Page 35 of Blood & Bedlam

Still.

“You’re late getting home tonight.” Her voice sounds like music. I’ve missed it so much over the last week. Hearing it muffled and dampened with booze, Sheetrock and brick, has made me appreciate the delicate notes more. Reine takes a small sip of her drink, eyes me through her lowered lashes, and it nearly does me in. “You’re staring.”

“You just look stunning. It’s hard not to look. H-how long have you been waiting for me?” I clear my throat, but I’m rewarded with a reluctant smile that has my beast preening. He likes it when she smiles. I do too.

“I know I owe you an explanation about things. I haven’t handled any of this properly,” I admit, maybe because I just feel at ease seeing her again up close. Reine reaches for an oyster and brings it to her lips. They’re stained red with her lipstick, and I’m like a bull in the ring, remembering how decadent they looked stained with my blood.

“That’s why I wanted to have dinner. I’ve only been out here a few minutes. Claire told me you were on your way.” She gestures to the table with the now empty shell, and I cock my head, curious as to where this is going to go. I can feel an emotional bomb exploding from her down the Bond. Worry, excitement, fear … but also lust, and what feels like a sense of determination. I take a sip of the water while she takes a sip of wine. “Claire told me about the trial by combat, with Camille. I know that it’s because of what you did, with the vamp who took me and hurt Makenna. I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve brought down on your family. I understand why my presence isn’t what you want right now, so thank you, for coming tonight.”

I’m struck dumb by her words, by the guilt in them, and then it clicks in my brain. I’ve been set up, by my children and Reine. Drake got me drunk enough to lower my guard, then sent me out to the wolves. Bastard. Reine’s words replay in my mind, stumbling over her reasoning. “You think that I’ve been avoiding you because of Cami?”

She nods and swallows another drink of the sweet wine. I watch the muscles in her throat work around the liquid, and memories of the dream walk from this week flood my system, short-circuiting my brain. She flips her hair back over her shoulder, the hot night too much for her thick locks. Tiny beads of sweat slide down the column of her neck, and it takes everything in me not to lunge across the table when my eyes lock on the mark on her throat. My mark.

“It’s not only that. I’m not stupid, Vladimir. I know that there’s more going on here than you’re telling me and I need to know. I’m not going to just stay locked up here like a prisoner. I have a job, or at least I did. What about Makenna? Does anyone even know she’s gone?” Her words land like slaps against me, pain laced in them.

“We’re looking into Makenna’s death. We haven’t been able to retrieve her body. Until we do, it’s best to keep the mortal authorities out of the way. It’s critical evidence, one that shows the Italians broke covenant law in our territory. In the meantime, Camille is training for her duel. She’s an incredible warrior, and she will prevail. As for your job, they believe you’re taking care of a sick aunt in Mississippi.” I tick off the precautions we’ve taken, hoping that it eases some of her distress. It doesn’t.

“As far as the Manor goes, it’s how I keep you safe. You’re right. My actions have caused a target to be painted on all of us, and as I told you, I can protect you here. These grounds are spelled, and every Otherworlder in my employ is a formidable opponent. You are safe here, Reine, but I’m sorry if that is also a cage. Please, if there’s anything we can do, anything I can offer you to help you feel more comfortable, then tell me,” I plead, the call inside of me demanding I take care of her needs, her wants.

She swallows, and sniffs, swiping her hand across her nose.

“I could use some paints. A canvas, maybe.” Reine shrugs. I immediately shoot a message through the bloodlink to Juliette to make it happen.

“Of course. It’s done. Anything you need is yours, Reine.”

Her eyes meet mine, shining in the light with unshed tears. “Thank you, Dracul. That’s what they call you, right?”

A small smile pulls at my lips as I dip my chin. “It is. But to you, I would prefer my name. It’s been too long since I heard it in your voice. It soothes me.”

Reine softens and gives me a shy smile that has her cheeks reddening. “Is it weird for you to be around me? For me to be her, but not her?”

I consider for less than a heartbeat. “No. You’re the same but different and I’m only concerned about the impact it has on you. What you must be going through. You’re achingly beautiful, Reine. You could only ever be a comfort to me.”

Hunger rises up, seeking, reaching. My eyes drink her down, greedy to map her body the way I did in the dream walk, desperate to feel her in my arms again. I shouldn’t, but because I’m weak, it consumes me.

She catches on to where my gaze is focused, at the delicate expanse of skin just beneath her collarbone. I zero in on every micro movement she presents. The subtle redness of her neck and chest flushing, the increased pumping of adrenaline in her system.

“Tell me why I woke up with bleeding puncture wounds on my neck the other night, Vladimir. Tell me why I’m dreaming of you, why I can’t get you out of my head,” Reine demands, her voice low and intense. She’s studying me, too, an artist with her subject, breaking me apart with every flick of her gaze. I should lie to her, deny it all, but I won’t. Drake’s words echo through my mind. He’s right—the wheels are already in motion. There’s no getting off this train, and whether it saves us or condemns us is no longer in my hands.

“Because you pulled me into your dream, and I pulled you into mine. Because there’s a call of our Blood to one another, and no matter how hard I try, it doesn’t relent. Because I made the decision to maim the mongrel who thought he could put his fangs on what’s mine, and now they are demanding I turn you over in retribution.” I pull back the collar of my shirt for her to see her own handiwork. Reine’s eyes grow wide, her jaw dropping as she takes it in.

“It was real?” She gasps. I nod.

“It was real. I didn’t know until you bit me, but it was real and now it’s begun. I’ve been trying to put distance between us to tamper down the symptoms, but all it’s done is drive me fucking insane, make me crave you in both the waking world and the dream.”

“You crave me?” she asks on a pant, and I level her with a look so intense it threatens to ignite us both.

“Viciously.”

“Are you going to give me to them?” There’s a shake in her voice that has my hackles up.

“Absolutely fucking not. Did you not hear me? You’re mine.” My spine goes rigid, my words pure venom in my possessive obsession. She should be afraid, but it’s relief that floods through our Bond.

“What … symptoms?” she asks after a moment, curious eyes bright. My venom and adrenaline has burned off the alcohol lingering in my system, so I grab the bottle of wine and top up her glass, then pour one of my own. This is going to be a rough conversation, especially when I can feel the whiplash of her racing emotions as though they are my own.

“The hunger. The Blood. For our kind, we can be drawn to people without explanation. No one knows why, or the reason behind it, but when we meet them, it changes us. It alters them as well.” I trace the rim of my wineglass with my fingers absentmindedly, focusing only on the breaths coming from Reine, on the heartbeat pulsing beneath her skin.

“How does it change them?” she asks, still a little breathless. Our gazes lock as I consider how to answer her. The truth is best, but there are already tiny sparks of fear pulsing down the Bond between us. It’s so strong, even unconsecrated, and it makes me shiver to think what she could do to me if we were properly Bonded.