Page 12 of Vampires and Violas

He glances at me over his shoulder, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “We’re back to that again, are we?”

“Just answer the question.”

“No. Only bites that spread the infection decide your line.”

I polish off the piece of toast and move on to the next. “Can vampires date if they’re from the same line? Or is that like a family tree with no branches?”

He snorts. “It’s not the same at all, and yes, they can date. Most married vampires are from the same line, usually because one starts as a human and becomes a vampire while they’re dating.”

“But that’s illegal.”

“It is.” Noah shrugs. “That doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen.”

“How much trouble would they get in if they were caught?”

“If they’re both consenting adults, it’s usually a hefty fine, occasionally a few years of jail time if the judge is feeling extra feisty, and then they can get on with their lives.”

“Like a speeding ticket? Everyone knows they shouldn’t speed, but everyone does it anyway?”

“Not everyone, and it’s far more severe than a speeding ticket. But yes, in a way.”

“So, if you had accidentally bitten me, you probably wouldn’t have gone to prison?”

Noah doesn’t respond, but he goes still. Then he rolls his shoulders and flips the pork chops. “No, but you’d be one step closer to the final stage, and I wouldn’t do that to you.”

This conversation has veered into forbidden territory. It's not necessarily dangerous, but it is sad. The memory of getting close to Noah only to discover wecan’tbe close is still painful.

I pulled away, knowing he was leaving for Denver anyway. But now he’s back, complicating things, and I’m beginning to wonder if I overreacted.

So, he’s a vampire. Is that really a big deal?

Listen to yourself, Piper.

Okay, it’s a big deal.

I need to find a guy who doesn’t have fangs but isn’t freaked out about my blood needs. A guy who can eat a salad and won’t look like a gladiator when he’s seventy-eight.

Eventually.

Right now, I must focus on my flowers, because this is already shaping up to be my worst year since I began my business when I was twenty-four. Missing an entire month at the beginning of the growing season thanks to Vampiria B-related illness took its toll on my checking account.

The doorbell rings, and I hop off the barstool. “That’ll be Cassian.”

“What’s he doing here?” Noah sounds particularly annoyed, making me wonder if he’s taken his blood this morning.

“He’s my conservator,” I remind him.

“Ethan’s gone. You don’t need someone hanging around constantly anymore.”

“Max has the day off. They’re meeting here and then going hiking.”

Noah flashes me an incredulous look.

“Look, I know it’s weird. I blame you, though. You’re the one who recruited Max.”

My brother is officially working for NIHA now, and I don’t like it. He’s almost finished with his training and gets assigned a pre-vamp on Monday.

I’m hoping he likes the job and stays with the pre-vamps because I’m not super comfortable with him interacting with rogue final-stage vampires.

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