Page 32 of Forsaking All Others

She may have stood compliantly enough when the date was over and agreed to accept my bite. But that’s where her similarity to any other human, competitor or otherwise who I’d bitten in my long, long life had ended. Because although I’d only meant to nip, she tasted like nothing I’ve ever consumed before, and it had taken every bit of my willpower, every bit, to pull away once I’d held her in my embrace and sunk my teeth into her. Her blood pouring down my throat had felt like life itself, like sunlight and rainbows and moonbeams and God only knows what else. I’d gripped her and pressed her into my body as though the only satisfaction I’d ever feel in my life again would be if I could absorb hers.

But somehow, some way, I’d stopped.

Now, I need to see her again. I need to apologise, and I need to know what that was about. Whether it was her or me. Whatever it is, it’s something that almost caused me to break a vow I hadn’t broken in centuries.

‘I sure as hell don’t want that feeling again. But her blood….good God! I feel it coursing through me even now, lending a strength I haven’t felt in centuries. I feel so ALIVE!’

“Just make it fucking happen, Gerry,” I snap as I turn for the car, nodding to the make-up woman to join me. “I want to see her. I don’t care how you configure it.”

“The other girls won’t like it,” he adds quickly. “If you wanted to kill her you should have just finished the job tonight. It would have been for the best for the show in the long run, and for you.”

‘For the best?’

He gasps as I spin to him and show my fangs. Growling, I hold him by his collar inches from my face.

“Don’t mention what happened tonight ever again, Gerry.”

Gulping, he nods, obviously aware that something is amiss with me.

‘Fucking understatement.’

“And while we’re at it, I want Catriona to have triple guards while she’s at the hospital getting her transfusion, and I want you to ensure nothing, and I mean nothing, of what just happened is aired.”

“But, but…”

“You can leave the first part of the bite in for the viewers,” I snap, “but not the aftermath.”

“You make my life very difficult, Viscount.”

“But you’re alive, Mr Dott,” I glower at him as I release his shirt and step away, “so win-win.”

“Triple guards, though? Is that really necessary? What if the other competitors hear of this? On top of you wanting another date…”

“Just do it!”

“All I’m saying,” he hurries alongside me as I stride towards the waiting car, “is that if you like her you’re putting her in jeopardy by giving her special treatment.”

‘Like her? I don’t even know her. All I know is that I liked the taste of her blood so much I can’t stop thinking about it, and I’m so full of energy from drinking from her that if I don’t expend some soon I’m going to explode. Fuck!’

“You’re the director, Gerry. Direct so that doesn’t happen,” I snarl, slamming the car door behind me.

27

“And that’s what you told him?” Evelyn’s peals of laughter ring out through the room. “That’s gold. No wonder he bit you so brutally.”

“I told him the truth,” I shrug, ignoring the reference to my bandaged neck as I stir scrambled eggs while the others watch, perched on stools surrounding the breakfast bar, “and he scared the shit out of me. End of story.”

Evelyn laughs.

“What did you tell him?” I scowl at her. “Why are you participating in The Games, Evelyn?”

“That’s no business of yours,” she sniffs, studying the fork as though she sees dirt on it.

“Evelyn,” Thorun sighs, “you asked a question and Catriona was kind enough to answer. Also, she’s making breakfast for us all even though she just got back from hospital. The least you can do is answer her question. And stop teasing her about her neck. She’s alive, which means he wants to keep her around. Doesn’t it?”

“Stop acting like my fucking mother, Thorun,” Evelyn snorts. “I asked her questions, plural, because she was on a date last night and I want to know the details. The only time I’ve spent with him so far was at opening night, and he didn’t bite me. I want to know what to expect.”

“I’ve told you everything,” I snap, although the bandages on my neck are obvious evidence to the contrary.