Page 50 of Blood Bond

When I touched Layla, only her turning unfolded before me, but with Seth, it's different. Now, I see the man hidden within him. Despite centuries passing, he has clung to his humanity—loving, kind, and full of dignity. He embodies honour and morals, everything his brother is not.

Seth cautiously extends his arm into the sunlight, and it gently caresses his skin. I realise I've been holding my breath, releasing it only when he exhales his relief. "Nothing," he says, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "I feel nothing." He then steps fully into the light, allowing it to cascade across his bare chest. Tilting his head back, he opens his mouth, revealing his fangs, yet there's a smile there—I'm certain of it. His face and skin are bathed in light, and he inhales deeply, as if savouring a lungful of fresh air for the first time.

As he lowers his head, bringing his arms in to examine his hands, he looks at them as though seeing them anew. "It's the most amazing thing," he says, his eyes locking with mine. "I feel like I'm alive."

He steps out of the shadow completely, allowing the sunlight to envelop him. "I've spent centuries in darkness," he whispers, almost to himself.

Killian enters through the back door, leading directly into the utility room and then the kitchen. His face is already etched with shock before he fully steps in.

“What are you doing …” He goes to rush towards Seth, as if to shield him from the sunlight, but then halts abruptly, the realisation dawning on him. “You’re not burning.” His eyes then shift to me, narrowing as they land on the marks on my neck from Seth's bite. I instinctively cover them with my hand.

He turns to face Killian, and there is a smile. Ne so strong but so human like, it catches me off guard, making my heart race. “It doesn’t burn me.”

Killian eyes over Seth, then his attention is on me. “He fed from you?”

I nod. “We wanted to try it, to see what would happen.”

“We can proceed to St. Mary’s now,” Seth says, as if this had always been the plan, and Killian was merely lagging behind in understanding.

Any questions Killian has, or comments he wants to make, falter and die on his lips as he looks between me and Seth, then back again.

Seth straightens his shoulders, beginning to button up his shirt with a newfound sense of purpose. “Get Naneve,” he commands Killian. “Tell her we’re heading out while the sun is still up.” He turns to me with a determined look. “This is a gift from you. I will never ask for more or expect it.”

ChapterThirty-Nine

We're preparing to use quad bikes, a mode of transport I haven't encountered since childhood, and only then on television. Seth's property harbours a large building filled with various vehicles, including cars, bikes, and notably, Killian’s large bike that he's currently working on.

Standing in the garden, I shield my eyes from the glaring sun, trying to gauge the expanse of land stretching back to the distant wall. The estate is vast, its boundaries lost in the distance.

Killian and Naneve are busy pulling out the quads, lining them up in an orderly fashion. Naneve, with her typical scowl, pushes one towards me before retreating back inside.

"There's an extra quad," I observe. "Who's it for?" There are five in total, not four, for me, Naneve, Killian, and Seth.

"Elena is joining us," Seth explains. "She used to be a lab technician. With her ideas for testing, she's the best for the job."

"A witch who was a lab technician?" I blurt out, surprised by my own forwardness. My comment halts the others in their tracks.

Killian stops and narrows his eyes. "What makes you think she's a witch?"

I take a step back, more out of instinct than fear. "All the herbs and remedies she uses," I reply, though I realise it's not just that. After all, she's not the only one to brew remedies in this world, not when medication is so scarce. Desperate people try anything.

But Killian considers my response for a moment, then nods, accepting it. It doesn’t really matter what I think or why.

"Do you really think we'll find answers?" Naneve asks, her glare full of the usual contempt.

"Aye, I do," Seth responds confidently.

Naneve's stare is intense, as if she wants to say more, but I don’t prompt her. Even though I've changed since Seth chose me at the auction, parts of me still shy away from confrontation.

"Where's Elena?" Naneve finally asks instead.

"Making sure Theo has everything he needs before we leave," Killian answers.

"Will he be okay on his own?"

"Aye," Seth replies, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. "Theo would be fine on his own without the help, but he humours Elena’s fussing."

I stand back, observing Seth, Naneve, and Killian as they efficiently prepare for the journey. They've tended to the quads out, fueled them, and are now checking over weapons on a small table set between them. Seth's movements catch my attention; he seems different somehow, as if he's pulsing with a newfound vitality. Always a figure of power and control, now there's an added element, a sense of being truly alive that emanates from him. It's a stark contrast to Layla's vampire aura, which carries a distinct signature of undeath, an eerie sense of being perpetually reborn.

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