Page 73 of Bitten

“Perhaps,” Kane answered vaguely. “I haven’t had time for a project the last few days, and I really need to get back to it. It may be a few days before I see you again.”

That made Caelian’s’ smile fade. Knowing that connection he’d felt to the vampire was in fact something… he wanted more time. “Okay. You know where I’ll be.”

“I do,” Kane said, sitting to pull on his boots. Once he was done, he turned to place a slightly more than chaste kiss on Caelian’s lips. “Until I see you again.”

Caelian watched him go before falling back on the bed with a wide grin. More of Kane’s memories came into focus.

Ralnur was forefront in Kane’s mind. The warlock was in danger—and maybe he could help. He rushed to the door and whipped it open.

Now I know who changed him, at least.

And I can’t tell anyone.

Fuck.

Cannon eyed him. “Sounds like you and the leech had some fun tonight.”

Caelian glared at Cannon, but then an idea popped into his mind. “Can you get me a meeting with Ralnur?”

Cannon frowned. “For what reason?”

Caelian paused a second, searching for a fib that would cover him. “It might help my research if I could talk to him and get some answers.”

Cannon’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe I can.”

“Thank you,” Caelian said as nicely as he could.

Maybe Cannon wouldn’t turn out to be as worthless as Caelian thought him to be.ChapterNine

Family ties…

The following morning, Ralnur gagged the synthetic blood down, struggling to swallow the vile stuff. How vampires survived on it, he didn’t know. It tasted nothing like the rich, warm blood that had come straight from Kane. Just the thought of feeding again from the Halfling made him feel liquid inside.

Maybe that’s why so many vampires employ feeders. It made sense if the difference was so vast.

The skin-to-skin contact… the scents, the sensation… the strong male body hard and ready against him. A shiver raced down his spine at the thought of Kane being his.

Writhing under the vampire, bound by body and both of their fangs driving deep.

Caelian…

Having a face and memories of the elf made him feel as if he knew Caelian.

It now created a new craving in his mind and body. The shadow filled, he needed more. He needed to see the male in the flesh, to know him, too. All he had was seen through Kane’s eyes.

How odd it felt to have this deep connection to someone he’d never truly met.

By the time he got the last of the mug down, a door to his room opened and his son appeared in chains. Ralnur rose, a smile to his face. As the guard released the shackles, he lowered the mug to the side table and waited to give his son a bear hug.

But just as Varian grew close, he froze. “Why are your eyes red?”

Ralnur looked down, shame filing him. “How much have they told you?”

“Just that you pulled through,” Varian whispered, a deep frown etched on his handsome face. “You’re vampire now?”

“I am,” Ralnur admitted.

“Why? How?”

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