Page 3 of Threads of Crimson 2

I could feel his gaze boring into the side of my head, eager to hear any portions of my life that I’d share. Since I didn’t talk about myself ever, not with anyone, it was harder to find the words than I expected.

“Much like your parents were taken from you, my mother was taken from me.”

“Are you talking about your human mother or do you mean like, your creator? Because women have fledglings, too, right? So you could mean either one. Oh crap, am I being rude? That was probably intrusive as hell, wasn’t it?”

My lips twitched. He really was a quirky, funny man. Placing my hand on his thigh, I gripped it gently. “It’s not rude to ask me anything. Mind you, chances are I won’t answer, but this I can give you. My Maker was also a woman, and yes. They both disappeared out of my life.”

He put his soft, warm hand on top of mine. “Oh, Lysandro, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m fine. My life has spanned longer than you can imagine, so their losses are distant memories. However, I do remember how long it took me to settle in once I was alone. It’s not easy to accumulate things and trust that they’re our own, ours to keep, once we’ve had nothing and no one.”

The smell of his sadness filled the car, and I wanted to fix it. Normally, if our topics got too deep, too personal, or if he was unhappy in any way, I just held his wrist and fed on him. For some reason, it always filled him with joy and contentment.

Since I couldn’t do that while I was driving, I said, “I hope you’re not too nervous about leaving town with me.”

He immediately perked up. “No. I mean, I’m a little scared because I’ve always lived in NYC, but I’m more excited to see where you live. Is it in New York, or are we going to another state, or what? I asked around a little when I first started going to Velvet Vein, but no one knew. I feel like you’re letting me in on a huge secret, and I can’t wait.”

Chapter two

Benji

“You are being let in on a secret,” Lysandro said. “One that you can’t even tell Rafe or Sadie about.”

I squeezed his hand, thrilled beyond belief that he was touching me like this, touching me when it didn’t have anything to do with him drinking my essence. “I know. I understand how important your privacy is. I promise.”

He nodded. “Thank you. We’re headed to a small town on the Jersey shore.”

Excitement bubbled up inside of me. We were going to New Jersey? “Near the ocean?” I asked, praying that he said yes.

“Yes. My house is a block away from the ocean, but from my attic balcony, you can see it perfectly since my house faces east.”

I bit my lip, trying hard not to bounce in my seat, but this was like a dream come true for me. Not only had I finally escaped the city that had never been kind to me—with very few exceptions—but I was going to be near the beach. “Pinch me,” I said, holding my arm across the seats.

My companion startled. “Why on Earth for?”

“Because I must’ve died, and I’m going to heaven.”

Lysandro’s lips twitched before breaking into a small grin. “That’s such a humorous thing to say to someone like me. Heaven.” He tutted. “I’m glad you’re happy, though.”

“Happy? I’m thrilled. Now go ahead, pinch me.”

Snorting, he took his hand off my leg and pinched the skin on my wrist gently between his cold fingers. “There. Do you believe you’re still alive now?”

I’d caught him taking side-eye glances at me, so I took a chance and batted my eyelashes playfully. “I do, and I’m thrilled, but I’ll be even happier when you put your hand back on my leg.”

He hesitated for a mere second before resting his palm back on my thigh. I hummed in contentment, dropping my hand back onto his and deciding to soak up the drive—since I hadn’t actually even been in a car very many times, and never for a car ride outside of getting from point A to point B in the city.

“Benji, we’re here.”

Sitting up quickly, I rubbed my knuckles into the corners of my eyes. “I fell asleep?”

“Mhm, which isn’t surprising. This is normal sleeping time for humans, after all.”

He hadn’t picked me up at my apartment until after midnight, and it was…I glanced at my watch. “Wow. It’s already two AM. I’m sorry. I wasn’t very good company.”

“You were better company than you know,” Lysandro murmured as he slipped out of the SUV.

Annoyed at myself, but so pumped about this new adventure, I got out and stopped, staring at the awesomeness in front of me. A narrow two-and-a-half-story Victorian shore cottage stared back from the glow of the yard lights shining on it. The main part of the house was cream, but the overhangs were pink, and the attic gable had a blue and green pattern. It was freaking incredible. But confusing.