Page 33 of Lifeblood

“Reassuring.”

“Somewhat,” he said with sarcasm thick on his words. He reached across the table for my hand and held it in both of his. Tristan’s skin was cool to the touch, but also… hard. Sort of. Harder than skin should have been, at any rate. But he didn’t seem concerned or bothered by it. “I don’t need to drink your blood, Ava, to get a benefit from it. That seems extreme.”

“It’s not that bad,” I argued as I held his gaze. I traced my thumb along the spot I’d already cut open. “Mordred and Lance made quick work of it.”

“So I hear.” His gaze dropped to my neck, to the exact spot Mordred had kissed. “I was surprised to learn Lance was better behaved for once.”

My cheeks warmed again. “How did you… Are the spirits always watching me? Reporting back to you?” I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. In fact, no, I didn’t like it at all.

“Not always,” Tristan replied.

“Often enough, apparently.”

He shook his head. “They were worried. The same way Mordred was about someone going too far with you right away simply to solidify a mate bond.”

“And if they had? Would the spirits have just watched?” Even asking the question had my mind whirring. And besides, Mordred was the one who’d almosttakenit too far.

Tristan looked like he wanted to lie to me, but instead, he answered, “Possibly. Not in an intrusive way. It’s why I…” But he trailed off.

“Why you what?” I asked.

“Nothing.” His reply came quick. As did him standing from the table.

Lance’s jokes about Tristan blushing easily made sense now. “You’re a virgin.”

Tristan’s jaw locked. “Yes.” He very clearly hadn’t wanted to admit that. But that hehadspoke volumes. Especially compared to Lance’s Olympic avoidance of anything remotely closing in on personal information.

I inhaled sharply. Well, that would make solidifying the mate bond interesting. No wonder Mordred hadn’t pushed for that yet. Immortality first. Mate bond second. It was there, of course. But grasping it,claimingit so we could use the full extent of its power, was a different story altogether.

“I’m sorry if that disappoints you,” Tristan said in my silence.

I jumped up too so we were both standing. “No, not at all. There’s nothing to worry or feel sorry about. Especially not that.” I felt bad for making him feel that for even a second.

He chuckled dryly again. “We’ll see about that.”

I crossed the short distance to him and grabbed his hand at his side. “Tristan, it’s seriously nothing to worry about. I’m not even thinking that far ahead. Especially after the attacks this morning.”

He squeezed my hand and I noticed the blush in his cheeks. “I’m just glad you’re safe. Despite theroleswe’ve to play here, and despite my more serious warnings, Iamglad you’re here. That you want to help us take on Morgan.”

That was the second time Tristan had referred to her but not with her full title. “Why do you just call her ‘Morgan’?”

Tristan’s hand in mine stiffened. “Because she stole something from me. I refuse to acknowledge her station.”

“I understand.” It seemed silly at face value, but I understood. Morgan le Fay had someone Tristan cared about, so any act of defiance, no matter how small, was a necessary victory.

Tristan pulled his hand from mine. “For now, let’s move on. There’s no need for a full date or anything, although you were kind to humor us in that regard. Some of the kings aren’t sopatient.”

Considering Mordred’s advances, I was inclined to agree. “Do you have a knife?”

Tristan nodded and withdrew a small blade from a hidden sheath up one sleeve of his suit. And then gave himself a small cut on one finger from which spilled crimson blood.

“Hey, wait a minute.”

He reached for one of my hands. “There’s no need to directly ingest your blood. This is also more direct.”

I let him hold my hand palm up. His cold fingers wrapped around mine. “What are you doing, then?”

Evidently satisfied, Tristan pricked the blade against one of my fingertips, too, and then pressed our cuts together. Like school children making a silly blood promise.

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