Page 43 of Night's Reckoning
“Speaking of drinks,” Kadek said. “What will be the policy on the boat?”
“Preserved blood only,” Cheng said. “If you want fresh, feed before we leave port.”
Kadek wasn’t pleased. “There will be more than enough humans—”
“Who are guests of the ship.” Cheng added something quietly in a language Ben didn’t speak.
Kadek fell silent, but Ben could see him brooding.
“Preserved blood,” Cheng said. “And blood-wine. We will bring stores of both. We’ll be too far offshore to hunt, but those who are diving will need to be mindful to keep their amnis fed.”
Kadek looked like he wanted to speak, but he pressed his lips together and said nothing.
Interesting.
Ben would have to keep an eye on that.
12
Ben met Tenzin on the same balcony where he’d left her the night before. She wore her usual uniform of black leggings and a loose black tunic. This one was sleeveless and bared the smooth curve of her shoulders, the subtle muscles in her arms, and her delicate wrists.
Had he ever dismissed her as anything but utterly beautiful? If he had, he was a fool.
She was standing on the edge of the balcony, looking outward at the city. Fog drifting in from the ocean hung over the lights downtown.
“It’s a good night for flying,” she said.
“How long will it take to get there?” Ben was wearing a pair of grey linen pants and a black T-shirt.
She glanced at him. “With your weight added, maybe half an hour.”
“I forgot how close it is.”
“Yes.”
“Why aren’t you staying there?”
She turned her dark grey eyes up to him. “Is my presence here distracting?”
“Just wondering why you trust Cheng so much.”
“My day chambers here are very secure. And you know I don’t sleep.”
He lifted his hand and ran his palm over the nape of her neck and the shorn black hair on her neck. It was soft. He wanted to put his mouth on her neck. Wanted to run his lips along the curve of her ear.
You want to bite her.
Was it payback or something more?
Tenzin’s skin prickled in the darkness. “I flew to New York a month ago so Breanna could cut it.”
“It looks great.” He ran his fingertips up her neck. “I was in Rome a month ago.”
“I know.”
“Can you see the bruises?”
“Yes. They’re faded, but they’re there. Who put them on you?”
