Page 58 of Blood Bought

She shook her head, taking the bottle from me and setting it down. “That’s not what I meant. You don’t just meet your mate and boom, instant eternal connection. There are rituals that must be completed to permanently set the bond. It’ll change you both. You’ll never again have a thought he can’t hear if he wants to, and that would go both ways. If one of you died, the consequences for the survivor would be catastrophic. But the love you’d feel would be unmatched. It would unlock parts of you that you don’t even know exist.”

“No wonder he didn’t want to believe any of it,” I muttered. “That sounds... complicated.”

“It is. To this day, Alpha Idris and Nyx never bonded. Fated mates rarely do, though there are added benefits. I’ll let him tell you about those, though. Thinking about you with him is making me want to curse you.”

I blushed, feeling bad for her – I understood better than most what it felt like to not expect to fall for someone and then have it happen. I wished it wouldn’t have to be the same person, but there wasn’t anything I could do. Like Alaris, Azel had known the risks. “I hate to ask this of you, but could you do me one favor?”

“I’d rather not, but what is it? I suppose I owe you for the whole bracelet fiasco.”

“Can you find out what happened to Tamsin? I need to know she’s really safe and wasn’t just taken by whoever they sent her to in Draterion. I need to know this wasn’t all for nothing.”

Azel sighed as she walked toward the door. “Yes. I will do that much for you, but then we’re even. Understood?”

“Yes,” I said quickly. “Understood.”

“Good. Then I’ll come find you when I have an answer for you. In the meantime, you may want to put on your boots. You have a visitor.”

Confused, I walked closer to the door as she stepped out and left it open, then grinned when I saw Renzo coming in with machetes in his hand. “Someone said you needed big ones?”

“Yes!” I laughed, taking one and testing its weight in my hand. “Alaris liked that, huh?”

Renzo grinned. “Yeah, he did. He didn’t outright say it, but seeing as our minds are connected, I know it’s true. Seeing you helped him, especially that this didn’t damper your spirits. You gave him strength. He’s down there right now counting down the minutes until he can kiss you, which is kind of weird. Definitely thought he’d be thinking about something a little more graphic.”

I cleared my throat quietly as my stomach flipped and I snatched one of the blades from him. “Don’t make it any weirder than I already did, okay?”

“Noted. He wants you to train, though. Think you’re up for it, Whiskey Breath?” he teased, reaching out to move his finger in front of my face so my eyes would follow.

I smacked his hand hard enough to surprise him. “Yes. Do Fauxs bleed? I’ve always been curious.” I ducked and spun, resting the edge of the blade against his bare calf, making him hold up his hands in defeat with wide eyes.

“Right. The fire in you he warned me about,” Ren grinned. “We don’t bleed, but you’re welcome to try.”

“No, that’s okay. I actually like you.” I stood, brushing his shoulder with my fingertips and taking in the tattoos covering his upper body. “Do you always train wearing nothing but shorts?“

“Yep. Clothes are restricting. Kell and I train naked.” He wiggled his eyebrows and got into a stance. “Best way to stand is like this, easy to leap one way or the other.”

“Training naked sounds dangerous,” I commented, trying to match the way his feet were spread and legs were slightly bent. “Aren’t you worried you’ll accidentally... y’know. Chop it off?”

“I was joking, because yes. We may not pack the same heat as Ris, but we’re both gifted. Can’t risk those.” He lunged at me and flipped me onto my back, but he was there to ease the blow so I didn’t get hurt when I landed.

I huffed, pushing his toned chest to make him get up, then got back to my feet. “Not really fair when you’re a vamp, but alright. I don’t have to fight fair.” I feinted low like I was going to hit his smaller-than-Alaris package, then took advantage when he ducked and jumped onto his back. With his head in my hands, I chuckled. “Betcha snap, though, even if you don’t bleed.”

“That was good. One problem, though.” He flipped me off of him and chuckled. “You weigh like two pounds, but if you could get into that position with the blade in your hand, you could be lethal.”

It took a moment to regain my breath and get back up again. “Yeah, that’s fair. My dad taught me some things so I could protect myself, but I could apparently use a refresher.”

“Glad he did that for you. You think about your family often?” he asked, a small frown on his face as he watched me closely.

Fuck.“Um... honestly, no,” I admitted, toying with the dull edge of the machete. “I did when I first got here, but the more I thought about them, the sadder I got. I think I subconsciously started blocking them out because I know I’ll never be allowed to see them again.”

“I know the feeling. Can’t even remember their faces at this point, but I had a little sister too. She was like ten years younger than me. Sometimes I wonder what kind of life she had and if she still loved horses.”

Somehow, I’d forgotten that unlike Alaris and Kellian, Renzo used to be human. I set down the machete and grabbed that bottle of whiskey, then handed it over to him. “Your turn. What was her name?”

He took a long drink before handing it back. “Rose. She had this long blonde hair she wouldn’t let my mom cut. I remember being a teenager and sticking stuff in her hair to fuck with her. I can’t really remember much else, things fade with time. I get glimpses sometimes or I have a dream where she’s here in the castle, but I never see her face. I just know it’s her. Tell me about your sister.”

“Her name is Kendall. She’s eight years younger than me, and while we have different moms, we didn’t grow up that way. Her mom never really liked me much, but Kendall never treated me any differently and neither did I with her.” I sat, picturing her blue eyes all squinted as she tried to do her math homework. “She was just coming into her own, you know? Just figuring out who she is and what she likes beyond what her parents wanted her to be like.”

“That age is always fun. I like to imagine Rose just shocked the world and chopped off all her hair,” he said with a smile. “Saying goodbye to family sucks, but sometimes we get to choose our family. I know you didn’t choose this per se, but you’re here, and believe it or not a lot of people have your back. Even Azel’s growing fond of you, even if she’ll never admit it.”

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