Page 14 of Heir of Blood and Moonlight

Regardless of that massive snafu, his strategy to keep me hidden had worked. I hadn’t encountered a single immortal since outrunning the shifter assassins from the House of the Sun, who had come for me after Javier disappeared. The same bastards who I could only assume had been responsible for his disappearance.

Until two nights ago. Until that encounter in the bar restroom. Until some vampire guardian named Gavin found me and fed me his blood before slipping his card into my pocket and vanishing.

“That’s enough for now.”

His voice whispered through my mind.

“Not yet.”

His words had implied his intention to see me again. Tofeedme again.

My salivary glands tingled, and my mouth watered as I recalled the rich, seductive taste of his blood. Like dark chocolate with just the hint of some exotic spice. My core tightened as I recalled how it had impacted me the moment it touched my tongue. I craved him like I was starving. Like I was addicted to his blood.

I swallowed roughly, the card quaking in my trembling hand. Before I realized what I was doing, I had pulled my phone out of the side pocket of my leggings and dialed the number on the card. My thumb hovered over the call button as I recalled the vampire’s eyes. Hissilvereyes.

Eyes I had seen in my dreams, in which he had filled me with both his body and his blood.

Another voice whispered through my mind. My sister’s voice.

“Find Gavin, the vampire with silver eyes. Only he can protect you now.”

Again, I wondered if Amaya had really been there on my bed the other night. Now that I was aware of the fresh immortal blood in my system, it seemed even more likely. I honestly didn’t know the details of my suppressed powers, but I didn’t think seeing ghosts was outside the scope of reason.

If I had another taste of immortal blood, maybe I could unlock more of my powers. Or better yet, maybe this vampire could help me understand all that I could do. He obviously knew what I was. Vampires didn’t go around force-feeding regular old humans their blood. It wouldn’t do a damn thing for a human beyond grossing them out.

A shiver cascaded down my spine as, once again, I recalled the decadent taste of his blood. I licked my lips, parched with a thirst water could never sate.

More of Amaya’s warnings whispered through my mind.

“They’ve found you. You can’t stay here.”

If my sister had been real, if her ghost had actually appeared to me and spoken to me, then the House of the Sun had found me, and I was in extreme danger. I didn’t have a choice. Ihadto reach out to this vampire.

I pressed my thumb to the phone’s screen to make the call before I could chicken out, then tapped higher on the screen to turn on the speaker. It rang.

And rang.

And rang.

“This is Gavin Lee.” His voice was a silken baritone that sent a wash of goose bumps over my arms.

I inhaled a shuddering breath, and the words came tumbling out of me in a rush. “Hi, um, my name is Sophie. We met the other night at the Kraken. You gave me your card and, well, I think I need your help.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “I’m surprised to hear from you so soon,” he finally said, continuing before I could ask him why. “But you’re correct. You do need my help.” Again, he paused. “I am, however, curious as to whyyouthink you need my help. Has something happened?”

“Besidesyou?” I blurted, the words riding out on a semi-hysterical laugh.

He chuckled. “Yes, besidesme.”

“I—” I licked my lips, the explanations catching in my throat. But if the shifter assassins really had found me, there was no time for caution. “I saw my sister. Mydeadsister. She told me—” Again, I hesitated, waiting for him to laugh at me. Waiting for any sign from him that I was losing my mind.

“What did she tell you?” he asked, his voice hard, focused. Like he believed me.

My heart rate increased, and my chest felt tight. “That they’ve found me,” I said breathily.

“The House of the Sun,” he said, not a question.

“Yeah,” I whispered.

---