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Was that concern in her eyes?
He swallowed the urge to scoff. “It didn’t hit any of the tendons.”
“Would you like me to seal it?”
Kaien hesitated as he searched her for any sign of duplicity. Finding none, he merely nodded, giving her permission.
Dropping her gaze to his palm, her pink tongue appeared a moment before he felt it brush softly against his flesh. The broken skin and muscle tingled at the connection, sending tiny waves of electricity up his arm. Kaien stiffened at the intimate contact, holding his breath as he felt the disparate parts of his flesh begin knitting together.
Even as the pain subsided, the vampire continued her effort to heal him completely. Her fingers wrapped around his, her head bent over his outstretched limb as she cleaned the remaining blood from his skin.
Without his conscious thought, his hand reached toward her, tenderly pulling back the blonde hair that’d unraveled from her nape. Softly, he tucked it behind her ear, marveling at the silkiness of the strands and lingering too long.
At Blair’s brief hesitation, he immediately withdrew his hand and fisted it at his side, internally berating himself for succumbing to the physical needs of the bond that pulsed between them.
Everything inside of him yearned to touch her, to caress the softness of her ivory skin. Her closeness was a beacon that enticed him, had him salivating for her presence. The tie that linked them throbbed with longing, igniting an unrelenting hunger for the vampire who would be his mate.
Protect. Cherish. Possess.
His very nature was stamped with the need to keep her safe. Once they found their mate, Raeths were loath to stay away. Even if they wanted to, they were driven by intrinsic motivations that urged them to complete the mating process and tie their souls together.
Whether he liked it or not, Kaien would always yearn for Blair regardless of her indifference toward him. He’d always covet her presence and be drawn to her. The second the bond had formed between them, finalized or not, he’d been primed to seek her nearness.
Gently, she tugged him back toward the cabin, taking extra care to grasp him by the wrist. Kaien allowed her hold, taken aback. Blair opened the door ahead of them, propping it open so he could step through. Her sudden, uncharacteristic change had caught him by surprise, and he followed her without a word.
Once they were safely inside, Blair led him to the couch before ensuring that his hand was completely sealed. Pain retreated to a distant corner of his mind while he observed her motions, remaining silent as the vampire assured herself of her workmanship.
Her dogged concentration peaked as she finally looked up to catch his eye. “What happened?”
“Grip slipped.”
A pregnant pause while she nodded at his explanation. “I’m—I’m sorry for my crass words earlier, Kaien.”
Kaien didn’t respond. In truth, she’d spoken aloud what he feared was true. His position as second, his merit as the clan’s lead healer, even his position as an elder among his peers: everything he had was a direct result of his connection with Nina. Could he claim one single thing he’d done that was out of the shadow of his own sister?
Mulling through the treacherous thoughts, Kaien stayed silent. Blair hummed softly while she worked and his ears were trained on the simple sound, appreciating every note. But the merry tune was far too bright for the situation they’d found themselves in.
A soft smile appeared on her sultry lips.
“You know, Kaien, your blood is supposed to stay inside of you.”
A near silent laugh shook his frame, surprising him, while the tension ebbed from his shoulders. “Tell that to your fangs.””
At his softened response, Blair’s eyes briefly met his. The smile that played over her lips was nothing if not tempting. “Haven’t you chopped wood a million times before?”
He shrugged. “I usually have my telekinesis to steady the wood.”
“So?”
“So,” Kaien explained, “I’m in recoil, hence, no telekinesis.”
“Basically, you’re powerless then, yes?” At his hesitant nod, she smirked impishly. “Completely at my mercy. Good to know.”
For a moment, they simply sat in silence. The air wasn’t charged the way it normally was between them, and for once, it felt comfortable. Almost companionable.
“Kaien.”
He stilled as Blair whispered his name. Finding her eyes, he studied her, committing every nuance of her radiance to memory. His tongue, seemingly frozen in his mouth, wouldn’t work even as he will himself to respond.
