Page 30 of Blood Descendants
“Well, no wonder you’re brave enough to be with my brother,” Florence says with an evaluative smile, one that comes out approving. “You’re the toughest fucking woman in New York.”
I can’t help the laugh that comes out and the smile that pulls on Florence’s face tells me this was her goal.
Ares squeezes my thigh beneath the table again before reaching for his cutlery and digging into his food.
“That’s about it for me,” I say, because I don’t really want to dig in deeper. “What about you two. How did you meet?”
Florence and Clementine automatically look at each other, and the look in each of their eyes sparkles and softens at the same time. Damn. No one would question the love between the two of them.
“I work in pharmaceuticals, I’m sure Ares told you that,” Florence says. “And we do all the things you’d expect. Research on treatments. Chemicals. Drugs. But when Ares Resurrected…” She looks over at her brother, studying him with a level of curiosity I’ve never seen so deep on another. “It didn’t feel real. It didn’t make sense to me. This result of, what? Magic? Science? Ares let me take some of his blood, and on the down low, I created a new division at the company. There are only two other employees in it, aside from myself. We study vampirism.”
Shit. That’s one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard in my life.
“Through Ares, we connected with other vampires, took other samples,” Florence continues. “So far, we’ve found common genetic markers, which is fascinating when considering the origins of vampirism. And the DNA…” she shakes her head, a smile spreading on her lips. “You wouldn’t believe how incredible it truly is. There is so much more data than there should?—”
“The mad scientist is coming out,” Ares cuts off his sister, looking up at her with a teasing smile.
“Sorry,” Florence apologizes with a chuckle. “I just love the science. Anyway, we were hoping to study not just the Born, but the Bitten as well. So, Ares helped in seeking out some connections.”
“Ares and I met at the same hospital,” Clementine says, giving a soft, appreciative smile to her brother-in-law. “I never exactly felt good stealing donor blood, but I didn’t feel better about feeding off of people either. He explained what his sister was doing and asked if I’d be willing to come talk to her. I didn’t have anything to lose, so I agreed.”
She looks back at her wife, and it isn’t too hard to figure out the rest from there.
“I never believed in fate before,” Florence says as she looks at the woman who is her polar opposite in looks. “But I have from the minute she walked through the door. I was done for. The fact that my brother was a vampire, and then the love ofmy life was another kind, and I was studying them… The rest was easy.”
Clementine lays a hand over Florence’s before looking back at me. “I was turned in London a year before I came to New York. My sire was this kind woman. She was just lonely. I was lucky when it came to the Debt. She never took advantage of me. But she was killed by another vampire, an old flame of hers. I got scared, didn’t know if he was going to come after me as well. Since I didn’t have any family left, I decided to start somewhere new. I’d always wanted to see Broadway, so New York seemed to be calling my name.”
“Wow,” I admire. “Your story…” I shake my head, my entire soul filled at hearing it all. “It’s beautiful. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
“Way to show us up,” Ares says, taunting his sister.
“Who doesn’t love a good fake-to-real love story, though?” she taunts him right back.
The way her words make me blush.
And the next hour passes easily. Light talk laced with dark humor and jabs. The dynamic between Ares and Florence makes it obvious how much they care about each other. And how deeply in love Clementine and Florence are. And despite everything, I actually feel at ease here with them all. I don’t feel like an outsider to so much love. They invite me right in with an open door.
As the night grows later, I wander after Florence with dishes, putting them in the sink. There’s staff waiting in the wings to swoop in and take care of it all, but it says something that Florence clears her own dishes.
“You’re the perfect fit for him,” she says as she leans against the counter. She folds her arms over her chest and fixesme with those penetrating eyes. “I want you to know that. Ares, he’s had plenty of reasons to block everyone out of his life, to guard his heart. There was that leach back in high school and then sweet Mila. I was never sure what kind of woman would fit into his life. But you’re perfect, Lana. Your toughness, yet your femininity, your no bullshit demeanor. I haven’t seen the light in my brother’s eyes like this. Maybe ever. So, thank you for putting it there, whether you meant to or not.”
My heart is doing gymnastics in my chest. My brows furrow as I look over my shoulder, back at Ares, who chats comfortably with Clementine. “Really?” I ask, completely unsure.
How could someone like me ever be the perfect fit for a man like Ares Hunt?
“Really, Lana,” Florence says without a trace of hesitation in her tone. “Don’t doubt yourself for one second. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better person for my brother if I tried. I know this is technically for show for that asshole who sired him, but if I had to pick someone for him for real, you fit the bill exactly.”
And without another word, leaving that massive weight on me, she turns and walks out of the kitchen.
What the fuck?
Aren’t siblings supposed to put up a huge fuss when you tell them you’re in a fake engagement? They’re supposed to be worried to death about their blood. Not go and give the fake fiancée a huge seal of approval.
Taking two seconds to try and catch my breath, unsuccessfully, I turn and follow her back out to join my fiancé at the table.
Chapter 9
Iwas already nervous for today, but as I watch Ares pace from one end of the bathroom to the other, his thumb worrying over his lower lip for the tenth time, my pulse picks up speed.
