Finn listened, impassive as ever until he finally nodded. “I understand that, and it’s why I never would’ve made the first move. I wasn’t certain you felt the attraction between us. Saying that, I don’t regret it. There’s a connection, and it’s confirmed now. It’s only sex, Violet. A common attraction that we explored together. One of mine killed your family, but it’s not something I would do. Over the centuries, I’ve held on to my principles, and I intend to do so for the rest of my life, however long it will be.
“Rest assured that if ever I find those who caused you so much pain, I’ll be the second in line after you to kill them. Those beasts don’t deserve to live. As for what may be between us, it’s only sex. And it’s the only thing there ever will be. I won’t tie my lifeline to someone who’ll die on me. We can satisfy a craving, scratch an itch, as you humans say, but this connection of our bodies and the trust between us are the only things we’ll ever share.”
His words, said with such conviction, told Violet that Finn must have suffered greatly in the past to build such high walls around himself. Strangely, she felt a pang in her chest at what he’d said, a sort of disappointment. The emotional storm made her lightheaded, and she reached for the wall. Instead of the cool surface, it was an even colder hand that grabbed hers.
“You’re doing way too much, way too fast, Vi.”
When he said her nickname, the one used by her friends, it reassured her that he’d possibly consider accepting her apology.
His arm came to her waist. “You haven’t eaten since you were rescued.”
“I’m not hungry.” And that wasn’t a lie. Her stomach felt tied in knots.
His touch softened, but he pulled her out of the room toward the kitchen. He only let her go once she was seated at the table. “You need food. I saw you sway a minute ago, and I know you’ve only had a sip of the soup Valeria gave you. Your body needs to get its strength back.”
And on those words, he turned to open the fridge door and with a grunt closed it again before searching through the cupboards. “Damn, woman, don’t you cook?”
If she hadn’t been so tired, she would’ve been outraged by his words. Instead, she shook her head, a smile tugging at her lips. “You’re saying that because I’m female, I instinctively know how to cook and love to do it? I have news for you, Irish boy, I don’t cook.”
Finn sniffed and closed the last cupboard with a loud bang. “When I was born, the women were taught how to gather food and cook for their families. That was the way the human race survived.”
“And now the human race knows better and shares that burden. Let me remind you that at Sanctuary, Asher is not only the Alpha and Master, but also an amazing cook. Ian knows his way around a kitchen too when he’s not leading an army of Sentinels.”
When he turned, something flashed in the vampire’s green eyes, was it insult?
“I know how to cook, basic stuff at least, but unless there are actual ingredients, I can’t conjure a meal out of thin air.”
Violet knew that before her kidnapping, she could’ve conjured almost anything, but the magic flowing through her veins was strangely silent. Worry gnawed at her, but also the strong possibility that her ordeal had caused it, and her body was dealing with what had happened.
“I haven’t been at home a lot lately. And most of the time, I go to town to eat, get takeaway of some kind, or invite myself to Sanctuary. I can cook, but what’s the point when I’m rarely here?”
Or being kidnapped and tortured by psychos.
She had examined herself after her shower at Sanctuary and hadn’t seen any traces of burns or wounds on her flesh. Torture by magic was something specific, and not everyone was familiar with the technique. Another possibility was that they’d tried a spell on her that led to the amount of pain she’d suffered. If that was the case, it meant they’d tried to reach the most fundamental part of her, it was definitely not a reassuring thought.
“Hey!” Finn’s low rumbling voice pulled her from her thoughts. “You disappeared on me again.”
Crouched by her side, the vampire seemed worried as she looked at him. “I… Sorry, my thoughts got away from me. When you saved me and I had a shower at Sanctuary, I didn’t notice any signs of torture. They didn’t use a physical object on me which means it was some sort of magic. And I didn’t see that black spot either. I think the best thing to do is to go see Layla in town. One of her books should contain something to give me more information.”
Finn sat across from her. “Why do you want to know? Aren’t you more interested in who did this to you? And why?”
Violet shook her head. “I don’t remember what happened the moments before whoever it was took me. I remember shadows and vague voices. I don’t even know how I escaped, apart from being out of my mind, wanting to die because I’d been cursed. There are no threads I can check there, apart from the symbols on the wall.”
A feeling of dread still
