Page 34 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall
"No."
"Thought so."
"So I just drink this? That's it?"
He rolled his eyes and looked to Hayes as if to ask where he’d found me. "Drink it. I'll activate it. Then by the time you get back to Ashvale it will be starting to kick in."
"And what exactly will it do?" I said hesitantly as I sniffed delicately at the glass. It smelled like a mixture of blueberries and pickle and it lookedthick.
"It will open your mind," he said and gave a meaningful glance to Hayes who nodded in response.
"Vague,” I muttered and then downed the purple goop. "If this is poisonous I'll come back and haunt your arse."
Something like amusement glittered in Cal's eyes as he took the glass back from me.
"Noted." He looked to Hayes again and, fed up, I swivelled to face my bonded pain-in-the-arse. "Oh, sorry, are the secret looks just for you two?"
"Yes," Hayes said simply, and the smirk on his mouth made his red lips look annoyingly tempting.
"Whatever,” I pouted and then stood. "Thanks for the juice. Let's get out of here."
"Appreciated," the mage said but there was a strange look on his face, a stark hunger, that had all my instincts screaming at me.
"Hayes said he would take care of payment,'' I said brightly and the mage laughed, the sound surprisingly rich. "I'll add it to his tab."
The sun had peeked out from the clouds when we stepped outside and I winced against the brightness. I was too young for the side effects other undead faced. That didn't mean I wanted to be out in it for longer than necessary though.
"Is it bothering you?" Rowan asked in concern. " Maybe the guy gave you some bad shit."
I raised an eyebrow, I wasn't sure I'd ever heard him swear before. "I'm fine, just a little prickly."
"I'll say," Novalie said with a laugh and I rolled my eyes in response even as I smiled. "Do you still want to go into town?"
"Yes." I was hoping to pick up a few things—namely, a night dress or other PJs that weren't shredded and ideally covered my arse a little better.
"Wait, what?" Hayes stopped in front of me and I swore as I nearly walked into the back of him again.
"We'll be quick," I promised. "I don't want to be out too long with this devil's juice rolling around inside me."
His gaze searched my face like he was gauging my sincerity before he nodded. "Fine."
After a few minutes of walking we found the right street and a sign for the shopping centre directed up to the left. Thankfully, the sunshine hadn't lasted long and the sticky heat was soothed by the strong breeze. Not that either particularly bothered me.
"Leah!" A deep voice called and I froze as it tickled at something in my mind. "Leah, wait!"
Hayes’ hand gripped my elbow, in warning, but I turned anyway.
A young guy stood behind us, panting like he'd run down the street to catch up to me. He was tall and broad and the deepness of his skin seemed to shine in the daylight. I had no idea who he was.
"Holy shit," he said, eyes wide as he ran a hand over his close-buzzed head. "I can't believe it’s you." And then I was in his arms. I tried not to stiffen, tried to let memory and sensation wash me away, but I couldn't do anything but stand there awkwardly until he let go. "Leah—"
"I'm sorry," I said gently. "I'm not sure who you are. I had an... accident. Amnesia."
His eyes grew even wider as I spoke. "Fuck."
"Yeah." Hayes and the others hung back but I could feel his attentiveness, his concern radiating like a beam of heat into my back.
"Um, well we actually don't know each other that well—I was just relieved you were okay. You never usually miss an appointment," he said, gesturing to my arms and after a second I realised he'd been indicating my tattoos.
