Page 44 of Blood Bought

“Now you’ve lost your mind.” He chuckled humorlessly, pacing once again as he listened to whatever the hell was going on with Alaris. “Ciro’s been pushing, this fight was overdue.”

“Tell him it’s done,” I begged. “Get him out of there, Renzo. You have to.”

“I’ll be back.” Renzo was gone before the door even closed again behind him, leaving me alone in Alaris’ bedroom.

I’d have snooped if I wasn’t so nervous.

“Come on,” I mumbled, bouncing on my toes. “Someone come back. Say something. Do something.”

I heard someone clear their throat behind me and whipped around to see Kellian looking sheepish. “Sorry. Teleported in, didn’t think anyone was here. She’s safe in Draterion under their care. Ciro won’t find her.”

“Thank you!” I threw my arms around his neck and squeezed, then stepped back abruptly as I remembered who I was hugging. “Sorry. Can you hear Alaris or Renzo? Ren said Alaris was fighting and I—”

“Oh, hell. Hang on.” He closed his eyes, then nodded to himself. “On their way back. Brace yourself, though.”

“For what?” I asked.

“For that.”

I turned in time to see Alaris in shredded clothes and Obsidian blood covering most of him, but aside from his fangs and the rage oozing off of him, he looked like he’d make it. “Piece of cake,” he said sarcastically as he peeled the ripped fabric off his skin.

“What the hell!” I yelled, running over to check on him like there was a single thing I could do. “You were just supposed to distract him!”

“I did.” For a second, I thought he almost smiled at the fact that I was worried about him at all. “He was very distracted. You have any trouble at all, Kell?”

“Nope. I owe a couple of favors to fucking Riskel of all people, but I guess it’s better than Kalon. Nothing I can’t handle,” he said. “She’ll be safe.”

“But will you?” I asked, taking Alaris’ hand. “I don’t think Ciro is going to appreciate you fighting him instead of just having a drink with him or something.”

“I don’t have drinks with Ciro. He would have known something was up and none of it would have worked. It was the only way, but you’re cute when you’re worried.”

Huffing, I backed away from him to grab a towel to clean him up. “It’s not about you,” I lied. “If you die, I’ll just be given to someone else and at least I’m used to your particular brand of grouchy.”

“You’re also cute when you lie,” he teased, gripping my wrist when I attempted to clean off his face. “I need a bath, Miss Silk. Hot water is already on the way. Is this you offering your help?”

My breath caught in my throat as I realized I never put the bracelet back on. “Yes,” I said quietly. “I told you, Heir Alaris. I was yours if you helped, wherever and whenever. You helped, so I’m yours.”

“Thanks for the business transaction, Sweets. I’ll try and remember that’s what this is.” He turned his head to say something to his friends and then suddenly we were alone. It was short-lived though, before I could say or do anything else, his door was opening again and buckets of steaming water were being brought into his room.

I didn’t know what to say to him. He wasn’t wrong, but my presence here was a business transaction to begin with, so apparently it was only okay when he did it. I kept my distance as they filled the bath and then waited until they were gone before stepping forward again. “What do you want me to do then, Sir? Stay and help? Or would you prefer I left you alone and sent Sloane in?”

“I don’t want her. I want you. Sloane was dismissed the second I tasted your blood.” He moved away and kept peeling off clothes as he made his way to the tub and then got inside with a hiss. “You don’t have to call me Sir, Adalind. You’re one of the few people allowed to call me by my name, and I actually like hearing it from your lips.”

“Okay.” I hesitantly stepped closer and grabbed a washcloth for him, trying to sneak a peek into the water. “Did you at least win?”

“Of course I did,” he huffed. “Though I’m sure he would say otherwise. Asshole is strong though... been feeding more than me, so he put up a good fight that probably isn’t over.” He followed my gaze and grinned. “Sorry, water’s a little dirty, but you can touch wherever you want.”

I rolled my eyes slightly but wet the cloth and rubbed a little bit of soap on it, then sat on the edge of the tub. “Thank you, Alaris. I know this was my mess and I’m making everyone else clean it up for me, so... thank you.” I gently washed the blood from his chest and tried not to get distracted by the bright ring of red around his pupils. “I mean that.”

“You’re welcome. It’s kind of all my fault though seeing as it all started with me healing you so don’t be so hard on yourself. You don’t have to bait anymore, Adalind.”

“If you wouldn’t have healed me, I would’ve died. I suppose I should thank you for that too.” I dragged that cloth a little lower until my hand was dipping under the waterline. “But good. I don’t want to bait... sort of a secondary motivation for finally saying yes.”

He watched me, his hands gripping the sides of the tub as I moved in small slow circles. “Have you drank water since I fed from you?”

“Yes, they made sure of it. Food, too,” I said quietly. “No burritos though. I was a little bummed.”

My hand drifted lower, making him bite his lip and release a breath, his head falling back slightly. “I’ll get you a burrito. I’ll have it sent up as soon as we’re done.”

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