Page 66 of A Shadow in the Reaping
"Eat him? No, I can't eat him, Reaper."
"Why not?"
"Why not? First of all, he's a detective. It'd be an uproar if one of the two detectives of Sanford went missing." My smile broadens as I see Ashen scowl at the road from the corner of my eye. "Secondly-"
"Really?"
"-secondly, Reaper. I'm on a douchebag-only diet."
"Seriously?"
"Yesseriously. It's a sustainable life choice. I only kill douchebags. It's not some fake food intolerance bullshit, it's an ethical decision."
We fall into a strained silence. Ashen glares his simmering fury at the road ahead. I look out the window again, hiding my growing smile behind my hand. The seconds tick by and it's harder and harder not to laugh.
"Ashen," I finally chime, unable to keep the amusement from voice as I wrap my hand over the hard muscle of his forearm. "You're jealous of Andy Cartwright?"
"I am not," he retorts, every word clipped.
"Really? Because it kind of sounds like you are."
Ashen scoffs and shoots me a menacing side-eye glare. "I am not jealous of some small-town human detective who thinks rubber plants are a romantic gift."
"It's a peace lily. And he did at least give me a romantically intentioned gift, so-"
"I gave you a sword! Not just any sword, but Tomoe Gozen's sword. Also a journal and pen. So you're welcome."
"Don't get me wrong, Reaper. Both were very thoughtful. I just don't know as I'd call a sword romantic. And the journal and pen were also because it was annoying for you to lip read. So, really, those were practical gifts. Both of which also benefit you."
I don't really believe ninety percent of what I'm saying; in fact, I thought the sword and pen choice were very touching. That said, I'm having too much fun winding Ashen up. He gives the road a death stare and we sit in deliciously awkward silence as I sip my bland drink.
"Well, I still do not think it's wise to hunt in daylight in Sanford," Ashen grumbles.
I take another sip and make a face. I can feel Ashen watching."You're probably right, but this won't cut it either, unfortunately."
"Take more of mine," he says, and his voice is softer as the irritation from my teasing dissolves.
I scoff and look out the window. I feel heat creeping into my cheeks. I was hoping to maybe avoid this topic, but obviously it's coming for me and it's happeningnow. "Thank you, but no."
"Why not?"
"This?" I say shaking the mug as the blood sloshes within. "This is like rice cakes. Your blood is like pop rocks soaked in melted chocolate and... I dunno... truffle oil?"
"An intriguing combination."
"It's... decadent. And it's yours."
"So?"
I give him a dead-eyed glare and he glances from the road to me. I wait for the epiphany to dawn in his mind. It's taking longer than expected. I tap my finger on the center console as the seconds tick on. His eyes narrow, probably as he replays my words and tries to forge the connection. Then they go wide and his expression slackens.
And there it is. The realization takes hold.
"Oh."
I close my arms across my chest and turn my gaze to the window. I can almost hear the gears turning in his mind as he cycles through everything he knows about vampire mating behaviors. He probably wishes we could turn around and retrieve some books from the haunted library to refresh his memory.
"But it's not just about taking blood. There is more to the... process..." Ashen says as he reaches across the center console and lays a reassuring hand on my leg. I take his hand and throw it back toward the steering wheel.
