Ladon pulls away from me once we’re in my living room and takes a few steps, but the room is bathed in darkness.
I walk over to the wall and flip on the lights.
“This is your house?”
“Yeah.”
The living room is big, probably the biggest room in the house, and it’s open to the other rooms. The floor is large, soft beige tiles. There is a massive sage-colored sectional with multiple spots that have recliners and cushions so supple I sink right into them. Given how much I love television and gaming, I like to be comfortable. There’s also a large flat-screen television mounted on the wall above the fireplace.
“Wow, this place is nice. All this space for you?” There’s more to that question in his eyes but he doesn’t voice it. I don’t need to read his mind to understand the unasked question.
“Nope. Haven’t found anyone willing to deal with me for long periods of time. I also stopped looking. I have a few friends, but they don’t come around too often.” Could I find someone to spend time with? I’m sure I could. Maybe if I put more effort into how I look or try putting myself out there. But I don’t have a desire to. Whoever I end up with—if I find my mate—I want them to appreciate me for who I am, not some false version of myself.
“Well, I like you and we’re only starting this friendship.” Ladon smiles then walks over and sits down on the couch. “Now what?”
I’m stunned silent for a moment. Is he asking about more than a friendship with me? Or is he asking about what we’re going to do? What if he does want something more with me? What if he wants to take me to bed?
Do I want him to be someone to me? Do I want to do more with him? Possibly taste the blood coursing through his veins? Have that crimson on my tongue? I can’t. There’d be no going back once I did. Plus, he’s human. I have to remember that.
“Gen?”
“Huh?” I ask, pulling myself out of my head. I really went down that winding road fast.
“Do you want to watch TV or play something?”
“Sure.” I smile.
7
Ladon
“You shot me!” Gen yells.
I don’t bother trying to hide my smile. “That’s what happens when you step in front of a male with a gun trained on someone else.”
“I was coming up along your flank, trying to help you out. It’s not my fault you’re moving too slow.”
“You ran past me! I was trying to kill the male in front of me and you jumped in the way!”
She scoffs. “Likely story. You just wanted to shoot me in the back when my defenses were down.”
I pause the game and turn to her. “Were you hitting the fae wine when I wasn’t looking?”
Dropping her controller onto the couch, she faces me, mimicking my position. “If I were drinking wine, you’d know it. I’d be way happier that you deliberately shot me in the back.”
“Fate, you’re right, brother,” Ford pipes up from the other end of the sectional. “They’re like a mated couple.”
Sol nods. “I told you. They do this all the time.”
“We do not!” Gen and I yell in unison.
That’s a lie. We have been spending so many hours together it’s crazy. Day and night over the past week we’ve done everything from gaming to watching movies to visiting the town Gen lives in. It’s been nonstop, and I’ve loved every minute of it. She even went with me to the Outer Banks so I could learn some new fight moves from her cousins.
“You just said the same thing at the same time,” Ford states and turns toward his brother. “Is this what it’s like being around me and Sienna?”
“No, you two are sickeningly cute. I’m not sure what this is.” He motions toward Gen and me.
Ford cocks his head and his eyes bore into mine. He’s reading my mind. I’m sure of it. Not like I can do anything to stop it.
He shakes his head. “I’m going home. Sienna wanted me to make sure you two were eating and you know, actually bathing since you’ve been inseparable. You don’t smell and your hair isn’t greasy, so I think you’re fine. Although, Gen needs to feed soon. That human food will only do so much, cousin.” Then he's gone. Sol gives a little wave before teleporting away after his brother.
I’m left reeling. I didn’t think about Genevieve needing to feed. I’ve watched her eat countless human meals but she's a vampire. How do I keep forgetting that? To me, she’s just Gen. Crazy fun to hang out with and someone who I’ve come to say is a great friend.
Blood. She needs to drink blood to survive. My stomach churns. Not from the thought of her drinking blood. I’ve seen vampires bite others before. That doesn’t bother me. What does is the thought of Gen latching her teeth on to someone else.
We haven’t talked about anything between us outside of our friendship. Neither of us has crossed that line. And I’ve tried really hard to keep any and all lustful thoughts to myself until I’m in the quiet of my bedroom at home.
I’m sure she hears my thoughts now, though. There’s no hiding the jealousy coursing through me. When a vampire bites someone, they also inject that bite with a little something extra. I’ve seen the ones being bitten enter this state of complete relaxation and happiness. Would that be what it’s like if I were bitten?
Gen jumps from the couch and walks toward the kitchen.
“Where are you going?” I ask. “We’re not done with the game.”
“Wine," she states. Once she pulls a bottle from the cabinet and opens it, she forgoes the glass and chugs it from the bottle. After a few long pulls, she puts it down and turns toward me.
I quirk an eyebrow. “Care to tell me what that was about?”
She shakes her head. “No.”
“So now we're hiding things from each other? I’ve told you more about me in the past week than paranormals I’ve lived with for years. And you’re going to clam up?” I drop the controller onto the couch and stand. “Can you take me home before you’re too drunk to do so?”
Her eyes widen. “You want to leave?”
“Why would I stay? So I can watch you drink? I can't do so along with you. A few sips and I’d be on the ground. I don’t even drink human alcohol. I have zero tolerance.”
“Fate,” she mutters and corks the bottle before coming back into the living room. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are open to one another. It’s a massive space. “If I were to tell you why I just did what I did, I couldn’t take it back. Those words would be out there and I’m not ready for that.”
“So instead you’re going to hide from me? Is it the whole drinking blood thing?” I’m not going to ask her if she wants to drink from me. My body can’t regenerate blood like other paranormals can. Fae, vampires, they do it instantly. Shifters have to shift a couple times and their body regenerates what it needs. Me? I’d need to go to Junior and have him pump me full of the blood I lost.
“I haven’t fed. Sol was right. I need to. But I don’t want you here when that happens.”