Page 17 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall

I grimaced as I pushed through a heavy wooden door and then stopped in awe. I'd figured there had to be a library here somewhere, so I'd wandered around and just followed my nose until the scent of old paper, dust and wood had reached me.

There were towering stacks that stretched up high enough that I had a momentary worry about being crushed should they fall. But then I remembered I was already dead and unless a stray bookshelf went through my heart or took off my head, I would be just fine.

Though, that wasn't to say it wouldn't still hurt like a bitch to have a bookcase full of philosophy texts fall on you.

I wasn't looking for anything in particular, though a family tree or genealogy book might have been handy. I couldn't force my blood-relatives to accept me, but I could make their life difficult if they shunned me. I smirked slightly as I pulled out a promisingly thick book.

Sometimes you had to take your wins where you could.

I wound my way through the stacks until I came to a small clearing, cosy and shielded on each side by more shelves. The lamp was on, a warm glow spilling out over the hardwood tables and the living vampire sitting there, hunched over the book.

"You'll hurt your neck sitting like that," I said before I could stop myself. Vampires and jokes about necks... Some people were testy. I could only hope this guy wasn't one of them. He looked up and I froze. "It's you."

Warmth coloured his cheeks but faded rapidly as he smiled slightly. It was crooked and I found myself staring at the odd tilt to his lips, entranced.

"I'm surprised you recognise me with my clothes on," he quipped and then cleared his throat. "Sorry, that was supposed to be a joke."

I smiled and nodded to the seat opposite him, a good few metres of distance away—enough that he wouldn't feel too concerned about my presence, especially considering the last time he'd seen me I had been claiming his bite mark on Hayes' neck for my own. "Can I join you?"

"Sure." He cleared some of the books scattered across the centre of his workspace and nodded towards the seat I'd indicated. "I'm Rowan, by the way."

"Leonora."

Silence settled between us but I didn't feel any pressure to break it, just watched him as he watched me. Assessing. Interested.

"So you and Hayes," he began and I shrugged.

"The bond was an accident."

"Not typically."

I raised an eyebrow and he bit his lower lip before relaxing his shoulders. "Do you know why blood bonds are rare?" I shook my head and he continued, "It's because they're the closest thing we have to soulmates. There's a spark, an essence in you both, that is cut from the same cloth—like two pieces of a whole."

"I don't think I believe in soulmates." Or, at least, if they did exist I was certain that Hayes wouldn't be mine. He knew how to kiss, I'd give him that, but that didn't make him any less intolerable.

Rowan shrugged. "It's not a matter of belief. It just is."

"You're saying that you know definitely, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that blood bonds came about because of a soul-deep predisposition?" I snorted. "Even saying that aloud sounds ridiculous. Besides, Hayes is an arsehole."

Rowan laughed. "He's a little prickly on the outside."

Prickly seemed mild. It was more like an entire cactus. Lodged somewhere uncomfortable, judging by the scowl that seemed to constantly be on his face.

"Sorry, I probably shouldn't be bad-mouthing him in front of you, huh?" I mused and he shrugged.

"It's not really like that between us." At my disbelieving look he smirked. "I know how that sounds given what you walked in on. But it's true. There's nothing going on between us, not any more."

"Fair enough." The quiet fell over us again and only the soft creaks of the wind and shelves settling disturbed the sound of Rowan's heartbeats. "Are you scared of me?" I asked, genuinely curious and he laughed. The sudden sound took me aback and I stared with wide eyes until he stopped.

"A little. You could kill me in the time it takes me to blink."

“True," I allowed. "But I won't. Cross my heart," I said, unable to stop the rueful twist of my lips, "hope to die."

He laughed and the sound made my smile grow bigger, it was like a glimpse of normalcy—an unintentionally cruel taunt. Would I ever laugh like that again? Carefree?

"So what brings you to the library anyway?" I raised an eyebrow and he snorted. "I mean, aside from the books in general."

"Boredom. Research. Mostly I'm just nosey."

---