Page 46 of Knave

She remembered the ancient vampire storming into this room, cabinets breaking, glass shattering, him yanking her head to the side as his teeth tore into her flesh. Mouse knew he was furious after she’d stabbed him twice so he hadn’t been gentle with her in the least.

“After everything I’ve been through, do you honestly think I would die so easily?” Mouse tried to smile but could only clench her teeth together as sharp aches radiated up her neck. “I’m sorry I went in there. I just couldn’t sleep and didn’t want to wake you to explore quickly, but then I came across the ancient.”

“It’s all right—I killed the fucker,” Ferris growled, drawing her to his chest as if she would fade away unless he held her. “I decapitated him and ripped out his heart a few moments ago.”

Mouse pushed up with her hands but she was too weak to hold her weight. Ferris’s lovely scent caressed her nose and she reeled in the temptation to drink from him as her fangs dropped. But then another heavier, metallic smell made her eyes flutter. It wasn’t the decaying scent of the ancient that called to her, but hisblood.

“I’m famished and don’t want to hurt you,” she said. “Will you bring me a pouch from my bag?” There was a legend that blood from ancients contained fast healing properties amongst other things, but she didn’t want to risk drinking from a dead vampire. Perhaps that was another reason the Red Queen had kept them, to use their blood to bathe in while drinking it until she grew bored with them and put up a wall to hide them. Even though she believed that was the truth, Mouse would never know the precise answer.

Ferris nodded and lowered her to the floor, careful to not jostle her. A rustling echoed as he fished out her canteen and the powdered blood from her bag. She held her breath to avoid inhaling Ferris’s alluring scent, running her tongue over the back of a fang while she waited. He shook the mixture and she greedily snapped the canteen from his hand. She gulped it down, the flavor making her moan as it brushed her tongue and drifted to her stomach.

As soon as she finished, Ferris gave her the second canteen. Her body was sewing itself back together, the blood working wonders even though she would’ve rather had a mortal’s in that moment.

“Drink,” Mouse rasped, forcing herself to stop but not wanting to.

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t need another first.”

“This is enough for now.”

Ferris nodded and reached for his backpack, not taking his gaze away from her. He wasn’t worried about himself, buther.

As her appetite sated, Mouse felt more like herself than she ever had in the past two years. Perhaps part of it had been due to the vampire bite the ancient had given her. Only a bit of exhaustion lingered, and she realized how close she’d been to death. If the ancient had only pulled a little harder on her head, shifted her body further in the opposite direction, he would’ve severed her spinal cord.

After Ferris finished his canteen, her eyes fluttered and she managed to get a few words out. “I need to rest a little. I don’t think I can make it home right now.”

“I’ll find you a better room without a corpse.” Ferris collected their bags, then scooped her into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. “You’re not leaving this castle until your strength is up. I don’t care if I sound like an arsehole or not.”

“Mmm, I like when your alpha side slips out.” Mouse’s voice slurred as she smiled, and she could no longer hold her eyes open, yet she relished the way his muscles flexed against her body while he carried her through the tunnels.

“This will have to do,” Ferris said and she became alert once more, finding they were already in a room.

The space was nicer than the other ones she’d seen thus far. Only a few layers of dust covered the area and besides a mirror, nothing else was broken. Other than the bed, a spinning wheel was propped in a corner and across from it rested a dresser and a vanity.

Ferris lay Mouse on the bed and slid off her boots. “Let me help clean you up, then you can rest.”

She nodded with a yawn and he helped her remove her clothing until she was bare before him. He took out a cloth from his bag and poured water from the canteen. With delicate motions, he cleaned the blood from her throat. She bit her lip, watching as he continued his tender movements.

“Thank you,” Mouse whispered once he was finished. Tiredness washed over her and she couldn’t focus on what he said, yet she felt him pull the covers over her while she drifted away again.

Mouse cracked open her eyes and looked around the room, now that she could focus clearly. There wasn’t as much dust as when Ferris had brought her into the space. That was strange. Had he cleaned it for her?

Where was he? Mouse caught a glimpse of his brown hair outside the open door, finding him sitting in the hallway.

“Why are you out there?” Mouse called, drawing the blanket tighter around her naked form.

“You’re awake.” Ferris whirled around and shoved up from the floor. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You didn’t sleep long, only about an hour. We can spare a few more if you need it.”

“I’m fine.” Mouse couldn’t fall back asleep even if she tried. She was too alert now. “What were you doing in the hallway?”

He ran a hand across his square jaw. “Thinking, but mostly I wanted to stand guard outside your room in case some other fucker decided to show up.”

Her chest tightened. “I don’t want you to worry about me. I don’t mind being saved, but I don’t want you to think I have to be protected all the time.”

“Luv, I think you’re stronger than me.” When he smiled this time, it finally met his eyes.

“We’ll have to arm wrestle on that sometime.” She laughed.

“Are you strong enough to head back to Ivory?”

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