Page 23 of Life Blood
“Oh, thank God,” I said with so much relief I wanted to collapse. His cold hand sent a charge of energy through me that I wouldn’t dare fight. My heart rate slowed down, and the weight on my chest lifted.
“You’re having a panic attack,” he said. “Keep taking slow breaths. I’m so sorry to be the one to put you in this position.”
“Mm-hm,” I muttered. My hands were balmy, eyes heavy. It took the sound of the ocean surf crashing to the left of me, the gentle, salty breeze against my face and brushing over the back of my neck to help me regain some composure. “Why me?” I asked, feeling defeated. My life was a never-ending disaster. “My life has been nothing but shit, and now you’re telling me that I’m…” I paused and looked at him, “What the hell am I again?”
“You’re a Life Blood. You carry lifeblood for vampires in your veins. It heals us, protects us, and makes us stronger when we…” he stopped himself.
I gulped, “When you drink it.” I said flatly. My eyes widened in fear, “Shit! You’re going to…” I tried to scurry to my feet, but Braden caught me in his arms, and I couldn’t fight against him if I tried. “Please! Please, no! I don’t want to die!”
“I’m not going to drink your blood, Elle, and you’re not going to die,” he said seriously. “And even if I did drink from you, you could never be fully drained.Youcannot die from a vampire feeding on you.”
“Reassuring,” I answered. “I can’t believe that I can listen to any of the shit you’re telling me without freaking out and running away. How can this be real?” I said, clinging to him for dear life. I knew I should be terrified of him, but somehow I knew that I was safe.
“You’re accepting it because your DNA knows the truth even if your mind won’t accept it. I actually thought you would fight this more, but you’re not.”
“Well, maybe that’s because your vibes are calming me down every time to lay a hand on me.”
“What?” he stepped back, holding on to my shoulders as he looked at me skeptically. “You feel the connection too?”
“Oh, God! Something else, now?”
“My cousin’s and I have all felt the pull to you—the desire to protect you—we have also felt our emotions shift when we have touched you, much the way you describe being calmed by my touch.” He smiled broadly, “My God, Elle, we were all meant to end up together.”
I eyed him, seeing the pure adoration in his ocean-blue eyes. Strangely, I was feeling it now too…like I loved this guy as my own. I couldn’t tell if my feelings came from a place of feeling like we were family or if they were much more.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know it’s too much information after everything I just dumped on you.”
I shook my head, “What does it mean? I’m feeling it stronger now too.”
“You’re feeling some of the emotions I’m allowing you to feel from me.” He caressed my forehead, “I can’t believe this is happening.” He coughed out a laugh of disbelief, “We were drawn to you, yes, but these emotions that you’re experiencing are validating that we were meant to return to our home from decades ago for a reason.”
“Because of me?”
“Yes,” he said. “The bond between a Life Blood and a vampire is rumored to have always been intense, but the witch who you saw in your vision cast a spell to sever the tie to make it so no Life Bloods would ever be drawn to a vampire again. She didn’t want to make it easy for Enzo to collect all of you.”
“So my blood is going to attract all the vampires now?”
“No.” His face twisted with confusion, still not letting my arms go, “The humans with lifeblood in them are just that. They carry blood for vampires to drink, gain power, and serve their own needs. Your blood does call to me, and it has called to my cousins too, but we’ve never had the urge to drink it. It’s not like vampires can smell you for miles or anything like that.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” I looked down at him holding my arms, “I think I’ve had enough for tonight. I want to go home. I’ll take something to help me sleep, and tomorrow, maybe I’ll wake up and realize this whole thing was just one bad dream.”
“We can’t protect you if you fight us,” he looked at his hands holding onto my upper arms, “and we also cannot keep holding you like this so you won’t completely lose it.”
“Then what do you suggestwedo? You just told me that vampires exist, the king of the vampires is on the hunt for my magical blood, and you and all of your cousins are drawn to me,” I held up a finger, “but you won’t drink my blood. Did I get that all straight?”
“Elle,” he looked up at the sky, probably searching for answers in the glittering stars above us…then his eyes met mine. “If you weren’t a Life Blood, I’d erase all of this from your memory, but you are immune to vampire persuasions. So I’m going to need you to go with me on this. And please, at least do me one favor.”
“You’re kidding, right? Do you a favor?”
“Let us protect you. A collector could show up in this town at any given time and take you to Enzo. Just having spent this small time alone with you, I can safely say that I will lose my fucking mind if that happens. I think once you start accepting who you are, you’ll start feeling as strongly about us as we are feeling about you.”
“My mom is a drunk. My best friend is moving away…most likely gone by now,” I exhaled, “If my unlucky ass is being hunted by the supernatural, then I have no other option, do I?”
He shook his head, “I do need to take you home. I have to let my cousins know what is happening. They need to know that we seem to be bonding to you. This could be a way for Enzo to find you. Maybe he’s found a way to link the vampire and Life Bloods again so he can track you all easier.Shit!Mother fu—” He stopped himself and briskly turned me, “Your mom will be in our care too. Besides your ex and Jen, is there anyone you are close to in this town?” he said while practically carrying me in one arm along the beach back to his Jeep. “So far, we know your mom’s blood is tainted by alcohol, and because of that, they will not be able to find her if she is the carrier of the blood gene. And because of your detachment from her, they can’t use her as leverage. Elle, I need to know if there is anyone else they can use to get to you.”
“No,” I said, tears pooling in my eyes. I was feeling the panicked energy bleeding off of Braden.
“Jen is a non-factor now that she is leaving town, then, the ex fucked himself over with you, and if there is no one else, then we focus on you and your mom.”
