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He makes it sound as though we’re snakes shedding our skin. Just the mental image makes me shudder, and I have to take a deep breath to steady myself. Zane doesn’t stop though, continuing his explanation.
“You’re not dead. You will still age, and your heart will still beat, just at a much slower rate. We don’t need to sleep, but most of us like to for a few hours, usually in the day. Sunlight doesn’t kill us, but it does weaken us, so we tend to be more active in the evening. Our primary source of food is…” Trailing off, he looks down at my lap where I’m frantically scribbling notes. “Are you using a notepad?”
Looking up from my page, I smile wanly and lift it so he’s able to see. He gives me a strange look, arching an eyebrow as though I just told him I eat dog biscuits for breakfast.
I clutch my notebook and pen to my chest. “Yes, I don’t want to forget anything.”
“I—” He snorts and shakes his head like whatever he was going to say wasn’t worth it. “Blood is what keeps us alive and fed. Without it, we will die. Our fangs extend when we feed, making it easier to bite our victim.”
I raise my hand, and I realise what I’ve done when he looks at me with amusement. Quickly jerking it down, I rush to tell him my observation in the hopes that he will forget I just acted like a schoolgirl in class.
“My fangs keep appearing at random times, and I can’t get them to go away.” Reaching into my mouth, I poke the sharp tips of my fangs. They are currently in their normal, dormant place, but the gum feels tender at the light prod of my finger. “Is there something wrong with them? Am I defective?”
He smirks and shakes his head. “You’re new to all this, your body is adjusting. At first, controlling your fangs is difficult, but as you learn to control your urges, that will become easier.”
“Urges? You mean for blood?” I still feel a little queasy at the thought. Where do you even get blood from? It’s not as though I can go to the grocery shop and pick up a couple pints for the fridge.
“Yes, but there are other urges too, all of which will feel enhanced now that you are in your true form.” There’s a gleam in his eye and a half smile on his lips that make the butterflies in my stomach riot. I’m not sure what expression I’m pulling, but it causes him to laugh and continue with his explanation. “Our fangs also react when we are turned on. It will be like going through puberty again.”
Is he serious? I stare at him a moment longer, hoping he’s going to say it was a joke, but he doesn’t, simply continuing to smirk like this is the most entertaining thing he’s ever witnessed. Throwing my hands up in the air, I get up from the chair and start to pace. “Great, so I’m going to get some weird vampy boner in my mouth. How long until it calms down?”
Lazily crossing one leg over the other, he shrugs. “It’s different for everyone. I remember that I spent most of my first year as a vampire with my fangs out. All I had to do was look at a woman, and they would shoot out.” His laugh is low and deep. “It was embarrassing at first, but you learn to control it.”
Geez. I might struggle with this for a year? He’s trying to reassure me, but he’s failing miserably. A year might not seem long when you can live forever, but for me, it’s a hell of a long time. Focusing on my other issue, I purse my lips as I think over what I know so far. He watches me as I ruminate, his eyes trailing down my simple clothes with a suggestive smile.
“How do I, you know…” Using my hands, I make a gesture of fangs and biting, hoping he will understand what I’m trying to ask—not to mention it gives him something else to do rather than look at me like I’m his next meal.
He raises that brow again, and I feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment. Instead of looking at me like I’m crazy, though, he’s smiling. I was never any good at charades, but this time it seems like he understands my gestures.
“Feed?” he finishes for me.
“Yeah. How do I feed?” I’m pacing the small space again, very aware of his gaze on me. “How often will I feel hungry? I mean, thirsty?” My use of the terminology is probably all wrong, but I figure he can cut me a break after the last two days I’ve had.
“Thirst varies from vampire to vampire, but generally most feed every two to three days. You will know when you need to. The sensation is not pleasant, and it only gets worse the longer you leave it.” He must sense my stress, because he takes it easy on me as he explains, not ribbing me for my poorly phrased questions or lack of knowledge. “I am obliged to tell you that according to law, we are supposed to get our blood from donors at one of the centres. Drinking from a normal human without their consent is illegal.”
It sounds like he’s reading off a script, becoming monotone and crossing his eyes. Obviously he thinks this part of the lesson is dull, or perhaps he doesn’t agree. Zane does seem like the kind of guy who not only doesn’t follow the rules, but who also goes out of his way to break them.
“Wait.” My head tilts to one side. “There is a supernatural law on this?”
“Of course. How do you think we managed to keep everything from the humans for so long?” He drops his head onto the back of his armchair, an air of boredom surrounding him. I suppose all of this would be boring for someone who enjoys breaking rules.
“That makes sense.” Musing over that fact, I realise that it’s not just the existence of vampires or supernatural creatures that they have managed to keep from the humans, but a whole world that is right in front of their faces. “So who are the donors and what is this centre you mentioned?”
His head pops up in surprise, and his expression shifts to understanding a second later. “I forget how little you know.” Sitting upright, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his thighs. “The centre is the place vampires can go if they have any issues. I’m sure you will be sent there at some point now that you’ve been registered. They can get you set up. They also provide feeding banks. The donors are all humans who have learned about us and want to give their blood.” His eyes seem to have darkened as he speaks, and something about him seems more alert, predatory almost, as he watches me pace.
It’s terrifying. It’s also hot as hell. Something about him turns on that carnal part of me that I have always carried. My fangs slide out of my mouth, betraying my feelings.
Zane stands and prowls towards me. I freeze on the spot—not out of fear, but excitement. Suddenly, all I can think about is feeling his fangs against my neck. What would it feel like if he bit me? When I drained Colin, he had a look of ecstasy on his face, and I’m sure I remember Office Hart saying something about vampire bites feeling good.
“Our bite is addictive, you see,” Zane explains, his voice hypnotic, and I feel drawn in by it.
He stops just in front of me, and it would be so easy for me to lean forward. I find myself running my tongue over my aching fangs. My jaw feels heavy, and the urge to bite his exposed neck builds until it is almost impossible for me to hold myself back.
Embarrassingly, a little whine escapes me, and I have to shift my weight from foot to foot to stop myself from doing something stupid. I need to bite him or fuck him—at this point, I don’t really care. All I know is that I need him. To my eternal surprise, he doesn’t make fun of me for my strange little noises, and instead, sympathy colours his face.
“It will get easier, little one. You will learn to manage this,” he promises with a whisper. Reaching up, he gently brushes my cheek with the back of his hand. “In the meantime, though, would you like me to teach you how to feed?”
Hell yes.
