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“I-I can’t leave. I have work.” I gawk at him, stomach fluttering.
His brows arch. “Yes, and so do I. We’re both officially out of office for the foreseeable future.”
“Ican’tdo that.” My voice is firm. Assertive. It’s the first time it’s been this fierce all day.
Samuel glowers at me, his hard mask returning. “Youwilldo that.” He scoffs, staring at me as if I’ve sprouted horns. “Are you understanding what’s just happened, Jane? I broke into your apartment.Killeda man in front of you.Showed you my fangs.” His eyes glint crimson, glowing in the dim light. “There are people here who aren’t like me. Hell,I’mnot supposed to be like this. If I leave you here, alive and aware of who I am, you’ll be hunted and killed. They’ll show neither of us mercy.” His voice doesn’t rise above normal, but even so, I flinch.
He stands, not hesitating to close the space between us. His lean, muscular body hovers over the bed, face dropping until it’s inches away from mine. “So, you’re leaving with me, Jane. Understand?”
Breathless, I nod.
Samuel unravels my life one drawer at a time.
I don’t own much. Ten complete outfits, a television, a laptop, a dozen or so art prints on the wall, some greenery. Cutesy things that make me feel happy when I’m here, alone and safe in my corner of the city.
Samuel tears everything I’ve built down within an hour, pouring all of my things into boxes he found inside his apartment.
I’ve glanced through the hole into his lair once, but his lights are off. There should be sunlight coming in through the windows, but there isn’t. He must cover his with blackout curtains, too.
Night shift and all.
“Do vampires burn up in the sun?”
Samuel goes motionless.
We haven’t spoken since he told me we were leaving. I haven’t helped him pack my things, either. Instead, I’ve remained here, curled atop my bed as I watch his movements. I thought about jumping in to help him organize my book collection, but decided against it. Being almost murdered before finding out monsters are real has earned me a much deserved rest.
He turns to me, his nose wrinkled. “No.”
“Then why are your windows covered?”
He sighs, hand fisted around one of my cardigans. After shoving it into a box unfolded, he answers. “The sun makes me sleepy.Verysleepy. If I cover the windows, I can stay aware of my surroundings.”
I pull my comforter up to my chin, frowning. “Sleepy? That’s all?”
His eyes slide over to meet mine, expression chiding. “It’s debilitating. If I let the sun shine through, I’d be in a coma right now.”
“Then why aren’t you asleep? You don’t like to rest?”
He shrugs. “Don’t need to. My business in the city is…” He glances at me again, eyes darkening. “Complicated. I’d rather not leave myself vulnerable for too long. Besides,” He grabs another handful of my clothing from inside a drawer, shoving it into the half-full box. “If Ihadbeen slumbering, you’d be dead.”
I shiver beneath the blanket and curl tighter around myself. I’d be more than dead.
Joey’s sick features flash behind my eyes; the evil simmering in his gaze, both raging with fury and wild with excitement.
Get on your knees.
I knew what was coming next. His fingers were on his belt buckle when Samuel smashed in the door.
“Don’t.”
I peer over the edge of the blanket at Samuel. His knuckles are white, gripping the corner of the box with so much force the cardboard flattens, paper thin. He scans my face, his jaw locked. “Whatever is eating you, don’t let it. The man is dead. You’re unharmed.”
Right.Unharmed.
“Why’d you wash his blood out of your mouth?”
Vampires drink blood, right? They feed from people like Joey. Like me. Did Joey have a sickness that made his life force taste bitter? WouldItaste bitter?
