Page 103 of Bite The Terror That Feeds

My eyes shifted to her.

“You don’t have to tell me what he said…but I’m sorry.”

I watched the light blanket her in a beautiful glow, her emerald eyes bright like diamonds in the sunshine. Her hair was pulled back, and exhaustion had crept into her face, along with paleness from the cold. But she’d never looked more beautiful to me, not when she felt my pain with the same intensity I felt it myself. “He was distraught that Aurelias hadn’t returned. I explained the situation and vanquished his fears. But not once did he care that I had returned in the same condition as when I left…even when I asked him to care.”

She stared from where she sat on the floor, her eyes conveying layers upon layers of emotion.

When she didn’t say anything, I looked at the fire again.

“I think he cares. He just struggles to show it.”

“It’s not that hard,” I snapped. “When you really care for someone, it’s impossible to hide it.” I wished it were impossible. Impossible to hide the depth of my feelings for a woman I couldn’t keep.

“I’m sorry.” She’d already said it, but somehow it was packed with sincerity each and every time.

“Let’s go to bed.” I left the armchair. “We have a long day tomorrow.”

* * *

After an interminable long ride, we arrived in Grayson, passing the Cobra Vampires camped out in the fields. Their numbers were small, so most of them must have settled within the city. Or a battle had come and gone, and I’d missed it.

I returned the horses to the stables, and we entered Grayson. New buildings had been erected, the city expanded to house the additional vampires who had taken residence in the city. Larisa and I walked side by side, Fang across my shoulders, and were quickly met by Viper.

He walked up to me, a subtle smile on his lips.

Wordlessly, we embraced, our arms gripping each other for a long time.

Viper pulled away. “You look tired.”

“Tired isn’t a strong enough word.”

He clapped me on the shoulder. “I’m glad you’ve returned.”

“Cobra doing that bad of a job?” I teased.

“You’ll see…”

“That doesn’t sound good.”

Viper ignored Larisa and walked beside me toward the stairs that led to the palace.

“What’s he done now?”

“I want you to hear it from him.”

“Fuck, alright.”

We entered the palace and went to the study.

Cobra sat inside, his feet propped on my desk, looking dead tired like he hadn’t slept since I left.

I stared at his dirty boots. “Do you mind, asshole?”

“You can do it, but I can’t?” He took his shoes down as he sat upright, but his eyes still looked empty.

“Yes. Because it’smyoffice.”

“Sooo glad you’re back.” He left the chair entirely and fell into a spot on the couch.

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