Page 34 of Lifeblood

Only it was way more than that. Within moments—definitely faster than Mordred or Lance—Tristan’s eyes flashed silver.

Blood promises worked fast, apparently.

He held our fingers together, allowing for an appropriate amount of blood to mingle. He watched our connection for a while, then glanced up. His innocent, brown eyes, along with the sudden intimacy of the moment, stole my breath.

Tristan was attractive as hell.Allof the demon kings were. But he definitely had an virtuous air about him that was different from the rest. It made me want to curl up into his arms—or have him curl into mine—and stay hidden from the world for a while.

His gaze flitted down to my lips. His cheeks flushed pink.

I smiled. “It’d be okay to kiss me if you want to. The mate bond is strong. Hard to ignore.”

He shook his head. “I’m not my fellow kings. I have restraint.” And yet his words were tight.

I lifted an eyebrow. “Then why does it look like you’re warring with yourself right now?”

He released a tight breath. “You’re breathtaking, Ava. Don’t get me wrong. But there will always be an audience, and contrary to Lance’s beliefs, that’s not… exactly the best conditions for much of anything.”

I wanted to question what he’d meant about Lance, but the rest of his words struck home.

“There will always be an audience.”

No wonder he was a virgin. Had Tristan ever even been kissed at all?

I nodded slowly. “Okay. No worries.”

“Thank you.”

He held our fingers pressed together for a number of minutes that passed by in easy silence. Just like on the car ride here to Tintagel.

Only, it wasn’t silent. Not for him. And I’d known that on the car ride. But hearing him spell it out again here and now, it sunk in deeper for me.

Tristan was surrounded by spirits all the time. Always. Never alone. No privacy.

When Tristan finally pulled his hand away, I leaned in before he could walk away as the other demon kings had. “Wait.”

“What?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”

I shook my head. “No, it’s just…” I rose up on my tiptoes and pressed my lips to Tristan’s cheek. The contact was fleeting. “I just wanted to do that. And to saythank you.”

Tristan’s face was red once more, but he didn’t look at all upset by the kiss. “For what?”

“For being open and honest,” I answered. “I promise to always be the same with you.”

Tristan’s eyes cleared and it was like real focus had overcome him for once. He pressed a hand against the cheek I’d kissed—the same hand and finger he’d just pricked with his blade.

“Good,” he said as he dropped his hand back to his side. “And thank you for your blood. I don’t take the gift lightly.”

None of them seemed to. Which still surprised me some, to be honest.

“Of course.” A mighty yawn gripped me then, sudden and uncalled for. “Oh, gods, excuse me.”

Concern wrinkled Tristan’s forehead again. “It’s been a long day. You need rest.”

I gestured to the door. “But Gareth—”

“Can wait,” Tristan said with just enough hesitation in his voice to worry me. “He can wait. It’s for the best anyway. You can’t help us or afford to give more of your blood and magic while this exhausted.”

And I was. From my excursion into Gareth’s hotel room the night before the lottery. Then the wary night spent in the Shard. I couldn’t remember my last night of actual sleep. “If you’re sure. I don’t want to leave Gareth less than you all.”

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