Page 100 of By the Pint

Well, talk back to him. Can you do that? And let go of my face, please. Your hand is fucking freezing.

I removed my hand from Joey’s mouth. Gave her one last look, awish-me-luckexpression, closed my eyes and concentrated everything I had on Casey. Picture perfect in my mind. Sitting on the hotel’s couch, in his … suit. Okay. I would just roll with it. I placed myself between his thighs. On my knees. Looking up at him. If my lungs worked, the sight of him would have knocked the breath from them.

Casey?I said.

After a few moments there was no response. Maybe I’d imagined it. I opened my eyes and saw Joey giving me encouraging nods. Both of her hands held mine, like we were at a fucking seance or something. I didn’t even feel her grab them.

I tried again.Casey?

Seconds ticked by. Minutes. Still nothing. I opened my eyes again and shook my head at Joey.

Her shoulders dropped. “Shit, babes, I really thought that might work—”

I held up my hand because …

Dima? Can you hear me?

My heart threw itself against my ribs. Smashing over and over as though it was trying to break free and bounce itself all the way to the City of the Undead to be near him.

His voice. His beautiful, deep — and exhausted sounding — voice.

Moonflower?I said. Trying to contain my excitement. Trying not to read too much into it.

We had a bond. A bond that spanned hundreds of miles. That excluded anyone else’s thoughts along those two hundred-ish miles. It was just him and me.

What did it mean? First I heard him through the steel barrier of the hotel walls, now across cities, and hundreds of roads, and thousands of acres of land. Across lakes, and rivers, and dams and forests. Through factories and farmlands and castles and even, I think, a couple of theme parks. Through campsites, and national parks, and little market towns. Through the mountain ridges that shrouded the City of the Undead.

Mosquito?Casey said. It was quieter than a mouse, but unmistakably him.Why don’t you just call me on the phone? I can barely hear you.

I sob-laughed. Joey, despite hearing none of the exchange, mirrored my exact emotions. Tears tracked down her cheeks.

I didn’t know if you wanted to hear my voice.I wasn’t sure I wanted to hearhisvoice.

But … I did.

I really did.

Needed to, in fact.

Casey?

Yes?

Can I ask a favour?

He paused.I can’t not turn. It’s my only option if I want to… He broke off, or the connection faltered again.

I would never ask that of you. Actually, I was going to ask you something very different.

Anything.And I heard the other words in his head as though he were standing in the room with Joey and me.Anything for you.

Would you let me be the one to sire you?

33.

Casey

I’d experienced pain before, sure. One time I had a root canal. Without anaesthetic, I might add, because it messed with the wingball drugs testing. Another time, I broke my collarbone and a rib at the same time during practice. The pain was so great then that I passed out.

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