Page 38 of Blood Ties
“You don’t know that.” I choked back my tears.
“Yes, I do. I should be dead right now, Gabriella, but you saved me, just like you’re saving me now.” I forced a tight lipped smiled with all I could muster. I tipped my head until my lips found his. It wasn’t chaste. It was heated and heartfelt. My fingers were finding their way into Grayson’s hair when someone cleared their throat. We broke apart giving the other a small grin.
“Jeez, you two. It’s not the end of the world.” Jade stated. “Seriously, though? Watching the two of you is better than Days of Our Lives.”
“Jade…” Damien warned. Jade shrugged her shoulder oblivious to why Damien would warn her.
“Shall we?” Maria suggested. Grayson nodded. Maria motioned him over to her where she was standing next to Sebastian. It was strange for me seeing the two of them so close. They were so nicely contrasted. Grayson’s dark hair to Sebastian’s light. Gray eyes to green. Grayson was a few inches taller than Sebastian, yet they were bothwellmuscular, but Sebastian was slightly more so.
Maria slit Sebastian’s wrist this time, mixing a good portion of his blood into the bowl. Once his wound healed and the blood stop flowing, she quickly handed the bowl to Grayson. “Drink it all,” she commanded. Grayson’s eyes locked on me as he tipped the potion back.
“It will be alright, I assure you. Maria is exceptionally good at what she does.” Damien whispered to me. My anxiety was overpowering my senses that I hadn’t even heard him approach. I nodded trying to show that his words had offered me comfort, even though they hadn’t.
After a few moments, Grayson dropped the bowl which clattered across the floor, before stumbling back against Damien’s desk.
“Grayson,” I cried before speeding to his side.
“As I said it will not be pleasant, but this is a good sign,” Maria explained.
“A good sign?” I spat a bit more hostilely than I meant.
“Yes. It means the potion is working. Take him home day walker and do not allow him to drink from you tonight. Tomorrow, I’m sure you will know if it worked,” she spoke as she shuffled out of the room.
“And what if it doesn’t?” I called after her, but heard no response.
“Gaby?” Grayson’s voice summoned me. I shifted his arm around me so I could support his weight.
“I’m taking him home now.”
“Of course. Jade will help you get him to your vehicle, while I attend to the witch’s payment.”
“Thank you, Damien.”
“You are most welcome, my daughter.”
CHAPTER TEN
Grayson was quiet the entire trip back to our apartment. I didn’t try to engage him in casual conversation to fill the void. I wasn’t sure if he was in pain or was sleeping, but I didn’t wish to disturb him either way. I had things on my mind. Besides trying to get us home in one piece, my reaction to Sebastian was forefront.
When Grayson came into my life it seemed likeFatehad had her hand in it. I had never felt the way I did for Grayson. Even now with this strange draw towards Sebastian, it didn’t even compare with the depths of feelings I had for Grayson.
Recently, I had been becoming more aware of supernaturals and their powers. With the exception of Damien, Sebastian was probably the most powerful being I’d ever encountered. Perhaps that explained what I was feeling, I tired rationalizing. It was reasonable that I was just being drawn to his power. I just couldn’t get past the way my blood practically hummed in his presence.
Pushing those thoughts from my mind wandered to my father. I had spent much of my time on the hunt for him that now I wondered, since hopefully Grayson was well, would I ever see Damien again? He had mentioned talking later, but was their ever going to be another opportunity to seek him out if he didn’t make the effort?
I pulled up outside of the apartment, stunned that I made it home without wrecking the vehicle. Driving wasn’t something I knew how to do. I understood the logistics, but this was the first time putting that knowledge to use. I was startled when Grayson’s hand found mine. I thought he would be pretty out of it while the potion did its job. When I scanned his face I saw his jaw clenched and knew the potions effects were rough. Sighing, I helped him along until we walked through the bedroom door in our apartment. I laid him down on the bed before undressing him. His body was beginning to cover itself in a nice sheen of sweat. I left him there as I went to the kitchen to get some blood bags.
The first, I opened and prepared for myself. The second, I carried to the room in a bowl of ice and placed it on Grayson’s nightstand. He would need to feed, and not from me, to know if the potion had worked.
“You want to tell me what that was back there?” he asked, startling me once again. I thought he had been asleep.
“You scared me,” I held my hand to my chest.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized while struggling to sit up.
I helped him. “Do you need anything? I have a blood bag here.”
He wrinkled his nose, shaking his head. It was silent for a moment. I thought maybe he had fallen back asleep. “Gaby?”
