Page 13 of Visionary

Doing my best not to stare at him, I glanced around the room. “Do you want some coffee?” Standing, I made my way toward the kitchen.

“I’ve never had coffee,” Severn said, following closely behind me.

When I turned around, he was right behind me, so close that he jumped back slightly when I stopped. “You’ve never had coffee?” He shook his head. “Okay, I’m going to make a blood brew that Des and I drink. It’s not really strong, so you’ll be okay.” Nodding, Severn walked over to one of the barstools at the marble island.

“You aren’t going to ask me a million questions?” Severn spoke up when my back was turned. The truth was, of course, I had a million questions, just like I was sure he had just as many.

I finished prepping everything in the machine and turned around to face the Senketsu. His catlike features were fixed on me. Each time he blinked, it was like the color in his eyes swirled to form a new pool to swim in. Clearing my throat, I managed to say, “I thought you would be the one asking questions.”

Leaning back slightly, he crossed his arms over his chest. The way he moved was so graceful and effortless. It almost didn’t make sense. “Oh, I never said I didn’t have questions.”

The coffee began to brew in the pot, and the smell hit my nostrils. Taking a deep breath, I inhaled the delicious scent. Turning around and grabbing two mugs, I placed them on the counter. “Ask away.”

15

SEVERN

Aiden’s back was to me as he pulled two coffee mugs from the cabinet. “Ask away.” He shrugged, turning back toward me.

The soft smile on his lips was comforting, but my guard was still up. The truth was I had so many questions. Did Vea want me for something like Ceril did? Could I actually trust Aiden? I had no idea. I just knew that going with them had to be better than being with my father.

“You said that’s a blood brew?” It was a question rather than a statement. The coffee that brewed in the pot smelled different from the dark liquid Ceril drank every morning. Aiden nodded. “What kind of…blood?” I had never had blood before. For vampires, blood was like a treat, a vice to become addicted to that didn’t cause harm. For other beings, it was like a drug. The perfect concoction of different beings’ blood mixed together was like an acid trip. A prismatic evolution of neon stars for your senses. The comedown was brutal, but the trip was worth the pain. In Noirhaven, everyone called those blood concoctions Pulse, and Vea’s family ruled the market.

“It’s not Pulse if that’s what you’re worried about. And no demon blood at all. This is dried vampire blood in the coffee grounds.” Pulling a black bag from another cabinet, Aiden pointed to a label, then tossed it over to me. Based on the label, Aiden was telling the truth. He grabbed the bag back when I slid it over to him before saying, “Based on what I’ve read about Senketsu. You should be okay with just vampire blood, right?”

I shrugged. “I’ve never had it, but I don’t really see why not.”

The coffee finished brewing, and Aiden filled both mugs, passing one over to me. “Only have some if you want it.” He pushed a carton of cream and some sugar my way. “If you taste it and it’s bitter, try adding some of these.”

Lifting the mug, I sniffed the coffee and immediately admired how the fragrance wrapped around me. “Wow,” I said, not realizing my voice was as loud as it was. Aiden let out a small chuckle as he poured cream into his mug and stirred. I took a small sip, anticipating that it may be hot, and the bitter taste hit my tongue like a punch. It was shocking at first, but once I was able to taste the beverage, I wanted more.

“Do you think you want to add either of these?” Aiden gestured to the cream and sugar.

Taking another, larger sip, I savored the flavor before shaking my head and swallowing. “No. I like it like this.” I smiled and looked down at the blood brew. It really was delicious, like nothing I had ever tasted before. I didn’t know if it was just the coffee or the blood in the coffee, but I didn’t really care.

Aiden smiled and put the cream and sugar away before walking back toward the living room. “Did you have other questions?” He asked over his shoulder.

I swallowed the coffee in my mouth and searched my mind for something worthwhile to ask. “You said Vea just wants me safe, right?” Aiden hummed in acknowledgement as he sipped his coffee and sat on the couch. As I sat back down where I had been earlier, I placed my coffee mug on the table and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. “I’m just trying to understand that.”

Aiden tossed an odd look my way. “Why is that hard to understand?” Leaning forward, he set his mug on the table as well. “Don’t you know how important you are?”

Before he finished his question, his phone started ringing. “Hello?” he answered. “No, it’s not a problem…he’s with me right here…okay, got it.” Aiden hung up the phone and looked at me. “That was Des. Mitz found a forum post for the Shirogane’s hiring packs to search for you.”

My heart dropped. I knew without a doubt that Ceril would be out looking for me. Especially after knowing what he had planned with Beck. He needed me now more than ever. But hiring multiple packs to search for me, Beck must be closer to his final form than I realized.

“Severn, how important are you?” Aiden looked at me, concern washed over his sweet features. Just this short bit of interaction with him, his care and willingness to make me feel comfortable. The trust was starting to peek over the horizon.

16

SEVERN

To Ceril, I was pretty fucking important. Not only for the art business but apparently for his immortality. When he drained my blood, I never considered that he used what was left over from my paintings for anything, let alone a Tethered Ritual.

The moment my vision became clear that day in Ceril’s conference room, I knew something had to be done. But the entire idea of Ceril becoming immortal was almost impossible for me to grasp.

Rolling my lips between my teeth, I grabbed my mug and lifted it to my face, inhaling the warm beverage. “Ceril needs me for my art. I know that. That’s probably why Vea needs me safe, right?” I wasn’t going to beat around the bush. “She wants to start using me to paint and sell my art like he did, right?”

Aiden looked taken aback. “What?” He looked genuinely shocked. “No. Vea truly does just want to make sure you’re safe. You are so important to her, in so many ways.”