Page 41 of Winterfall Destiny

"About us?" asks Jamie.

"Partly."

"And Gabriella?" asks Tobias.

"Isn't the deal that you'll kill her?" The First points at the clock on the kitchen wall. "Tick tock. No excuse now that Andrei's not bound to her anymore."

Andrei breaks his silence. "But I'm bound to you."

"Yes. Aren't you a fortunate boy?" The First pats his cheek and I suck air between my teeth. "I hope your decision to take the blood without consulting Maeve didn't cause issues."

"No, Andrei's agony and week of unconsciousness was the issue," I put in.

"Don't we always suffer for what we want?" the First replies quietly. "I'm sure you're appreciating the benefits, Andrei."

"Apart from I've no idea what else this change might mean for me," he replies. "What I'll become."

"I'm afraid I can't answer that since you're the only one who I can remember surviving." The creature pulls a non-committal face. "Others did but so long ago I've forgotten."

Games. Lies.

"As you say, we're busy planning our assault against Gabriella," says Tobias, stiffly. "And about to leave."

"Yes. Rather late in the day. I waited for you at that London house you've decided to occupy. Why are you travelling at night when Andrei loves the daytime now?"

"Because we don't want anybody to know what's happened to me," he replies.

"Ooh." The First claps its hands together. "Subterfuge. Exciting."

"Why don't you plan to help us?" asks Ash.

"Unlike your future-sighted witch, I don't mess with what needs to happen. Ensuring the threads of connections and that the future plays out as planned takes hard work." The First wanders to the fridge and opens it. "Orange juice?"

"We're all out," says Jamie stiffly.

"How irritating." The First slams the fridge door closed. "What are you eating currently, Andrei?"

"Not much. But I don't want blood," he says stiffly.

The First nods. "The lifeforce within you doesn't require as much rest or sustenance. How about your other desires?"

My eyes go wide, but Andrei remains impassive. "Desire for what?"

"Experiencing everything that your heightened senses desire. You must crave other things." The creature's sweet smile graces me. "I do hope this isn't the end of your physical relationship. You're so fragile, Maeve."

I'm not allowing this thing to taunt us. No, Andrei and I haven't spent intimate time alone since he returned, but that's partly Andrei wanting to prove a point to the other guys. "We've somewhere we need to be," I reply. "And if you won't help, we can't waste the time you've given us."

"Ah. So, avoiding intimate situations with Andrei?" The First's tongue pushes against its teeth.

"No," I say firmly. "We've other priorities."

"Is it a control issue?" the First suggests.

Tobias pulls keys from his pocket, and they jingle. "We're leaving."

Ash stares at him in horror, and the First laughs. "You're not."

"What?" I ask sharply. "Why?"

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