Page 13 of Crimson Bond

“No,” I muttered. “Butthatguy? Really? A human?”

She gave me aduhexpression. “I work for the Vampire-Human Coalition. We’re all about vampires and humans getting along.”

There it was again, that smart mouth, just begging to be kissed quiet. And not byShane.I resisted the urge and grunted a sullen reply.

“Thereisno Vampire-Human Coalition anymore.”

Abbi looked around, apparently just now noticing where we were. Not heading for the exit but in the tunnel leading to the throne room.

“I thought you were in a hurry to leave,” she said.

“I am. But Imogen wants to speak with you first.”

“What about?”

She sounded panicked. I wasn’t all that comfortable with it myself. Imogen hadn’t said why she wanted to see Abbi before we left. The queen didn’t take kindly to her guards asking questions—not even me.

“I’m not sure. In spite of your accusation that we’re ‘close,’ she rarely explains herself to me.”

“So how many Bloodbound is yourqueensending along to protect her ‘favorite soldier?’” Abby asked in a mocking tone.

Maybe she was just nervous and trying to distract herself. Or maybe she was trying to get a rise out of me. I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction. I’d already embarrassed myself once today by getting up in the human guy’s face.

It wasn’t like he was my competition. There was no competition. I was Bloodbound and thereby ineligible to claim a mate. Abbi had chosen not to be Imogen’s heir and a queen-in-training, which meant she’d taken away even the possibility of a distant future liaison between us.

That still hurt whenever I let myself think about it. I was trapped, and she was free, and it didn’t seem to bother her at all. What a fool I was to let it bother me.

“None,” I said in answer to her question.

Her eyes went wide. “What? It’s just the two of us?”

“Yep. A happy little couple on a cross-country vacation.”

Abbi ignored my bitter sarcasm. “I thought you said Imogen considered this mission a top priority.”

“She does. And that’s why we have to avoid attracting too much human attention. Traveling with a group of Bloodbound wouldn’t exactly be subtle.”

“Oh.”

She was quiet for a minute, perhaps considering all the implications of a road trip alone with me.I’dbeen considering them practically nonstop. Then she looked my way again, surreptitiously running her gaze over my face and body.

Just that subtle glance of interest was enough to set me off. My skin warmed everywhere her eyes landed. God, I was gone for this girl. I hated it.

“Reece... I’ve been wondering... whyareyou all so... well, you know?”

She was so bashful about asking, I couldn’t help cracking a smile. “No. So... what?”

“You know what I’m asking. Why are you all so big? Why do you look so... good?”

My grin spread. She might be into the human, but shehadbeen checking me out. My physical reaction went far beyond a grin, but that wasn’t something she—or anyone else here at the Bastion—needed to know. I simply answered her question.

“I told you before, we have a special diet.”

“Right. You said your blood bags come from a special supply. What’s so special about it?”

“It’s mixed with Imogen’s blood. Which reminds me...” I drew a tiny vial from my pocket.

Before Imogen had dismissed me the second time, she’d handed me a dose of her blood with orders to watch Abbi drink it. It was meant to ensure smooth traveling for us, and she’d told me to give it to Abbi sometime before we left.

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