Stan breaks eye contact first and gestures to the star-blood. Sweat beads on his forehead. “Did you want to take some of it?”
I continue to watch him. The corner of my lip lifts in a smirk, and I arch my eyebrow. “It’s the wrong sort of blood for me these days.”
His eyes widen, and he swallows. “I see.” His fingers twitch. If he so much as reaches for his gun, I’ll rip his head off.
I feel a twisted sort of pleasure, watching this powerhouse of a man sweat and shudder under my gaze. He’s probably one of the richest men in Liberty, and aside from the elves, holds the most power. But he’s nothing to my physical strength. I blink, remembering I took some bullets in the scuffle earlier. But I don’t feel pain now. I refrain from checking myself over. This isn’t the place for that.
“Cliff owes me,” I say simply. I turn and leave the room.
“Uh, I can stop him for you,” Stan calls out. “Do you want me to take him out?”
I pause. I’ve tried to track down Cliff more than once, and I have yet to succeed. There’s something about his elusiveness that seems strange to me, but I can’t put my finger on it. “No,” I say after mulling it over. “Don’t kill him.” I want the pleasure of doing that myself. “But detain him. When is he supposed to return?”
“He comes by with a new shipment every two weeks.”
Two weeks.
I shrug. “Sure, okay. Don’t let him leave next time. I’ll be back.” I look at him over my shoulder. “I’m not the same man I was, Stan,” I say. “Don’t double-cross me.”
Stan doesn’t respond, but I can smell the fear that radiates from him in waves.
I exit the room and return to the other vampires.
Cecil’s nowhere in sight. There’s a new vampire here, tearing up one of the corpses. He’s dark-skinned, his black hair cut short.
“That’s Dirk,” Javelin croaks and waves a hand. He’s lying on his side on the floor, knees drawn up to his chest. He grimaces. “Stars, I feel awful.”
“How many people did you drink?”
“Three.” A whimper bubbles in his throat. “I still need it.” He grips his legs harder. I can see him trembling from here.
“Where’s Cecil?”
“He left. He vomited over there.” Javelin points a shaking finger to a puddle of blood and bile. “He drank too much, too.”
I should feel disgusted. If I were still human, I know I’d find this scene abhorrent. My gaze fastens on the corpse the others haven’t fed on.
The thread of restraint snaps.
My thirst roars within me, and I close the distance without thought.
I finally—finally—allow euphoria to grip me.
16
Eldaren
Dawn seems to come immediately. I slept well.
Uncommonly well. I can’t remember getting this quality of rest since Stella entered my life. I get almost no sleep with the Kenelky reminding me I should be with my mate, and I’m not. Perhaps I slept better because of the nature that lies just beyond the bedroom window. Greenery has a way of relaxing the soul.
Sitting up with a yawn, I stretch my arms above my head. I can hear birds singing through the window, and sunlight is filtering across the floor.
I hope Stella slept well. I enter her room to check.
My mate is curled up on her side, snoring softly, mouth open. I shall let her sleep longer. She’s just a human. So little and frail.
But that isn’t really true, is it? Stella is physically weak, especially compared to the elves. But her strength is in her spirit.
Growing up in a place like Liberty should have destroyed Stella, but instead, it made her strong. Stella is clever, resourceful, and determined. She also still shows compassion. She probably learned it from her parents and Quinn. Most of the humans I’ve come across are desperate, self-serving creatures, doing what they feel they must, to survive, but not Stella. The instinct for survival runs deep inside of her, but she doesn’t let it get in the way of putting the needs of her brother first. That selflessness is a quality I find admirable.
Last night’s talk with Quinn and Sol surfaces in my mind, and I allow myself a smile. She isn’t afraid to give a piece of her mind if she thinks someone needs it. Not even to myself. There are few people on Earth who would stand up to me like Stella has. It’s one of the things I find most attractive about her.
Swallowing, I step closer, my feet silent on the wooden floorboards. I wish she had trusted me from the beginning with knowledge of Quinn. That would have made our friendship easier to solidify. As it is, she still seems to be growing more comfortable around me. That is very encouraging.
As if she can hear my thoughts, Stella shifts and opens her eyes. She blinks and yawns wide, emitting a small moan. She arches her back, lifting her arms above her head, and drawing her knees up.
I wait. Stella takes a while to wake up, according to Aleere’s reports.
For a moment, I think she’s going to sit up, but instead, she rolls over onto her other side, her body relaxing. She falls back asleep.
Smiling, I can’t help but gently pull a tendril of hair out of her face and settle it behind her ear. Stella. My starlight. My everything.
She’s also the woman who’s slowly driving me crazy.
She reaches up and rubs at her ear, mumbling something I don’t catch. Her eyes flicker open again, and she stares blankly at the wall.
“Good morning, my little star,” I say.
It takes Stella a moment to process my words. She rolls onto her back and stares up at me.
“Good morning,” I repeat. I eye her doubtfully. Does it take all humans this long to wake up?
“Hmff.” Stella rolls onto her side again. “Go away.”
“That is a rude response to a friendly greeting,” I chide her. “Humans have
