Page 80 of Blood Bonds

I took a sniff and felt my nose wrinkle, making him chuckle. I was purposely ignoring the way he said, ‘you’re home’ that implied I now lived here.

“What is it?” I asked, focusing instead on the drink.

“Something that will help wake you up,” Talon told me, that mischievous grin playing havoc with my girly insides.

I pulled an unconvinced expression before he nodded down at it, making me put it to my lips and take a tentative sip. It was strong, whatever it was, making me whistle air through my teeth before coughing, telling him,

“It’s not apple schnapps, that’s for damn sure.”

Victor chuckled behind me as he rubbed circles on my back when I started coughing.

“But you’re awake, right?” Talon pointed out, making me laugh and comment,

“Yeah, but I bet you could bring back the dead with this stuff.”

“Yes, well before you ask, we do have a heartbeat,” Victor commented dryly, making me chuckle before turning to face him.

“And like garlic?”

His lips twitched and he said, “We even eat our vegetables.”

Again, I couldn’t help but laugh, a sight he seemed to like the look of.

“Although you come at me with a bowl of sprouts, and I am biting someone,” Talon added, pulling a disgusted face, and it was such a surreal moment, that I couldn’t help but burst into a fit of giggles. Were we really all sitting here talking about sprouts?

“Well, I prefer that to tears,” Victor said, taking the glass from me and putting it down on the small round table next to him.

“I will second that,” Talon said, and it was enough to sober me as I thought back to earlier.

“Did I pass out?” I asked when Talon came to sit down next to me, his look was unreadable as he glanced at his brother. I heard him sigh, making me turn to face Victor as he suggested,

“Best not thinking about it.”

“I will take that as a yes then,” I guessed, trying to chase the memory of what happened. I know I had been crying but I couldn’t remember what it was that I had said to them.

“All we ask is for you to trust us to care for you,” Victor told me, a statement that had me tensing next to him but before he could say more, I admitted quietly,

“I wish I could.”

I felt my hand taken in his and just like he had done that first night in the coffee shop, he kissed the inside of my wrist. Of course, now I knew why…my blood.

“Then we simply ask for the time it will take for you to do so,” he replied and when I winced, it was from what I knew and what they didn’t.

Time was one thing I didn’t have.

“So where am I?” I asked, changing the subject, something Victor allowed to happen, letting it go for now, along with my hand.

“Our estate in Millbrook,” Talon replied, making my eyes widen because this must have been the place the bitch fortune teller had told me about. In fact, I would have liked to have had a name to go with the word bitch. The name of the woman who had ruined my life for a second time, and adding to my misery that my asshole ex had caused. Speaking of which.

“And my… erm ex, did he…?”

“Survive… yes, unfortunately,” Talon answered as Victor was too busy growling next to me. The relief, despite my hatred for the dickhead was heard in my sigh.

“Is that a common thing between Vampires or just something that you two do?” I asked, deciding to be brave enough to ask questions. Something up until now I hadn’t done before. Victor frowned while Talon smirked.

“You mean the sounds of displeasure, murderous rage, or hunger for sexy little peaches? Yes, it’s something all Vampires do,” he replied, making Victor scoff.

“Okkkay, good to know, I guess,” I said shyly, looking down at my lap, fidgeting with my zipper. This didn’t last long because Victor entwined his fingers with mine, holding my hand like a lover would.

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