Page 46 of Awakening the Dhampir

We still had a ways to go before we reached New Orleans, but Kenrid had been kind enough to stop at a small shopping center a couple hours earlier to buy me a set of clothes that fit. While I missed being wrapped in his scent, it did feel good to be wearing a normal outfit with shoes. I’d almost forgotten what it felt like to have something on my feet after being barefoot for so long. I might never go without shoes or socks or slippers or something else ever again.

I shivered and pushed away the memories trying to surface. I knew getting past my kidnapping and isolation wouldn’t be easy, but it was turning out to be harder than expected. For some reason, I could no longer compartmentalize. Not even a little bit.

I got this, my dhampir hissed in my mind for the hundredth time. I’ll carry the burden of our captivity.

If it were that easy, why does my blood run cold with even the smallest trigger? I countered.

Because you won’t just let it go.

No. I couldn’t let it go. I tried, but my mind refused to disassociate. Humans aren’t like you, I said. I can’t just turn my emotions off with a flick of a switch.

Whatever. You’re not human.

I frowned. According to Kenrid, I had to be at least a little human or I couldn’t be dhampir.

Stop!

I slapped both hands over my ears with her very pointed yell. Kenrid side-eyed me from the driver’s seat, and my face flushed with embarrassment.

“Sorry,” I muttered.

“You okay?” he asked, turning his attention back to the road.

“Yeah.”

“Are you arguing with your dhampir?” Damon asked from the back seat.

I swiveled around to check on him. He’d been in his human form for over six hours. I hadn’t forgotten what happened last time. His skin was too dark to see any shadows beneath his eyes, and he showed no other signs of exhaustion. If he was struggling, he hid it well.

“Are you okay?” I asked, not answering his question.

He smiled at me, and I blushed for a different reason. “I’ll make it to the fortress,” he said. “Where I don’t have to hide my demon.”

Heat rushed down my neck and straight to my core at the thought of his demon. I really wanted to explore all his demon parts. It didn’t take me long to get over my indecision about Damon and Kenrid. Everything about it felt too right.

“Maybe you should go back to arguing with your dhampir. We’ll take care of all your needs once we get home,” Damon said, his eyebrows raising just a fraction with his innuendo.

I hated how easy it was for him to know when I was aroused. I just smiled. I’d already said and done way more than I ever intended with him.

“How much longer until we get there?” I asked instead.

“About thirty minutes,” Kenrid replied. “Damon, will you text Elliott and find out if Nathan will be up when we get there?”

“Yep.” Damon pulled his phone from his pocket.

I settled back into my seat, barely resisting the urge to fan myself. The thought of Damon taking care of my needs brought on all kinds of mental images, most likely provided by my dhampir.

Can I ask a favor? The serious tone of my dhampir’s question surprised me just a little, especially after her slide show of Damon. We’d talked a lot in the last two days, but she’d never directly asked for anything.

Sure.

Can we choose a name for me?

My throat tightened. I’d already decided she needed a name, but I hadn’t spent any time really thinking about it. Apparently, it was important to her to have her own identity. Which I totally understood. She wasn’t me. We were roommates sharing the same space … or body.

Of course, I replied. Any suggestions?

Get out your phone and open the translator app. I’d like something that means ‘peace.’

---