Page 45 of Shut Up and Bite Me

Scoffing, I toss my hands up, jokingly enthusiastic. “Great. Let’s do it.”

Vivian giggles nervously, and I glare at her for laughing at my soon-to-be pain.

“Are you open to trying it?” she asks me, resting her hand gently on my leg.

I’d do anything for her.

Nodding, I wonder if I’m going to regret this. “Yes. What do you need me to do?”

Autumn clasps her hands together, seeming far too excited about this. “Vivian, go somewhere else in the house. The furthest corner from here. And don’t use that super hearing of yours.”

Autumn disappears into the kitchen while Vivian holds my stare, waiting for my confirmation, and I nod, assuring her that I’m okay with whatever is about to happen. Her shy gaze falls to the floor, and a sweet, delicate smile lifts her lips right before she vanishes.

My heart rate spikes when Autumn walks back from the kitchen, wielding a sharp knife. “Don’t freak out.”

“What do you meandon’t freak out?” I scoff at the audacity of her question. “You are not stabbing me with that,” I protest, taking a step back.

She looks at me like I’m stupid. “Obviously I’m not going tostabyou. I’m just going to cut your hand.”

Strutting over to me, she seems eerily calm, like this is just a regular part of her day job. But I guess I don’t know what a witch’s typical day looks like. Maybe a big part of her job is going around cutting people.

“Which hand?” she asks, holding her right hand out between us.

The blade gleams in the light, and I stick out my right one, my nondominant hand. “What’s going to happen? Should I be nervous?”

She holds my stare as her eyes brighten, lighting up like a kid’s on Christmas. “I know you’re new to a lot of this, but if this works and proves that you guys are reallylamia et fatis sanguis, it would be the most incredible thing to happen in vampire history. And I would be honored to simply bear witness to it.”

Goose bumps erupt down my arms from her tone. “What are you testing with the knife?”

“If she can feel your physical pain or detect it in some way. A deep connection that doesn’t exist between vampires and humans as we know it. It would mean that the legend has finally come true. And if she doesn’t feel it, then we know that we’re back to square one at trying to decipher why I feel her energy intertwined with yours.”

Her gaze darts out to my hand, and she lifts my palm up to the ceiling.

Taking a quick breath, I blow it out, steadying and bracing myself. Pain isn’t exactly new to me. I have scars scattered across my body from my youth to prove that.

“Do it,” I tell her, sharply inhaling and holding my breath.

Carefully, she presses the knife against my palm.

“Shit.” I wince as she drags the sharp blade across my skin, and bright red liquid pools in my palm.

Vivian appears by my side before Autumn even lifts the blade from my wound. “Stop.”

Wind blows against us as she slams to a stop, air whipping through the room from her speed.

She takes my hands in hers, concern etched into her features. “Are you okay?”

Autumn turns to Vivian. “Your deep worry is sweet and all, but we need to know. Did you feel it?”

Vivian clutches her hand to her chest, shaking her head ever so slightly. “Not exactly.”

“What does that mean?” Autumn’s brows furrow.

Gripping my wrist in one hand, Vivian unfurls her fist, holding it open next to mine.

She isn’t bleeding, but stretching from one side of her palm to the other is a deep red mark. “I didn’t feel the pain like you predicted. It was more like a tingling ache, and then this line appeared in its place.”

Autumn jumps up and down, pure joy lighting her face up as she claps. “I might cry. This is the most amazing thing ever.”

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