shaky legs, brushing his floppy hair from his eyes, and assesses Avon with a grin, his dimples showing in both cheeks even as I hear the telltale click of his bones melding back together. I know that it should hurt, vampire or not, yet he takes it like it’s nothing. His power is pain suppression, meaning he can fight harder and train longer, because he feels nothing when he breaks—emotionally or physically. In many ways he is very lucky; in others he is just disposable—to our queen, at least. The first line of defence in battle.
David runs a hand through his hair again as he and Avon continue to watch each other in mutual fascination. How strangely we react when attracted to someone , I can’t help but think.
“What do you want?” I ask pointedly, interrupting the staring between David and Avon.
Avon finally tears his gaze away from David and towards me. “You have been summoned,” he says darkly, and I can’t conceal the confusion I feel over this.
I think back over the last month, to anything that I might have done wrong to be summoned to our queen, but nothing stands out. Avon is still staring at me, his smile never faltering, even as he looks between David and me, and back again.
“Now?” I ask.
“Now,” Avon agrees.
I roll my shoulders and walk to the weights in the corner where I left my bag. I would have liked to have changed first—my clothes are tinged pinkish from my perspiration of blood, my skin damp with it—but when our queen summons, you must attend. And quickly.
I stretch my T-shirt over my head, rub it across my arms and hard stomach to remove any excess blood, and then fling it towards David, who is still staring at Avon with lust-filled eyes. It hits him in the chest, and he looks away from Avon, flushing with embarrassment. He looks towards me, and the red in his cheeks rises even more when he sees me topless, and even I can’t control my grin as I see Avon frown, jealousy rising to the surface.
His power might be to seduce, but it doesn’t stop people straying. I smile again as I grab a fresh T-shirt from my bag and pull it over myself, straightening it and zipping up my bag before slinging it over my shoulder.
“Don’t make a mess,” I call out as I leave the room, leaving both men alone. I know they will be in each other’s arms before I’m at the end of the hallway. If nothing, Avon wants to make a point now.
Emotions are strong in new vampires, and almost unrestrainable. But I am not his NewLife mentor; I’m just here to teach him how to fight. If his mentor gave half a damn about him, they’d be here disciplining him for his lack of self-control. As it is, they’re not, and this new vampire will be up to a lot of mischief until he either learns some discipline through trial and error—or he meets with a nasty shock.
Either way, it’s not my problem. I have more than enough to be dealing with. Besides, new vampires are always so…willing to participate, with boundless energy, and the bloodlust is—endearing, to say the least. Something about them just drives the rest of the coven wild. Yet he does nothing for me. His body does not call to me; his pretty face does not attract me. If anything, he turns me off, for all I can think about is Mia.
I huff out an unneeded and frustrated breath, forcing myself to calm down and steady myself before I reach the Queen. The last thing she will want to see is her most proficient trainer on edge and stressed out. And why am I stressed out? I shake my head at my own stupidity.
I took Mia out when I knew she wasn’t ready. That’s why. I took her out, knowing she would lose control, knowing it would hurt her, and knowing that for the first time in too many years I actually care if someone else is in pain. For the first time since I was turned, I didn’t want to just blindly follow orders; yet I did, and I don’t like the sinking feeling it gives me.
I was only following orders, orders I could not refuse, but perhaps I
David runs a hand through his hair again as he and Avon continue to watch each other in mutual fascination. How strangely we react when attracted to someone , I can’t help but think.
“What do you want?” I ask pointedly, interrupting the staring between David and Avon.
Avon finally tears his gaze away from David and towards me. “You have been summoned,” he says darkly, and I can’t conceal the confusion I feel over this.
I think back over the last month, to anything that I might have done wrong to be summoned to our queen, but nothing stands out. Avon is still staring at me, his smile never faltering, even as he looks between David and me, and back again.
“Now?” I ask.
“Now,” Avon agrees.
I roll my shoulders and walk to the weights in the corner where I left my bag. I would have liked to have changed first—my clothes are tinged pinkish from my perspiration of blood, my skin damp with it—but when our queen summons, you must attend. And quickly.
I stretch my T-shirt over my head, rub it across my arms and hard stomach to remove any excess blood, and then fling it towards David, who is still staring at Avon with lust-filled eyes. It hits him in the chest, and he looks away from Avon, flushing with embarrassment. He looks towards me, and the red in his cheeks rises even more when he sees me topless, and even I can’t control my grin as I see Avon frown, jealousy rising to the surface.
His power might be to seduce, but it doesn’t stop people straying. I smile again as I grab a fresh T-shirt from my bag and pull it over myself, straightening it and zipping up my bag before slinging it over my shoulder.
“Don’t make a mess,” I call out as I leave the room, leaving both men alone. I know they will be in each other’s arms before I’m at the end of the hallway. If nothing, Avon wants to make a point now.
Emotions are strong in new vampires, and almost unrestrainable. But I am not his NewLife mentor; I’m just here to teach him how to fight. If his mentor gave half a damn about him, they’d be here disciplining him for his lack of self-control. As it is, they’re not, and this new vampire will be up to a lot of mischief until he either learns some discipline through trial and error—or he meets with a nasty shock.
Either way, it’s not my problem. I have more than enough to be dealing with. Besides, new vampires are always so…willing to participate, with boundless energy, and the bloodlust is—endearing, to say the least. Something about them just drives the rest of the coven wild. Yet he does nothing for me. His body does not call to me; his pretty face does not attract me. If anything, he turns me off, for all I can think about is Mia.
I huff out an unneeded and frustrated breath, forcing myself to calm down and steady myself before I reach the Queen. The last thing she will want to see is her most proficient trainer on edge and stressed out. And why am I stressed out? I shake my head at my own stupidity.
I took Mia out when I knew she wasn’t ready. That’s why. I took her out, knowing she would lose control, knowing it would hurt her, and knowing that for the first time in too many years I actually care if someone else is in pain. For the first time since I was turned, I didn’t want to just blindly follow orders; yet I did, and I don’t like the sinking feeling it gives me.
I was only following orders, orders I could not refuse, but perhaps I
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