I suppose I did topple like a house of cards, and he barely touched me. “Way to rain on my parade, dude.”
“Luc, give Vaughn a break. It’s only been three days,” Vivi intervenes.
“I can’t give him a break. He’s coming to Bloodstone tonight, and he has to act like he’s a born vampire.”
“Man, I didn’t know your boyfriend was such a grump, Vivi.”
Lucca’s eyes flash red. “I’m not a grump!”
“Whoa. What was that?” I massage my chest, trying to dispel the irritation that feels foreign to me.
“What’s wrong?” Vivi steps closer, her brows pinched together.
“I don’t know. I felt so aggravated all of a sudden, only it’s not me.”
Lucca’s brows shoot to the heavens. Then he rubs his face. “Son of a bitch. It’s our bond.”
I blink fast. “Come again?”
Now Vivi is looking at him as well with her arms crossed. “Bond? Like a familiar bond?”
Lucca shakes his head. “No, it’s different. Vaughn and I are linked now. I can feel his emotions, and he can feel mine.”
“Are you kidding me? I so do not want you feeling my emotions and vice versa.”
“I can block you, but I guess you still have to learn how to block me.”
“Yes, and pretty fucking fast, please.”
“We’ll add that to the long list of things you need to learn. Shall we go?” He starts toward the door and doesn’t even wait for Vivi. Man, he’s rattled.
I step closer to Vivi and whisper, “Do you think he really knows how to block me?”
“I sure hope so.”
Despite Lucca’s bad humor, I pepper him with questions during the ride to Bloodstone Institute. I don’t want to mess up, and the only way I can be sure to blend in is if I have as much information as possible about how to be a vampire. He’s annoyed as hell. I can feel his emotions swirling in my chest. I haven’t learned to block him yet, but I can ignore it for now.
Vivi reaches over and takes Lucca’s hand. His irritation decreases a notch. Shit. A thought occurs to me. I shouldn’t ask, but… I have to know.
“Hey, if I feel when you’re angry, do I also feel when you’re… er…happy?”
Neither Lucca nor Vivi says a word, but both now seem tenser than before.
“Bueller? Anyone?” I press.
“In theory, yes,” Lucca hisses.
“Hell. I was hoping not.” I look out the window, already dreading the moment Lucca and Vivi are alone together.
“But you didn’t feel anything while you were at King Raphael’s, right?” Vivi asks in a higher-pitched tone.
“No.”
“He was in bloodlust,” Lucca chimes in. “He wouldn’t sense anything besides his thirst for blood.”
“Thank goodness.” She relaxes against the car seat.
“Do you have any tips on how to block you?” I ask, because the idea of feeling horny when these two are getting it on isn’t on my bucket list.
