Page 8 of To Kill a Vampire
“Thank you, love. You’re too kind.” An easy and carefree gait accompanies his steps as he crosses the room and makes himself comfortable on my bed.
I glare at him, taking a seat on the small bed opposite him, the thin mattress not allowing me to relax in the least.
He begrudgingly hands over a brown paper bag with a smile, and I rip it open the moment it’s in my grasp. The small broken bits of bone slip over my lips like they’re the most delicious treat I’ve ever tasted. As I chew, savoring the snack, I consider asking Declan what the bones are. Animals? They’re too large for most rodents …
I swallow harshly and think better of it. I don’t really want to know.
“How are you?”
I freeze, my eyes still closed as I slowly chomp on the treat. The crushing sound of Asher’s voice floats through my memory. The loneliness of the past few days presses hard into my chest.
“I’m fine,” I tell him in an overly chipper voice.
He arches a brow at my reply but doesn’t say anything in return. He leans back on his arms, stretches his legs out, and makes himself right at home in the small compartment. His silver eyes sweep over every item in the room, curiously admiring the space. I let the silence pass, just happy to have something so delicious filling my stomach. The clawing hunger settles with each bite I take; the raking sound of the breaking bones fills my thoughts, almost calming me.
“You remember our training, right?”
My eyes narrow on the hybrid. The memory of my overactive emotions burns my cheeks as I recall the small crush I thought I had on him.
“Yeah. Why?”
“You’re going to the one place that will murder you on sight. Might be a good idea to be prepared.”
Dread sinks into my stomach. He’s right. But my power is nothing in comparison to the mortals.
“Have you ever tried to compel someone?”
The wall behind him becomes my focus. Slowly, I nod.
“And?”
The way I thought I could easily control Asher makes my stomach churn. I shouldn’t have tried to manipulate him. Maybe that’s why I couldn’t.
“I don’t know. I guess it didn’t work.”
“Try again, love,” he says as if it’s just that simple.
I rub my eyes irritably. “I’m fine, Declan. Everything will be fine.”
He nods, picking at the white thread of the blanket as he thinks. The small amount of silence settles the anxious feeling growing within me.
“Maybe.” He nods again, and I breathe out a heavy sigh, the tension leaving me at the sound of his agreement. “Or maybe not.”
Five
Love
Asher
I wish I could say my eyes don’t follow his every suspicious move. As I watch Declan sneak below deck, I know exactly where he’s going.
She didn’t leave her cabin once yesterday. She wouldn’t even see me when I went to her. I thought this secluded trip would force us to talk; all it’s done is force us further apart.
Gabriel and Luca are snuggled against each other; the sun, high above, glints off of his metallic hand as he runs it down the inside of her arm. She smiles against his lips as he whispers something to her. The two of them couldn’t be happier.
It physically makes me sick.
I shoot Kaino and Shane a look, realizing they’re much more appropriate with their affection as Kaino watches Shane sail with ease. Shane bites back a smirk at something Kaino says, his teeth sinking into his lower lip, and it draws Kaino’s gaze to the gesture.
