Page 140 of Blood Lovers

I tilt my head up so I can see Paul’s face. “Beautiful.” He smiles at my description of him. “My grandma called you beautiful.”

“Well, she was as pretty as they come as well. Not as you saw her, of course. But when she was a small girl, she was so pretty. And her blood, Syrsee. It was intoxicating. I loved every drop I drank from her.” He pauses to gaze into my eyes, his smile—his whole face, actually—so gentle. Like he really is capable of loving me. “I do love you, Syrsee. I love them all. I am not a monster of hate. I am thankful. Grateful for you and what you give me. And I will give you back double.”

I close my eyes tight, his words suddenly reminding me of Zusi.

Then Paul is petting my head, soothing me with little kisses to my cheek. “You can’t blame them, Syrsee. The Guild is… well, the Guild. They are like bankers. Greedy fuckers who only want the blood. They stole some from you, did they?”

I open my eyes and nod up at him. My head is starting to clear a little. I’m still having trouble focusing, but at least I’m not seeing two of him.

“Black blood. They killed you to get it, did they?”

I nod again. Only this time I sob as well. I cannot fucking believe they did that to me. It feels like… rape.

“Yes.” Paul is stroking my cheek now. “It was certainly a violation. But I didn’t violate you, did I? No. I didn’t. I never took your blood. Not a single drop. You came here of your own free will. I never take it by force. It is always given willingly.”

“A promise,” I moan out.

“That’s right. An exchange. Even my little girls get to make a choice. I ask them sweetly if I can feed and then I ask what they would like in return. They want cookies, Syrsee. Or clothes. Or houses, once they get older. Money, men, sex, drugs. Sometimes they want my blood back. I don’t give them that. And that’s usually a sign that they are done with me and need to come here and feed Lucia, Josep, and the halfbreeds. They are typically young—ten or so—when they get that first itch of rebellion. I share them once they come here, but in the beginning, it is just me and them. I’m sorry that we never got that chance to bond. But you were made specifically for Ryet. I could not take from you. And I’m not going to lie, Syrsee, it was a struggle. That’s why I made the deal with the Guild. In some ways, I am weak. Fresh, young blood makes me weak. So if you need an excuse to save that friendship you’re craving so hard right now”—I look up and meet his eyes. Ice-blue eyes—“there it is, darling. I made them do it.”

I look away, shaking my head. I will never forgive them. Ever.

“Suit yourself. You don’t need them anyway. You have me now. And Ryet. And we have a spectacular future ahead of us. But first…” Paul sits up a little. “I would like you to drink from me. It will replenish what we’ve taken and make it so Ryet can feed thoroughly. He will wake up after that, Syrsee. And the two of you can have a conversation about what has happened. I know he didn’t handle this well, but you have to understand that’s just his way. He’s afraid, you see. He’s afraid to love anything or anyone because he knows what it feels like to lose everything.”

I think about this. About his family. His wife and children. And how Paul killed them.

And what it must feel like to be Ryet. A monster in the making. Addicted to the very creature that took everyone and everything you ever loved away.

“We can work all that out, darling.” Paul is petting my head again. “And I do have a very nice promise to make you.”

“What is it?”

“Not yet. Drink me first. I want to feel your lips on my skin. I want to feel you sucking the blood out of me. I want to hold you while you do this. And then—then I will make the promise. Because then I will want that blood back.”

I will want that blood back. Interesting way to put it. He wants me to feed on him, then he will feed on me. “What will it do?”

“The exchange?”

“Yes.”

“It will bond us, dear. Forever.”

“Will it make you stronger?”

“No. Not exactly. But it will move things forward.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Nor should you. I just explained. You will need to drink me first before I can make that promise. Vampires are a stepwise species. We are patient, we are deliberate, and we are careful. So you can feed from me and we can take that next step. Or you can refuse and just feed Ryet. And if you choose the latter, then I’m afraid my plans will all be revised.”

“You mean I will be left behind.”

“Not exactly left behind, dear.” He chuckles, like I’m stupid. “I still need you to feed Ryet. It’s going to take weeks, Syrsee. He will go through a considerable transformation. But after that—if you refuse to join us?” I can feel Paul shrug against me. “You’re on your own. Until we need you again.”

Lucia’s words come into my mind. Where is she? But I don’t waste my time looking around for her. She said, He’s not letting you walk away, darling. When he told you that, he meant to make you realize that you were not a part of his and Ryet’s future. You see, it is just him and Ryet.

And I believe that. It rings true. So what is all this about the promise?

“Drink me and find out, Syrsee.”