Page 29 of Bound in Blood
“I mean no offense, but why help us?” Marco asked. “You are like us, I assume, but what incentive do you have?”
“Call me sentimental,” she replied. “Look, you need a place to stay, English lessons, and help blending in. We’ll provide that.”
Mateo looked ready to argue, a fight brimming just beneath the surface. A fight they would not win. But Marco was tired. Tired of running, tired of not knowing where they’d sleep or how they’d survive day to day. Whether his brother would admit it or not, they needed help.
“We’ll stay.”
Mateo turned to him, eyes flashing with frustration, fists ready to connect with Marco’s nose, but Marco wouldn’t givehim the chance. His gaze was locked on Isabella, awaiting her response.
She smirked, like she’d expected nothing less. “Good,” she said, “Welcome to the family.”
Family.
Marco swallowed hard, ignoring the sting in his chest at the word. He’d only ever used it in reference to Mateo for most of his life. Probably just a word used to keep them in line. When he’d worked at the docks as a human, he was often told his coworkers were ‘like a big family.’ Marco had quickly figured out this meant they would abuse him however they liked, but sometimes they’d invite him to a drink after work.
The oil lamp flickered, casting their shadows against the walls, and for the first time since waking up like this, Marco let himselfhope.
* Christ, are you crazy? Walking under the sun like that? Do you want to die?!
* Who the fuck are you?
* The one who just saved your ass, apparently.
* Just arrived?
* Obviously.
* Come.
Chapter
Eleven
FALL 2025
LOGAN
Sleeping snuggled next to a vampire, Logan was quickly learning, was all the best parts of cuddling without any of the negatives. As he gently came to consciousness, he was still pressed against Mateo’s solid, steady presence, the vampire’s cool skin mixed with the warmth of the blankets creating the ideal sleeping temperature. Logan never wanted to move. He felt like he’d been sleeping for a week straight, but still, he wasn’t quite ready to give it up.As a human, Logan had alwayslovedsleep. Good to see that wasn’t changing anytime soon.
He’d fallen asleep with his head in the crook of Mateo’s shoulder, though he wasn’t exactly sure when he’d snuggled closer. Not that the feeling was unwelcome. Mateo’s arm was draped over his ribcage, his fingers gently curled into Logan’s back. He wasn’t breathing, but Logan was sure that was normal for those of the undead persuasion.
Vaguely, he felt like he should be embarrassed for barging into Mateo’s room a few hours earlier. He hadn’t been able to stay asleep, stuck in a self-loathing loop that wouldn’t quiet down. He was hoping Mateo would make a joke about it, diminish Logan’s feelings, and make him feel silly. But hehadn’t. Instead, he’d made Logan feel… nice. Welcome, even. In a way Logan hadn’t felt before.
Slowly, so slowly, Logan blinked his eyes open. The room was pitch black, but Logan had no trouble seeing. The little slivers of afternoon light the curtains had let in were long gone, meaning it was well and truly nighttime. Logan laid there for a moment, taking in the quiet of the room, the faint hum of the house around him, the spicy smell of Mateo’s body wash.
Honestly, he couldn’t remember ever being so relaxed in his life.
He knew he should probably move. Should probably untangle himself from Mateo’s grip, say goodbye to the only comfortable cuddling he’d ever done in his life. At least before the vampire woke up and made some smug comment that ruined the moment entirely.
Yeah, that would be the smart thing to do. Logan would get right on that.
Logan exhaled slowly, and sunk deeper into the mattress.
Consequences be damned, Logan couldn’t remember a time where he’d woken up feeling like this—like he didn’t have to be on guard. These past few years had been constant tension, constant high alert. It had manifested in a chronic pain around his shoulders and neck, sometimes getting so bad that even just taking off his work shirt was met with unbearable pain. This evening, for the first time, he felt no pain. Maybe it was the healing magic of vampirism, but Logan didn’t think so.
Mateo hadn’t moved at all throughout Logan’s contemplation, completely still in the quiet room. Logan wondered when the habit of breathing would break from his own body. When his brain would catch up that it no longer needed oxygen to survive. When his own quiet breaths would no longer disturb the perfect silence of the room between them.
Because, fuck, Logan wouldn’t be going back to his own room now.
