Page 34 of B Negative
Thirteen
Just outside the forest perimeter,I checked my phone. Sunny had seen my message but hadn’t responded yet. And I couldn’t wait for her to do so. She was literally the only person on Titus’s side of the river who was allowed on this side without special permission and who was also able to grant me permission to go to her side.
Also, there was no way in hell was I walking that bridge again. Nope.
I called her. She picked up on the first ring.
“Eden?”
“Sunny, are you OK?”
“Of course I’m OK. Are you?”
How the hell to answer that one. Was I? “Fuck, I don’t know anymore. But I need a favor.”
“Anything. What do you need?”
“I need you to invite me back to Titus Tower.”
“What? Are you out of your goddamn mind?”
“Maybe? But here’s the thing...” I detailed the latest development with Carisa and our theory about Julian being affected by my breaking the mate bond.
Sunny gasped into the phone.
“What? What is it?” I asked.
“I think you’re right. And you need to get here right now.”
“So, does that mean you’re inviting me over?”
“Inviting you? Don’t be ridiculous, Eden. I’m coming to get you myself.”
“Thank god,” I said and texted her my location.
“Oh heavens, Eden, you smell like a brothel!”
“Yeah, nice to see you too, Sunny,” I snipped as I got into her red BMW two-seater.
Sunny wrinkled her nose at me as I shut the door and pointedly jabbed a button on the dash. Apparently, I was so offensive, it necessitated the convertible top coming down.
“Am I really that bad?”
“You should probably take a shower afterward next time.”
“I did!”
Sunny shot me a grin as she merged onto a busy street. “I know. Jaxson told me about your run in with his sentry when I texted to ask permission to breach his border. That’s necessary as Titus’s new mate. You won’t have to worry about it since Julian is their ally.”
I nodded, following the politics and grateful she’d explained without me having to ask.
“So you just decided to poke some fun at the poor orphan girl who doesn’t know shit about shit?” I pretend-pouted.
“Yup. Pretty much. But, I think I have a fool-proof plan to make sure you don’t stay that way.”
“Oh, do tell.”
“Right, well, I think in breaking the mate bond, you accidentally tapped into some very old vampire mate magic. I’m talking so old, it hasn’t been spoken of in generations. So old, Julian might not even realize what’s happening. It’s likely he’s acting on instinct but not certain why.”