Page 72 of Of Shadows and Blood

“Borders you keep moving, I take it.” My knowledge of current country happenings is very scarce but from what servants and the court have been gossiping, Lux is very greedy.

“No, not me. My grandfather was ever the expansionist, but I have not made any new movements on any borders,” he defends. It makes me wonder what the talk was about.

“What happened to them? The men?” I ask, my mind recalling the brutal force he exerted upon the group from the forest. “There were so many.”

Cedric clenches his jaw. “Ah, a few fled. I sent Sawyer after them once I found you, but the rest were dealt with. Not ideal, considering the information we could have extorted would have been valuable.”

“If he hadn’t been there, I don’t know what would have happened to me,” I admit, recalling Sawyer’s form above me. “He saved my life.”

Cedric rubs his hands on his pants. “I, too, am indebted to him.”

Wincing from my aching joints, Cedric hands me a cup of blood. With no other choice, I drink heavily, feeling the rush of sensation coming back to my body.

“You were shot,” I state. The image of him ripping the arrow out flashes across my mind.

Cedric nods, rubbing his shoulder. “All healed,” he winks. “Vampyr healing does wonders.”

“What about me?”

His lips thin. “Since you are half cess, half vampyr, your healing abilities are different. Not drinking blood consistently affects it, too.”

“I see.” I look around the room again, not sure where to take the conversation. I haven’t had blood around anyone since that night with Cedric. The sensation of it in my mouth was unforgettable and I would be lying if I said I didn’t think about it often.

“Then have some more, Liv,” Cedric responds.

We both still.

In my head, the smallest sound echoes as if bouncing around. I would have missed it had we not gone silent.

Hummmm.

Hummmmm.

Humm.

The vibration drones in and out, as if focusing and unfocusing. Cedric and I both look to each other. “Did you just read my thoughts?” I ask, incredulous. If so, that would be a huge invasion of privacy.

“There is no way,” he breathes and his jaw slackens.

“What do you mean?” I put the cup aside and reach for my temple. The humming continues only when he stops speaking. Cedric barks out a laugh, a maniacal one and rushes closer to me. I back up against the pillow, muscles stiff from the fight with the river.

Did he hit his head in the fight?

“I am perfectly okay. And no, I’m not reading your mind. Not really. Do you hear anything? Focus on the sounds in your head,” Cedric says, searching my face.

I still and focus on the frequency of the faint humming noise that I heard. Softly, it comes in and out. I nod excitedly, keeping my eyes closed as I try to hear it better, but it stays soft and quiet.

“What is it?” I whisper, afraid to lose the sound.

“Me.”

I turn my head towards Cedric. He’s kneeling next to me, staring as if I was treasure hidden amongst ruin.

“You are? You’re in my head? How is that?”

“It’s our bond from the Bloodrite. Bonded can speak to each other telepathically, sometimes over great distances. You’ve been silent for so long, I’m sorry.” He blinks a few times. “I’m in shock over this.”

“Like Avonde?”