“No, I suppose not.” Cally pressed her lips together. “Antoine’s going to go ballistic when he finds out.”
“Antoine wants you alive. He’ll understand. But if not Gabe, then Belle? Do we even know where she is?”
“No, we don’t, and it doesn’t matter anyway—she’s already refused.”
“Huh.” Eve looked thoughtful. “You’ll have to tell Gabe why, of course.”
“Yes,” Cally said quietly. “I will.” She picked at a loose thread of the sheet and didn’t look up. “What if he refuses, too?”
“Well… guess I’ll have the crystals on standby.”
*
Gabe folded his arms across his broad chest. “You want me to dowhat?”
“Save her life,” Eve replied for her. “That’s what’s at stake.”
“Yeah, but you’re saying I couldbondyou. Becomeaddictedto you.” He exhaled sharply and turned to pace across the carpet in Antoine’s living room.
“It’s not definite, but it is a risk,” Cally said quietly. “I know I’m asking a lot.”
“Antoine will have my hide,” Gabe muttered, stopping before the empty wingback chair near the fireplace.
“What will he do if you don’t, and she’s dead when we rescue him?” Eve asked. She sat on Antoine’s sofa with her laptop out, with a pretense at not being involved that fooled no one.
Gabe flicked her a look, then sighed. “How much do I need to take?”
“Is that a yes?” Cally asked.
“Of course it’s a yes,” Gabe said, resigned. “There’s no other option, is there?”
“No, there’s no other option. Not in the time we have. But thank you.”
“Sure, sure. Now, I suppose?”
“Please.”
He gestured to Antoine’s chair. “Sit there, then. Maybe it’ll help mollify him.”
Cally gave a dry laugh but did as bid while Eve perked up, watching with undisguised curiosity.
Gabe took a knee before her and reached for her arm, pushing back the sleeve of her hoodie, half with reluctance, half with reverence. He looked up at her. “How much should I take?”
“I don’t know,” Cally replied. “As much as you normally would?”
He lowered his face to her wrist, and she felt the sting of his fangs. She rested her head against Antoine’s chair as Gabe took his first swallow. As before, there was none of the rush of pleasure that came when Antoine fed from her, just a warm feeling of contentment and peace, comfort and safety. It was addictive in its own way, easy to get lost within. Instead, Cally chose to focus on Antoine. It made it hurt more, but that helped too.
Her head swam and blurred as he drank more, longer than when he’d fed from her in his apartment. But that didn’t matter either; with Antoine’s bond, she’d regenerate fast enough.
What if thisdidcreate a bond with Gabe? What would Antoine do, knowing she hadtwovampires to sustain?
They had been friends, hadn’t they? Antoine would understand. He had to understand.
Gabe licked the punctures, healing her, then released her arm as he sat back on the floor at her feet. “Second time I’ve fed from you for all the wrong reasons.”
“Thank you for saving my life.”
“Second time you’ve thanked me for drinking your blood.”
