Page 32 of Only Fangs

“No!” Collin typed quickly because that sounded horrifying.

“They’ll grow back.”

“Still don’t. I don’t want you to hurt yourself because of me.”

“It’d be worth it.”

Collin had no response to that. Mikael was crazy. Seriously. Completely, one hundred percent out of his mind.

And Collin couldn’t wait to see him again.

Chapter Nine

The Rubyville vampire nightclub was always deserted during the daytime. Mikael usually thought that was the most boring time to be hanging out at the club, staring at empty tables and unused equipment, but today he enjoyed the silence.

God knew there was enough buzzing going on in his head to keep him occupied.

He was probably the only vampire in his coven who was awake right now–aside from Vitra maybe, because that girl didn’t know when to put the gamepad down–and that suited him just fine. Everyone had been needling him with questions all week, ever since he put his stream on hiatus. “Oh, why aren’t you on camera anymore? Did your appetite wane? Did you get bored of streaming? You shouldn’t disappoint your fans.”

Fuck that noise.

Mikael’s fangs throbbed as he glanced at the bottles of blood lined up on the shelves behind the bar.

Funny, he hadn’t had bottled blood since he started his stream. Honestly, that was the best part of streaming: always getting his blood fresh from the source, never having to drink the same blood twice.

It had been exhilarating.

But now all he could think about was Collin.

He looked down at his phone, waiting for a message. Luna had her surgery today, if everything was going according to plan. Collin had texted him on his way to the clinic. Nothing since then, though.

He was probably busy.

“So this is where you’ve been hiding.”

Mikael looked up at the sound of his sire’s voice.

Mordyn leaned against the door frame, looking effortlessly elegant in a way that Mikael himself could never quite pull off. Maybe if he lived another hundred years or so…

“I’m not hiding,” he said.

Mordyn raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? It’s an odd time for a vampire to be awake.”

“So what are you doing up?” Mikael challenged his sire.

Mordyn laughed. “Fair enough,” he said, going around the bar and taking one of the bottles. “I was looking for a snack. Didn’t expect to find you in here.”

“Really?” Mikael found that hard to believe.

Mordyn grabbed another bottle and set both of them down on the table in front of Mikael. “I know that you haven’t been drinking,” he said, smoothly ignoring Mikael’s question as he sat down across from him. “Are you still upset about the incident with the other streamer?”

Mikael grimaced, his thoughts going back to the night he’d lost control of himself. The way Collin had clung to him…

“I know I’ve been hard on you,” Mordyn said. “But I never meant for you to cease drinking blood altogether.” He uncapped one of the bottles and slid it closer to Mikael. “You’re still a vampire, kid. Blood is not bad for you.”

“I know that.” Mikael blew out a breath. He really didn’t want to discuss all of his problems with his sire, but at the same time, he knew Mordyn well enough to know that the other man wouldnever leave him alone unless he explained himself. “I realized why I lost control with Collin. It’s because he’s mortal.”

Mordyn’s brows rose. “Really? He didn’t smell mortal.”

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