ignore her outright, but he didn’t speak to her either, although that was normal.

The weird part was the trivial things he did, like handing her a towel after she washed her face and couldn’t see, or when he passed her backpack to her before they left. Simple stuff, but he interacted with her in a civil manner. It seemed as if he was trying to find ways to interact with her after keeping his distance for the past couple of weeks.

“So…” Riley said hesitantly. “Has it happened yet?”

Blaire raised a brow at her. “Has what happened yet?”

“Um… have you shared blood with Lukas yet?”

A wave of panic washed over Blaire as her eyes went wide. She had to will the visceral reaction away before she could respond.

“I have absolutely zero intentions of sharing my blood with anyone!” Her voice rose in pitch as she ended her sentence, drawing the attention of several students. Considering she was supposed to be with a Vasirian, she wasn’t surprised some snickered at her.

Riley winced and shook her head. “You know, the only way to complete the bond is through both the sharing of blood… and body.”

Blood rushed to Blaire’s cheeks. She fidgeted with the strands of her long hair, twisting them around her fingers.

Riley’s eyes went wide. “Wait… have you guys already done it?”

“No!” Blaire yelled, drawing attention again as she shook her head rapidly.