“I need blood,” he says, pulling me from my thoughts. A crease forms between his brows, the one he gets when he’s worried. He used to look at me that way all the time, as if I was someone he desperately needed to save.
“Blood?” I echo dumbly.
“Vampire blood,” he says. He shifts again, fingers stretching and curling at his sides. He keeps his eyes on me, but I can tell it’s taking effort. He’s nervous, telling me this.
“You’re the best healer in the Day Realm,” I say before I can stop myself. “What do you need with vampire blood?”
“I’m not going to tell you that.”
“Then no,” I say. I finally rise from the floor, patting his black pillow. It’s one from my bed, but I don’t tell him that. It’s not like I had any spares lying around. I’ve never had a guest before, and after tonight, I doubt I will again.
“Secora—”
“Cora,” I correct him. “No one calls me that here.”
His jaw ticks.
“I need the blood,” he tells me. “I can’t tell you what it’s for, but I assure you, it’s nothing nefarious. Someone is sick. Our typical healing methods aren’t working. I need to buy time.”
I study him, trying to sense a lie. There’s nothing there, not even an inkling of deception. This man may be older—broader—than the boy from my memories, but he’s still Elliot Lyrie. The same pure soul I’ve always known, and he’s telling the truth.
Hewouldrisk his life to save someone else.
“You’re in the Night Realm for a patient?”
“I need blood,” he repeats. His voice is soft, and my eyes flutter shut without permission. “Please, Cora.”
I’ve never been able to deny this boy anything.
“How much?”
“At least two vials,” he says, shoulders loosening. “More would be better, but I can get by with two.”
“I’ll give you six,” I say.
I brush past him and cross to the far side of the kitchen. From his place by the doorway, he watches me with narrowed eyes. I ignore him and maneuver my way onto the counter. I wouldn’t normally do this with an audience, but at my height, counter-climbing is an essential life skill. My kitchen cabinets go all the way to the ceiling, and I keep the good stuff—like vampire blood, poison, and rare herbs—up at the top.
“Do you need help?” he asks, voice strained.
Ever the gentleman. My lips twitch into a smile, and because I’m facing away, I let it stay. I’ve barely smiled tonight, and still, I’m sure it’s more than the past weeks combined.
I stretch onto my toes, sift through the various ingredients, and collect six vials of dark vampire blood. All belonging to a deceased vampire, just to be safe. On the off chance Elliot is lying, the witches won’t be able to hex this blood for any of their vile hobbies.
I carefully lower from the counter, and Elliot watches me with an unreadable expression. His brows crinkle as I cross the room, stopping in front of him.
“What’s the catch?” he demands. His attention drifts to the vials in my hands, and I study the desperation in his eyes. The barely-contained relief.
This blood isn’t just for a patient. Vampire blood is illegal in the Day Realm. The Mother despises dark magic, and almost everything in the Night Realm was born of it. For Elliot to be here, he’s trying to save someone he knows. Someone heloves. The idea guts me.
“Six vials,” I say, pushing them into his hands. His skin is warm, soft, lightly calloused. I force myself to pull away. “You take them, and you never come back.”
I waketo the sound of my name. I bolt upright, heart thundering. I’m moving before I’m fully awake, because it’s not Elliot calling for me. It’s Sebastian. If Elliot answers the door, there’s no telling what will happen.
I fling open my bedroom door, only to falter. My quarters are empty. The blankets are folded on the end of the couch. Our mismatched tea mugs are laid on the drying rack.
He’s gone.
“Cora!” Sebastian calls again. His fist pounds on my door in a sharp, rhythmic pattern that’s unique to him. I typically find it comforting. Right now, it’s grating my last nerve.
