Page 129 of The Howl
“We’ve already established the opposite. There’s no need to be polite about it.” He claimed the chair near mine. “Have you ever considered feeding from me?”
My eyes nearly popped from my head as I turned to look at him. He chuckled.
“The idea shouldn’t be that shocking. It’s not like I’m suggesting sex,” he said. “You said I smell good, and we’ve proven that I don’t turn into a Eugene junior when you hug me. What if I’m like Mrs. Quill, and you could feed from me without any issues?”
I was shaking my head before he finished.
“Oh, there would be issues, Fenris. Lots of issues. Your resistance to me is hypothetical, and I don’t ever want to test it. It wouldn’t be safe.”
He studied me for a moment then looked at the flames.
“Fine. But if Mrs. Quill is immune, others could be as well. You should ask your mom that, too. I don’t like the idea of you going hungry.”
I reached over and patted his hand that was resting on the arm of his chair.
“Don’t worry. It’ll be fine. Once my hair dries, I’ll talk to Mom like you suggested. If she reacts like I think she will, I’ll be feeding on humans in New York tonight.”
Saying it made me feel dead inside. I really hoped Fenris was right and Mom would listen.
“And if she accepts what you say, will you go back to feeding from Mrs. Quill?”
The immediate surge of resentment I felt at the idea worried me. Would I be able to go back to feeding that way? I wasn’t so sure I’d be able to forgive her abandonment of me.
* * *
I walked into the house,struggling between my desire to turn around and leave again and my need to reclaim my life. Fenris’s parting words helped bolster my courage and kept me moving forward.
“Go show them how strong you really are,” he’d said. “And when you’re done making them cry, I’m here for as many hugs as you need.”
I pressed the intercom and listened to the click of it echo through the house.
“Mom, I’d like to speak to you in the kitchen, please.”
Releasing the button, I claimed a seat at the island and waited. The location was strategic. She would need to come to me, not the other way around. And it was close to my car if I needed to take off again.
The thought had barely left me when the door to the garage opened.
“Hello, Eliana,” Adira said.
I frowned at her.
“What were you doing in the garage?”
“Oh, last week, I noticed your paint had some heat damage. I haven’t had a chance to address it. When I saw you come, I took the opportunity.”
“You fixed it?”
“No, I transported the car to someone who can.”
“You took my car?”
It didn’t matter that I hadn’t paid for it or that she’d been the one to give it to me. It was my car. My only means of escaping this house not on foot.
“Only for a few days. You won’t even miss it.”
I strove to find the words to adequately convey my hate of her manipulative nature. Before what I felt could spill forward, Mom walked in.
“Baby, you had us all worried,” she said, coming to me and giving me a tight hug. She pulled back to look at me.
