Page 61 of Taste of Death

She let out a little snarl. “They were assholes for that.”

I brushed my mouth against hers with a chuckle. “There’s my akra.” Her lips pulled apart with a smile and I kissed her again before attempting a question. “Were they assholes to you tonight?”

I tried to keep my tone light, desperate to keep her from spiraling into sadness again despite the pent-up rage boiling inside me. No matter what, I’d find out who made her cry. I’d find out who made her feel like she was less than divine and undo the damage until she believed it herself.

Amy let out a shaky sigh. “No. They were… nice, actually.” Her eyes remained dry when they glanced up at me. “I’m almost afraid to say it, but Blood ‘til Dawn might not actually be so bad.”

“What?” I fell to my side, clutching my chest as if I were wounded. “Akra, how can you say such things?”

She laughed, rolling into me as she grabbed my hand. I laced our fingers together as I kissed her again, grinning and making her laugh some more. That smile with her adorably tiny fangs was my weakness and I could never get enough.

I also filed away the knowledge that it must have been the humans of Sapien, not Blood ‘til Dawn, that caused her tears. And I honestly wasn’t surprised. Short lifespans apparently made certain species idiotic.

Amy broke our kiss, resting her forehead against mine as her fingers dabbed at my shirt. “Sorry for crying all over you and ruining this.”

“Yes, it’s such a shame.” I brought her knuckles to my lips and kissed them. “I don’t have any other shirts to wear. Not a single one.”

She laughed and shoved at my shoulder. I let her push me over until I sprawled on my back, tugging her down with me. Amy nestled into my side like she was created to fit against me. Her head came to rest on my shoulder with a gentle sigh, her breaths no longer shaking.

“Are you feeling any better?” I kissed her forehead, knowing I hadn’t been able to keep my lips off her the moment I started.

“A little.” Her hand skimmed across my torso, resting near my opposite shoulder. “Thank you, Novak.”

“Always, akra.”

Amy’s grin started to fade as her eyelids drooped. “Is it morning?”

“Mm-hmm. The sun is rising as we speak.”

Her eyes fluttered open and I saw distress in those two galaxies and tears welling once again.

“What’s wrong?” I turned on my side, ready and willing to let my shirt catch her tears once more.

She pulled in a shaky breath. “When night returns and we wake up, will you still want me like this?” She wiped at her eyes and sniffed. “Will you still want to kiss me and hold me like you are now? Or is this just… I don’t know.”

I slid both arms around her waist, bringing her tightly against my torso. “I have been dying to hold you and taste your kiss for weeks. Every night since I first met you, I’ve been hoping you come over, or that you’re already here when I come home. This isn’t ‘just’ anything, Amy. I miss you every moment you’re gone, and every moment you’re here makes my life brighter.”

I kissed her hard, catching her mouth in a tight lock and not releasing until I felt the aching need for air. “So yes, I’ll still be here at nightfall, akra. And I’ll still want you with every blood cell in my body.”

Her eyelids drooped again, exhaustion and nocturnal instincts pulling her toward sleep. “I want to believe you, Novak.”

“Believe me. I have never meant anything more sincerely in my life.”

She nodded once, lips parting as her eyelids fully closed.

I eased her onto her back, then carefully pulled the duvet and sheets down and back up over her. She was already asleep by the time I removed my damp shirt and settled in next to her.

My nerves were rattled. I still wanted answers. But her breathing and her strong, steady heartbeat slowly lulled me to sleep.

Chapter 19

Novak

Amy was still out cold when I woke up near dusk. I leaned over and brushed a kiss against her cheek, reluctant to leave the bed without her. But she needed rest, and I was already restless.

I dropped last night’s shirt and the rest of my clothes in the laundry, then stepped into the shower. The moment I dressed and got out, Lourna was tidying up the bedroom.

“Baros of Carpe Noctem called. He’s on your office line,” she whispered, tiptoeing around the room so as to not wake Amy.

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