Page 115 of The Bonds of Indigo

I know she’s hungry. I heard her stomach a handful of times before we reached the hotel. And honestly, I was hoping they’d have bagged blood, but not to my surprise, they don’t.

Places like this have switched to those cheap pouches now, which are somehow even more disgusting than the synthetic stuff most places carry. High-end restaurants and grocery stores have donated blood, but a little town like this? No chance.

I’ll just wait until we reach a bigger city tomorrow.

The thought of sinking my teeth into anything that isn’t Amarah right now doesn’t really do it for me.

“You need some help, sir?” the female attendant says in a low, syrupy tone. I hadn’t even realized anyone was here. When I turn, she’s staring directly at my chest.

Oops.

Here I am scolding Amarah for having no pants on, and I completely forgot I’m wandering around shirtless.

“No.” I make zero attempt to hide my disinterest and turn back to the shelves.

I grab some beef jerky, chips, a bottle of water, and a dairy-free protein bar, then head to the counter. As I pay, I feel a faint buzz along the bond.

“Kayn?”

Alright… this is new.

“Yeah? Everything okay, little slayer?”

“Yeah, I’m fine, um…”

That’s enough to keep me from sprinting back to the room. So, I take to the stairway at a normal pace.

“I really don’t want you to feed on someone, and it’s bothering me that that’s what you’re going to do… really badly. Please don’t.”

Well, shit…

There’s a long beat of silence, and I know I should say something, anything, but my mind blanks. I’m actually stunned.

Did she just… in so many words… say she’s jealous?

“That’s so selfish of me. Fuck, that was stupid of me to say. I’m sorry. Don’t listen to me. I… I take it back…”

The bond pulls tight, and suddenly my own chest aches. Maybe it’s from my side because has she been sitting there alone, worrying about this?

“I’m not. And I wasn’t going to.”

“Oh… really?” Gods the relief in her tone seriously makes my stomach tighten with such need it’s insane.

“Mhmm. I got you some snacks. I’ll leave them by the door for you.”

There’s a pause and as I hit the first step up to the second floor, her voice slips through again.

“Do you have a spare key?”

“I do.”

Only because we were given two for the one room.

“You can come in and put them on the table.”

I didn’t need her permission since the room is technically mine, but for her to offer for me to come in, without coercion, without fear, without a threat…

That’s—