Page 40 of Blood and Bonbons

“For how long?” I asked, sounding reasonably calm.

“Until I no longer require your assistance.”

“Not happening!” Vena snapped. “That could be forever.”

“A mortal cannot give me forever,” the vampire said. “Would you rather amuse me with more of your parlor tricks?” He gestured at the leather chair, which had a scorch mark on the seat with a small pile of dust in the center.

“Also a misunderstanding,” I said weakly.

He turned his intense gaze on me.

“It is warming to hear that you weren’t trying to kill me.” He leaned closer, his gaze sweeping over the medical tape on my cheek and down to my throat.

When it dipped to my gapping neckline and to my bright red cleavage that stung like a sunburn and carpet burn had a baby, I quickly secured the buttons I’d pulled apart to remove the charm.

“Counter offer,” I said.

He raised a brow but gestured for me to continue. I glanced at the ring on his pointer finger again.

“Both Vena and I will help you acclimate, but there’s a time limit of ten days, and discretion is required. I also want your promise that you will not harm us even after the acclimation period has ended.”

“Ten days is oddly specific,” he said, considering me.

“Vampires aren’t openly accepted in today’s world. Most people still think they’re a myth. If you’re obvious, you will endanger yourself, and us as well. Ten days are all we can risk. If you haven’t caught on how to blend in by then, we’ll all be dead.”

He chuckled lowly.

“I’m already dead, or didn’t you know?”

I thought back to the single beat of his heart that I’d heard in the cave and wondered if that was true. There was so little I knew about vampires.

“Do we have a deal?” I asked.

His amber gaze considered me for a long moment.

“We do.”

He reached up to brush his thumb over the fluttering pulse on my neck.

“And I very much look forward to the next ten days, Everly.”

CHAPTEREIGHT

With the vampireso dangerously near, I retreated a step, but my foot collided with the wall.

“I caution you against running,” he said with a smirk. “One thing you should know about vampires is that we love a good chase.” He straightened away from me as he scanned the room. “So many new inventions. I want to learn everything.”

“Not tonight,” Vena said quickly. “Everly needs to sleep first.”

I knew Vena’s sudden concern about my lack of sleep wasn’t real. She wanted him gone…likely so she could yell at me for agreeing with this proposal and to come up with some new way to try to kill him.

He ignored Vena and looked at me. “I require a few questions answered before I take my leave.”

“Okay,” I said.

“When I entered the cave where you found me, humans only knew of humans. When did humans become aware of the others?”

Vena moved from her position at the desk and went to her mom’s scorched thinking chair. He turned with her, ensuring he could see both of us as ifwewere the threats, which I found interesting.

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