“Of course,” I said, hiding a yawn behind my palm. “How long am I to wait for this mysterious boon you want?”
Raphael stood. “It’ll be sooner than you think.”
I pressed into the table to rise as well.Ouch. My legs had stiffened after sitting for a couple hours at the table. I hadn’t noticed. Not just because I was sitting, but perhaps because I’d been so focused on the game.
Perhaps because I’d hadfun.
My leg spasmed when I tried to put more weight on it. I shifted onto my palms, the wood creaking beneath me.
Raphael’s hand was outstretched to help me. I ignored it. I was stiff, not injured. I didn’t need help.
I followed him through the inn, up to the top floor. He pushed the door open and held it while I went inside. A small fire was lit in the corner, but I didn’t need it to see clearly. It was cozy, with a large bed. My bags were placed in front of the bed on a large trunk.
Raphael moved to a side table with a carafe I hadn’t noticed yet. He poured into an empty goblet—no prize for guessing the contents. Blood.
He extended it toward me. “Here.”
I wrinkled my nose. “It smells even worse than usual.”
“It’s animal blood. Out here, there aren’t many donors.”
Animal blood. I swished it in the cup. The smell really was foul. But if it did come from animals, was it any worse than eating meat? I should be glad I wasn’t taking from another person.
But when I lifted it to my lips, I still hesitated, my throat squeezing.
“It’s this or mine, Samara. You haven’t had any significant amount of blood today.”
Naturally, he’d noticed I had barely taken a sip downstairs. The memory of his blood on my lips hit me low in the stomach.He was close now. Close enough I had to force myself to tilt my chin back and hold his gaze instead of looking at the column of his throat.
I hated him for it. For the way every part of my body drew to alertness when he was close, the way I felt like I was going into battle and the way I ached to sink my fangs into his bare throat even though I’d been fine moments ago.
“Of course, if youdiddrink my blood, you’d best not let another vampire know.”
The lecture wasn’t going to stop until I emptied it in front of him. I pressed my lips to the rim and tipped back, drinking as quickly as I could to beat the gag that threatened to block any further swallowing. I held Raphael’s gaze the entire time, challenging him to continue.
Finished, I let the empty vessel hang by my side. My tongue traced the edges of my lips, wiping away any remnants of blood.
Raphael watched.
I glanced to the door meaningfully. Time for him to go to his own chambers. But Raphael didn’t move. He just poured some blood for himself and sipped, looking me up and down.
“Remember that boon I won earlier?”
I folded my arms, goblet tapping against my elbow. I wanted to crawl under the bed and get off my feet. “As I haven’t had any head injuries in the past ten minutes, I do.”
For some reason, that made him grin. “Seems my viper’s got a sharp tongue when she loses.”
“Don’t worry about my tongue, worry about my copper blade, because if I’m not off my feet soon, I may well use it on anyone between me and rest,” I groused. “What do you want, Raphael?”
“Your legs hurt.”
Just the mention made me rub the side of my thigh. “Yes. I’m not used to riding like you are. You know that.”
He set his goblet down and took a step forward. “I’m going to make it better, little viper. Get on the bed.”
He pulled the goblet from my hand, and I barely noticed. I was too busy trying to put together the wordsget,on, andbedin an order that didn’t mean what it sounded like it meant.
“Come now, it’s not long till dawn,” he said. “Onto the bed, viper.”
