Page 36 of The Vampire’s Prey

"When did you eat last?"

Again, she looks at the floor, shame coming off of her in waves. "Since before work."

It takes a moment for me to process what she is saying. "You have not eaten since then? Have you at least kept yourself hydrated?" Once I nurse her back to health, she has one hell of a spanking coming. How dare she treat herself so poorly.

"I am allowed fluids while fasting.” She looks up at me, her eyes narrowing, daring me to contradict.

"Fasting? That’s what you were doing?" Snorting, I stare her down. “I take it that means you kept nutrients on hand to make up for the loss from lack of eating?” Nothing. “You might be surprised, but I’ve also fasted before, and I can guarantee you I didn’t walk away looking like a corpse.” The look she shoots me is downright murderous.

“Oh, I’m sure it was exactly the same. I’m sure you’ve actually “truly,” her fingers do that annoying air-quote thing, and it sets my teeth on edge. “Fasted. What do you really know about religious fasting? It’s obvious you’re a heathen of the highest degree.”

I stare at her for a moment. Should I be flattered or insulted? Tension creeps up the back of my neck. I’ve never heard of vampires getting headaches before, but maybe I’m just the lucky one. "Either way, it ends tonight. I don’t care why you are doing it. We’ll get to that later. Right now, you are going to let me take care of you, and that starts with a bath. Take off your shoes.”

I pull mine off and set them on a stand near the front door. Instead of doing what I command, she stands there staring at me.

"Did you not hear me? Or must I take them off for you?"

I walk back towards her, and she backs away from me. Fear and anxiety still pour off of her. Damn it. What in the hell happened over those few days? Any ground I gained feels like it not only disappeared but put me in the negative.

"No, no! I can take them off myself.”

She makes quick work of her shoes and hands them to me. I grab them and place them next to mine. Oddly, the pair look right together.

"First rule in this house is shoes are taken off immediately at the door. It is a matter of respect for this house."

"Respecting the house?" she giggles.

Her fingers fly up in front of her lips as if to take back the laugh after it escaped. I allow it though. At this point, I might allow any number of things just to hear that beautiful laugh spilling from her lips.

"Yes," I raised a brow, my lips quirking in a repressed smile, "respect for this house. There are several rules you will obey while you are here, but those will come later. For now, I need to get you cleaned."

She crosses her arms and tilts her head. "I can clean myself."

"Obviously.” I walk over to her and take a tangled strand of hair into my fingers. "You have proven that you can most certainly take care of yourself."

She opens her mouth to protest, but I ignore her and scoop her into my arms. Her body spasms up as her back touches my arm. That will also need to be attended to. I do not need to keep smelling her blood, calling to me like a drink to an alcoholic. I take the stairs three at time, barely pausing as I go through the guest room and into the adjoining bath. Easing her down onto the closed toilet, I turn and lock the doors before turning on the water.

"It's not like I have anywhere to go," she sighs, looking pointedly at the door. "You live in the middle of nowhere. No way I can walk anywhere to tell them you've kidnapped me."

I look at her, incredulous at her statement. "Kidnapped you? You are seriously going to sit here and say that?"

A small prick of conscience tugs at me, but I slam it down. It may be kidnapping technically, but it’s for her own good. Without hesitation, I yank her up and pull down her pants. Her blows against me feel like nothing, even more of a testament to how frail she is right now. Setting her back down, I point out all the bruises marring her legs.

"Tell me how you got these?"

Her mouth thins as she tries pulling away from me.

"Oh no you don’t.” I grab her hips to still her. "And your back. Who did that to you?"

She looks everywhere but at my face.

"It seems to me that if I never showed up, you might have died in there. Who knows?"

"I do," she yells back, trying hard to push me away. "No one has ever died from a penance. That I would be so lucky."

I pull back. "You have the audacity to tell me that you don’t even care if you die or not?"

"Of course, I care. But penance is the only way to... To be free of you.” Her whisper is so soft. I was only able to catch it because of my inhuman hearing.