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A muscled ticked in his jaw. She sat up straight despite her body’s protest, gearing up for another fight. A second of strained silence passed before Felix sighed and lowered himself into the chair next to her.
“Tesoro mio, you’re tired,” he said in a mixture of irritation and affection. “Your head hurts, so let me do this small thing for you. I’m not trying to control you.”
Gabby eyed him with skepticism, but she opened the bottle and drank. The thicker consistency of the cold blood tasted strange on her tongue, but she felt better after drinking the entire bottle. Her head was clearer and less fuzzy, though it had no effect on the heaviness and sluggishness from the impending sunrise.
“You’re different. I dislike it.” Her eyes narrowed at his catlike smile. “What’re you planning? You always have a plan.”
He took her hand in his. Awareness swept through her as their skin touched. The embers of arousal flared to life. A hand squeezed her heart as she recalled what she’d let happen yesterday in a moment of weakness.
“Maybe I don’t have a plan. What if I told you I want to start over?”
She had to squeeze past the lump blocking her throat. “There is no starting over.” The heartfelt sorrow on his patrician features touched something deep inside her.
“No, I suppose we can’t. I can’t change the past,tesoro mio, but the future is not set in stone. At least, for tonight, let me tend to you. I promise I will do nothing untoward.” A quick grin flashed. “Unless you want me to.”
He had something planned, Gabby was sure of it. The drop of his wide shoulders wouldn’t fool her into complacency. If she let him win tonight, what about tomorrow? Would he think this permitted him to dictate her future actions?
Yet, he wasn’t acting out-of-control possessive even though Jiaren had approached him and threatened her. The Felix from six hundred years ago would’ve carted her off and locked her up somewhere before challenging Jiaren to defend her honor.
Or was that his plan? To get her to drop her guard so he could whisk her away somewhere while she was asleep?
“You’re thinking too hard.” His finger smoothed the furrow in her forehead.
“You are entirely to blame.”
“Would you prefer I do as you expect and slay Jiaren for you?”
“Do not read my mind.”
“I’m not. So, should I challenge him? I will do as you ask. You will be rid of me for a century.”
He’d win in a fight against Jiaren. She didn’t doubt that. To live free of Felix for a century. Would Alistair still break their bond if Felix was serving his punishment for killing another vampire? No, the risk wasn’t worth it.
Besides, she didn’t need Felix to fight her battles.
She shook her head. “I want you to stop confusing me.”
“Is it so hard to believe I only want to take care of you? No strings attached?”
Gabby nodded without hesitation. Something flashed across Felix’s features. Hurt? Anger? Regret? She couldn’t tell. It was gone so fast.
Felix stood up, a rippling of muscle and power, and retrieved another bottle of blood. “You should have another one.”
“Where’re you going?” Gabby asked when he headed for the door.
“Giving you space. I know you went to Leah to request a change of rooms. If the only way to get you to relax and rest is with me gone, then I’ll be gone.”
He left before she put up a protest, but why should she protest? This was her desire all along.
Gabby drained the second bottle while her emotions played tug of war within her. Should she go after him? No. She wasn’t that young girl who’d been infatuated with her mate anymore. She could live without him. Had done so for two centuries before going to ground.
Her gaze landed on the blank screen built into the table. Maria had taught her how to use it, but the information had merged into a tangled blob with everything else she’d learned in the past few days. Sensing Nikolas was still awake, she reached out to him for help.
The transparent screen brightened as she followed Nikolas’ instructions. Then, the thin slit on the table projected another semi-opaque rectangular shape, where Maria’s face appeared after two beats.
Her friend’s face lit up in a brilliant smile. “Hi. How are you?”
Gabby thanked Nikolas before focusing her attention on Maria. She raised her hand to touch the light and felt nothing other than a slight buzz on her skin. “Is it really you?”
