Page 8 of Taste of Death

“So if you insist on staying glued to that wall, the best I can do is set up a shade canopy out here. It’ll be painful, but as long as you stay out of direct sunlight, you’ll live.” He shrugged. “Probably.”

My teeth ground against each other through the pain. It felt like my skin was on fire. “And if I come inside with you?”

The vampire’s expression softened. “You’ll have full protection from the sun, a blood meal, and a room to rest in. That’s it.”

“You’re not a creep?” I demanded. “Or a…I don’t know. Are there vampire serial killers?”

“I’m sure there are.” He gave a full-on smile and despite the fangs, I felt no sense of threat. “But I’m not one of them. Or a creep. At least, no one has accused me of such.”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Well I can’t shove you off to someone else because everyone is already turning in for the day. And you’re going to be dead on my literal doorstep in, oh,” he turned to glance at the sky, “forty-five minutes, probably. So my options, and by extension yours, are quite limited. Wouldn’t you agree?”

It seemed crazy, impossible even, that going with him was truly the only thing I could feasibly do. I wanted to run and scream for help, find Tavi and let her protect me like she always did. But the burning all over my skin was already so bad and getting worse. And I was so weak, I could barely stand without assistance.

None of this made sense to the human me. But my new reality meant that I needed to drink blood and avoid the sun. And this silver-haired vampire was my best chance of getting those things.

He seemed tired of waiting for a response and turned toward his door, a note of regret in his expression. “I have to get inside. Best of luck to you, little brusang.”

“Wait.”

I stepped away from the wall and felt a thousand tiny pinpricks of fire on my feet. Then I was falling, gravity pulling me down to crash against the cobblestones.

The hard punch of stone against my face never came. I was lifted away instead, the distance between me and the ground increasing as I was carried.

“I’ve got you. Temkra, you weigh nothing. When did you last feed?”

“My name’s Amy, not Tenka, or whatever you said.” Everything still hurt, but the burning sensation felt a bit soothed, like I had been wrapped in a cool, wet towel.

“All right, Amy.” The vampire chuckled and I felt the vibration of sound against my cheek. “My name is Novak. Temkra is our goddess. I was swearing, not calling you by her name.”

“That’s a mouthful.” My body rocked with each of Novak’s steps and I was suddenlysotired. My eyelids shunted closed and couldn’t seem to reopen. He might as well have been rocking me to sleep.

“It can be. We’re in my house now and I’m going to put you down on a settee, Amy.”

“’Kay.” All at once, my entire backside was supported by the softest cushions I’d ever lain on. From ankle to nape, I was supported by clouds.

Novak’s arms slid away from me, and I didn’t realize how much I liked the feel of them until they were gone. But from his scent and the volume of his voice, he was still near.

“Lourna, can you bring the salve for sun exposure? And prepare a guest room, please. Thank you.”

I turned my head on the pillow and inhaled, seeking out that warm, comforting scent I couldn’t quite place, but wanted to bury my nose in.

“Amy?” Gentle fingers moved hair off my forehead. “I’m going to give you my wrist. I’m well-fed, so take as much as you need?—”

“No.” I shook my head, scooting toward the back of the couch as my eyelids flew open in panic. Novak sat on the floor next to the loveseat, a bewildered expression on face.

I wasn’t sure why it was a detail I noticed, but this close, his hair looked like platinum silk spilling over his shoulders.

“No,” I repeated. “Not from the wrist. I… I know I need blood, but not like that. It freaked me out last time.”

“Ah. Okay, well.” His smile looked uncomfortable, pasted on for the sake of politeness. “The other best places to feed from usually require a degree of… intimacy.”

I scooted even farther away. To his credit, he did not move in any closer.

“Aren’t there any non-intimate places that aren’t the wrist?”

Novak’s eyes lit up and he straightened. “Hold that thought.” With effortless grace, he stood and walked out through a wide, open doorway.

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