Page 45 of Blood of a Huntsman

Needs

Cat closed her eyes, feeling more exhausted by the second now that she felt like it was safe to rest.

Chloe got the letter. It hadn't reached Drusilla. She was going to be okay.

After one or two years of sleep.

"Are you sure she's all right?" Chloe demanded.

Cat forced a smile that didn't reassure anyone, given their expressions. She held her thumb up. "I'm peachy," she promised. "I just need to rest my head."

Then she realized she didn't have a year at all. She could only afford a nap at most. Then, she would have to speak to them.

There were Stormhale secrets that she could no longer afford to keep. Not now. Anika had been plotting with her family, sure, but who else? Drusilla might still get a note about her by the end of the day despite Chloe stopping this one.

Which meant that protecting Oldcrest wasn't just about her friends, or a matter of right and wrong. It was about survival.

"Come on, let's go."

She didn't protest, letting Sebastian lead her down the hill toward the dorms. As they passed Billevern's barrier, the troll growled low.

"What's wrong with her?" he asked, somewhat threateningly.

Sebastian was wise enough to reply promptly. Angering a troll was nothing short of suicidal.

"She was drugged. Alexius says she needs rest and blood, that's all."

The troll nodded before glaring down at her. "You get better, understood?"

She laughed, even though it hurt her lungs and abs.

"I'll try, Billevern."

"It's Bill. And boy, moving's hurting her. Help the girl, you idiot."

He laughed. "Well, we'd better listen to Bill. Arms around my neck, okay?"

Cat grimaced but did as she was told, if only because this was the first time the troll had given her the time of day. She didn't want him to be pissed at her.

Sebastian carried her like a princess.

Oh.

That was kind of nice. And she liked his smell.

No, she adored his smell. It was like chocolate and spice mixed with rum and sprinkled with strawberry.

Cat bit down on her lip. Shit, Alexius hadn't been kidding. She seriously needed blood, right now, before she sank her teeth right inside his neck.

That wasn't unusual between vampires. Intense, intimate? Yes. But not unusual. Cat had never done it, but she knew that lovers, mates, husbands and wives exchanged blood. Craving vampire blood was different, though—the sort of thing that only happened to ferals. Or Eirikrsons.

She looked down to her lap. She had no business wanting to drink from Sebastian, regardless of how good he smelled or how weak she felt.

"You can let me down now," she said when they approached the dorm.

Sebastian snorted.

"Right. Do you know what Billevern would do to me if he hears that? Even Levi is careful with that man."

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