I turned back to Evoric, still sleeping. Should I wake him and ask him or not? What if he says no? What if he says yes? I could not do for him what Constantine did for me. I didn’t know how to be a sire.
The candle burned and still I waited.
“Aefre,” Galena said, “you must make a decision.”
I bobbed my head and went to him as he woke. “Aefre?” he croaked.
“Yes, my love. I am here.” I took his hand.
“I must say farewell now, my lovely Aefre. Stay with me until the end.” He closed his eyes and I made the decision. I would not let him go.
“Evoric, open your eyes,” I said. “Please, I can help you if you say ‘yes.’”
He slowly opened his eyes. “Say ‘yes?’ What do you mean, Aefre?”
“I can heal you; I can give you an immortal life, my love. Do you trust me?”
“An immortal life? I don’t understand,” he said, closing his eyes again. “My love, you are not making any sense.”
“Listen to me, Evoric. Open your eyes and look at me.” I squeezed his hand. He opened his eyes again and they went wide as he stared at me and I said, “I am what they call a Vampire, Evoric. If you will let me, I can save you.”
“How?” he asked in wonder as he looked at my fangs.
“I need to bite you and feed from you. I then need to give you some of my blood. Will you allow me to do this?”
His eyes rolled back in his head. I thought it was too much for him. I felt for his pulse; it was weak. I made the decision for him. I did not want him to die. He made me feel again after being destroyed by Constantine. I had to save him. I took his wrist and I bit down sharply. It had been many months since I had killed someone, but I remembered the signs. I thought, when his heart started to slow, I must then release him and give him some of my blood. I was fearful that it would not work, that I got the time wrong. Maybe I had to drain him more, or less? I did not know. I slit my wrist open and dripped my blood into his mouth, making sure that he swallowed. Now, all I could do was wait.
CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED EIGHT
I ’m up at 6 AM as usual even though I have nowhere to be today and neither does Cole. He is still sound asleep, when there is a knock at the door. Thinking it’s odd, I go to answer it anyway. There is no one there, just a basket of white roses. I pick it up and take it inside. I smile at Cole's thoughtfulness, but it strikes me as strange that he would have them delivered here so early.
I place the basket on the end table and sniff. Shaking my head, I must remember to get some blood after I have read the card that is attached.
“I can always find you. C.”
Why would Cole write that on a card, I wonder? He wouldn't, so they must not be from him. Constantine? No, he isn't crass enough to send me a basket of flowers here when I’m with Cole, besides, he knows where I am and wouldn't send me white roses anyway. Red ones are more his style.
"Nice flowers," Cole remarks as he comes into the sitting room, just a towel slung low around his hips. He takes the card from me and growls as he crumples it up in his hand. "Why can't he leave you alone?"
"I don't think they are from CK. He wouldn't," I say, absently still sniffing. "Can you smell blood?" I ask him suddenly.
"Yes, I thought you had gotten a glass."
"No…" I trail off and stick my nose closer to the basket. It's definitely coming from here. A clumsy florist, pricked herself on a wayward thorn, perhaps? I move the flowers around trying to find the source. It has me piqued as it is AB Neg and I’m starving now. I gasp as I pull the flowers out and see what is at the bottom of the basket: the head of a fully bloomed white rose splattered with blood. I move my fingers to it and into the blood, my fangs have dropped on their own already. It's still fresh, warm, and just going slightly sticky. I bring my fingers to my mouth and my lips tingle as the blood touches it and sets my tongue on fire as it passes my lips. I feel an incredible power rush, the hunger completely vanished from just that tiny drop I took. Cole watches me with interest and something else, perhaps, like I have lost my marbles lapping up the blood like some kind of crazy person. But it wasn't spilled. At least not accidentally. This was very much on purpose and very much for me. I pick up the crumpled card and reread it.
"Cade," I growl and swipe the basket off the end table, so the roses fly everywhere. "He's here."
Cole looks concerned now. "He's here? How do you know?"
"The blood is fresh, and these were hand delivered. He is the only one who could have done it."
"You mean, you just drank his blood?" he asks, now over-the-top concerned.
"Yes, and holy crap, was that a rush," I say, slightly breathless. I want more. Did he know what it would do to me? Did he know I wouldn't be able to resist tasting it and know I would want more? The only way to get more is to drink from him. What is he playing at?
"Liv. Hang on a minute. What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that his blood is like some sort of magickal elixir. Those few drops were strong enough to completely take away my hunger."