Page 68 of B Negative
Twenty-Three
“Areyou sure you have to go back?” Julian asked on our side of the bridge. “I can teach you all about our kind from the compound.”
I smiled at him, appreciating the offer. “I have things I need to take care of in the tower, Julian.”
He nodded, clearly unhappy with my answer but accepting it all the same. “When do you expect you’ll return?” he asked.
“I really can’t say. But the moment I know, I’ll let you know, all right?”
Julian nodded again, a single dip of his head. “Be safe, Eden.”
“I will,” I said and floated to the car waiting for me on the other side of the ward. A ward that I didn’t even feel sliding over me, I was so drunk on Julian’s pheromones.
I was going to need a cold shower.
A few cold showers.
B didn’t bother asking how it went. He saw it all over my face the moment I entered the car. Instead, he gave me a thumbs up and a “Hell, yeah!” and we drove to the tower in silence, both basking in the glory of new relationships.
The moment we entered the mate suite, Sunny broke out into a ridiculous grin. “I knew it! I knew you two would work it out.”
I couldn’t help smiling back at her, heart so full I thought it might burst.
And that was the first time I noticed that dull constant ache in my chest had melted away. I pressed my palm over my heart, saying a silent prayer of thanks to whoever was listening.
But as much as I wanted to tell Sunny the nitty gritty of my evening and relive every detail in my mind, I had to shelve it for something more important. “Sun, how quickly can you get me a meeting with Titus?”
“He’s not going to be happy.”
“I know,” I said, keeping pace with Sunny’s I mean business stride.
“I’ll try to protect you as much as I can,” Sunny said, bottom lip between her teeth.
I stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Protect me? Let’s get one thing straight, Sun. We’re doing him a goddamn favor. If he can’t see that, then he’ll be the one who needs protecting, K?”
She nodded, gave me a weak smile, and continued power walking to Titus’s office.
I didn’t sleep as well as I would have liked the prior night. Mostly, I was too hot and bothered, and sharing a room with Sunny meant I couldn’t do anything about the situation. So, I was headed into Titus’s office with less than optimum brain power. But I had my fingers crossed that I’d be able to convince him that his old ways weren’t the best practice any longer.
“Sunsiray, you are a radiant beacon, bringing joy and light to all who cast their gaze upon you,” Titus said, arms spread wide and an even wider smile on his face.
And, strangely, happy Titus wasn’t as off-putting as I’d expected. The prose was a little heavy-handed, but Sunny seemed to enjoy it, judging by the goofy grin on her face.
He placed a chaste peck on her cheek and turned his icy gaze to me. “Eden, I hear you have something of importance to share with me.”
“That’s right, I do,” I said, making myself comfortable in the chair in front of his desk.
“Well, first, may I offer either of you a portion of blood?” He gestured to the bar on the opposite side of the office.
“No, thank you, I’ve already had breakfast.”
Titus caught me with a knowing glare. “And how are you finding your meals here, Eden? To your liking, I hope.”
I sat back, relaxing as he speared me with a glare. “I quite like the way you operate here. The humans on thirty-three seem happy and well-compensated for their service. And your vampires are stronger and faster than Laurel Covers because of it.”
Titus strode to the bar, pouring himself a small portion of blood. “I’m happy to hear you say that. Though, I must admit, I’m quite surprised you’ve been able to acclimate so well, given your history.” He leaned into the last word, seeing what reaction I’d offer.
“So you’ve figured out my dirty secret, have you?” I said the word with a smile and cool detachment, but inside, my stomach churned and my heart raced. I’d thrown up a shield just before entering Titus’s office, so he was hopefully none the wiser, but who could tell with vampires as old as he was?