Page 49 of Always Eros

A cold sweat breaks out across my skin, raising goose bumps in its wake. “That man was really drinking blood in front of you?”

“Yes. He needs it to heal.”

“Who was the man he was… I can’t say it.”

Eros nods. “A volunteer. Justice, I could really use your help. Do you think you could face Hale and help us put the pieces of his memory back together? There’s a chance that your cult and others from it are in danger.”

“Why?”

“Whoever attacked Hale was looking for the blood king. Hale claims he doesn’t know anything about that.”

“But the blood king has been dead for a long time. Or so we were told.”

“Will you talk to Hale?”

I push out a shaky breath. “Will he hurt me?”

“Justice, my darling. I would never let anyone hurt you. Ever. If Hale so much as looks at you in a way I don’t like, he’ll be the one hurting.”

I nod, sensing the truth in his words. “Okay then. I’ll talk to him, but I don’t know how much I can help.”

“Just your knowledge of Nightsky should be enough.”

“I’ll help if I can.”

“Great. One moment.”

Eros turns away from me and pulls his phone from his pocket, speaking so softly that I can’t hear a word even though he’s not that far from me. He ends the call quickly, turning to me with a guarded smile.

“Hale is ready for us. Everything has been cleaned up.”

“Okay. Can I freshen up real quick first?”

“Of course. The bathroom is right over there to your left.”

I climb out of bed and walk to the attached bathroom, closing the door behind me. There, I gaze at my reflection before splashing my face with cold water and rinsing my mouth out. Once I feel solid on my feet, I open the door and join Eros, who is waiting by the bedroom door.

“I’m ready.”

Eros takes my hand and leads me through his apartment. I’d like to look around more, but all I can think about right now is what I’m about to learn. I never in a million years thought this life would collide with my former life, but apparently, the world is truly a crazy place.

When we enter the room we were in before, there are several men there, and the one I recognized earlier is sitting calmly on the couch, all cleaned up and normal looking, like he didn’t have blood all over his face before.

He looks just as nervous to see me, which calms my nerves a little. He doesn’t look like he wants to attack me.

Another man with a very imposing presence steps forward, a welcoming smile on his face. “Hello, Justice. Welcome to the House of Orpheus. I am Yves.”

“Hi, Yves.”

Another man with long hair and wild eyes stands close by. “I’m Thorn.” A shiver of recognition runs down my spine. He was drinking blood too. Is he a vampire?

“Hi.”

“This is Hale,” Yves says, gesturing to the quiet man on the couch.

I force my eyes on him, nodding. “Hello.”

Hale nods, his eyes flitting to Yves, who seems to gesture toward me with his chin.

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