Page 53 of Taste of Fate

“Okay, but really,” she sighed as we composed ourselves. “I’m sorry to hear that and I hope he recovers. He’s an ass but you care about him, so I wish him well.”

“Thanks, Ames.”

“Wait.” There was a long pause on the phone. “Did you give him blood?”

I bit the inside of my cheek. There was no lying to her. “Yes.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Got a little dizzy when I stood up fast, but I’m okay. I’m eating snacks and drinking juice.”

“So does this change things between you and him? The whole blood pet thing?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I’ll have to wait until he’s awake and see if he talks to me.”

Amy made a disgruntled noise which promptly turned into a yawn. “I don’t like him jerking you around. It was one thing when we all thought he would instantly kill you, but now that he’s keeping you alive, he better be good to you.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that. She and Robin were the only people who had been good to me my whole life. It was like I had a lot of experience in that regard.

“Well, he let me see you,” I pointed out. “And gave us these phones we’re talking on.”

And my wine making stuff. And the most electric kiss I’ve ever felt. I wanted to list out all the ways Cyan had been good to me. But the ways he’d confused me loomed over all the positive things like a dark cloud.

“Not good enough,” Amy quipped. “I need to see him sweep my best friend off her feet. He’s gotta put the book boyfriends to shame.”

Well, that’s not gonna happen, I thought, but smiled at the sentiment. “If anyone deserves being swept off their feet, it’s you, bestie.”

“Nah.” Amy scoffed. “I’m not main character material.”

I was just about to argue that when another yawn came over the phone speaker. “I’m gonna let you go, Ames. You’re exhausted.”

“Fine, mom,” she chuckled. “Talk tomorrow night?”

“Wouldn’t miss it. Love you, goodnight.”

“Night, love you.” She already sounded asleep when I ended the call.

Cyan began stirring about two hours later. I heard his sheets rustling and sprang up to check on him. I still felt a little wobbly but definitely stronger than directly after I fed him.

His eyes fluttered open the moment I sat at his bedside. “Tavi,” he croaked, his voice thick with fatigue. “You’re here.” He sounded surprised, and nothing could have prepared me for his hand reaching to brush against my knee.

“Yeah, of course I am.” Throwing caution to the wind, I wrapped my fingers around his. They were stronger, warmer than before. “How do you feel?”

“Like shit.” The corner of his mouth pulled upward in the barest hint of a smile. “Weak as a hungover baby rat. That drowned.”

I squeezed his hand and felt slight pressure in return. “Your sense of humor is back, so that’s definitely an improvement.”

“At this rate, I’ll feel like death warmed over in no time.” He released my hand, his expression turning solemn as he gripped my knee, fingers stroking gently over my thigh. “Thank you for your blood, Tavi. You saved my life.”

My teeth sank into my lip, resisting the urge to spread my knees wider, just to see how far up his touch would tease my skin. “I think Thorne deserves that honor for getting you here so quickly, but I’m glad I could help.”

He let out a soft breath of a laugh. “He’s a quick thinking bastard, but it was you being here, you willing to do what you never wanted, that is the reason I’m breathing right now.” Cy licked his lips, looking conflicted as his gaze drifted over my neck. “And I’m sorry you were put in that position, having to go back on what we originally agreed upon so you could save my sorry ass.”

“Cy.” I shook my head. “I didn’t mind giving you my blood, not at all. To save your life, it wasn’t even a question in my mind. If I had to, I’d do it all over again.”

He didn’t say anything in response, but only stared at me with an expression I couldn’t read. It went on for so long that I wondered if he zoned out completely.

“Cy?” I cocked my head. “Do you need more blood?”

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