Page 24 of Blood Bonds

“Take a seat and I will bring them over,” the barista said, smirking as she witnessed our exchange.

“Shall we?” Victor said, again like a perfect gentleman, letting me pick our seats.

I decided to opt for one of the booths in the corner. I started to unzip my jacket but before I could shrug it off, his hands were suddenly at my shoulders making me freeze at the contact.

“Here,allow me,”he said, the rumble of words spoken close to my ear again.

This time, with his hands on me, there was no way he was missing my shiver, and I wondered if I turned suddenly, would I find a knowing smirk on his lips? In the end, I was simply left needing to clear my throat before offering him a small,

“Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome, Vanessa,” he said in a way as if he knew exactly what it was that he did to me.

I decided that I definitely needed to put space between us, especially if I was to get through this with some dignity intact. So, I stepped away and slid into the seat against the wall as he folded up my jacket and draped it over one of the spare chairs. However, if it was space I wanted, then I didn’t get it.

Victor had other ideas and he slid in next to me instead of taking the seat opposite, like I thought he would.

I nearly asked him what he was doing but I think it was obvious, so I saved myself the embarrassment this time. No instead I reminded him,

“Honestly, you can call me Nessa if you want, all my friends do.”

He grinned before asking boldly, “And if I wish to be more, what should I call you then?”

I choked on my own saliva and again cursed my inability to be cool. He chuckled before rubbing my back until I calmed. Jesus, his hand felt huge! Praying for calm was a joke around this man. Holy shit, I didn’t need coffee, I needed a shot of whiskey!

“Although I am yet to know your last name,” he said, and I had to say, I was thankful I had something to say now because I certainly didn’t know how to answer his previous question.

“Cadell, my last name is Cadell,” I told him, and he scoffed a slight laugh making me give him a quizzical look in return.

“Know many Cadells’, do you?” I asked, guessing this was the reason for his reaction.

“There is only one I want to know, but forgive my reaction, it is just the meaning that amused me.”

I tried not to blush at this, instead focusing on my next question.

“The meaning?” I asked, turning a little to put a bit more space between us, so my back was to the corner of the curved seat.

“Cadell is derived from an old Welsh word and means battle.”

My eyes widened, surprised by not only the knowledge of its meaning but more because he knew this. In fact, I would have commented, but in that moment two things happened. The first being the coffees that were put down in front of us, and the second was the sound of Victor’s phone ringing.

Something he answered by looking right at me and saying two words, that for some reason felt significant…

“Hello, Brother…”

Chapter 10

Conquering Cuteness

Victor

Icouldn’t believe it.

Ever since my brother had told me of her existence, I had my doubts. She was like some mythical being that felt too untouchable to ever reach. Then the little firefly had run straight into my arms after I had just committed a murder, the body of the man barely cold behind the building I had left him behind.

It was a rogue shifter I had felt the need to hunt down myself just so as I could ease my dark soul. My foul mood had caressed my soul ever since my brother and I had found our Moirai, our Fated one, gone. Escaped from our grasp without a trace. It had been too much of a bitter fucking pill to swallow and had sent us both into an uncontrollable rage.

Talon had felt the loss even more than I, for he had not only tasted our Fated, but he had also failed to keep her. Failed to even know her name so as we may track her down with ease. Failed to keep her locked away as our prisoner until she softened to our new presence in her life.

---