Page 54 of Those That Are Lost
Claiming victory, Joey had pulled his team into celebrating. I stood with his mates for a while, warming through and drinking some hot wine. Altair and Neo chuckled as they stared on, utter adoration in their eyes as they promised their third that they would indeed uphold their bargain.
Millie works her way over, handing out burgers from the tray in her hands as she does.
“I’m guessing you don’t want one?” she asks me as Altair grabs one.
“No, thanks,” I reply.
“You really never eat food?”
“I’ve tried it, but it’s not pleasant.” My face scrunches at the thought. “I’ll stick to blood.”
“Oh, sorry. We totally should have offered you some blood. Have you drunk this evening?” Neo asks me.
“I wasn’t trying to get you to offer,” I say quickly, hoping they didn’t think I was.
“We didn’t think you were demanding,” Altair responds, swallowing a mouthful of his burger and offering a bite to his mate. “Do you want any?” He asks, holding out his free hand to me in offering, extending his wrist to expose the veins.
“You sure?”
“I wouldn’t offer otherwise.” He reassures me with a smile and I feel my fangs extend. I am hungry.
Pulling up his sleeve slightly, I dip my head to press my mouth to his skin and pierce it quickly with my canines, aiming for the largest vein. Retracting my teeth, blood immediately hits my tongue. Altair’s taste is potent. It's rich like dark chocolate but strong like raw garlic. I can taste the sweetness of the wine he’s been drinking too. I take two long pulls before pressing the flat of my tongue to the twin puncture wounds in his wrist. I feel the skin knit with my saliva as I let go.
Straightening, I feel the rush of the energy as it hits my stomach. It warms me far more than the wine and leaves a little buzz under my skin.
“Thanks,” I tell him. The fact that we’re leaving jumps to the front of my mind. Blood isn’t going to come so easily for much longer. We will be back to stealing it from unconsentingrecipients before long. That sits heavy in my stomach as my mood sours.
It’s been so freeing, being here.
Before my melancholy can take hold, Henry strides up to our little group.
“How’s it going, Rory?” He puts his arm around my shoulders and nods to the rest of the group, who have all grabbed more burgers off the tray Millie has placed on the stone pit surrounding the bonfire. “I heard you managed to best our resident shadow wielder in a snowball fight?”
I break out into a small laugh. “Yes, I managed a couple of good shots. He got me back though, and their team won overall.”
“That one you hit him with to start with was priceless,” Ash says, joining us as well.
“Wish I’d seen it. The fucker never let us strike him during combat training. He didn’t even have his magic back then but was impossible to hit.” Henry laughs.
“He was just as competitive growing up,” Ash adds.
I soak up every word as he retells us a story of when they were kids and played tag, and of how Ty sulked if he was out first.
We end up all swapping stories of growing up and our favourite childhood memories.
Somehow the conversation moves on to food and we reminisce about our favourite snacks. Henry and I, having grown up as a human and demi-Fae, regale in telling the wolves about the sweets we loved. With this island being so remote the food is in good supply but they certainly don’t have the variety like I did, and mine is limited to Henry’s, who grew up on the mainland.
“I have a question.” Millie gives me an apprehensive look when the conversation lulls.
“What is it?” I gesture for her to continue.
“Well, you don’t eat food anymore, but do you ever drink each other’s blood?”
At the unexpected question, I shoot a look at Henry. He’s no longer got his arm around me but is still at my side. How much can we tell the wolves? How much is allowed to be public knowledge these days I have no idea. Henry saves me by answering.
“Short answer, yes. Long answer, it’s complicated.” I think he’s going to leave it at that but the wolves around us all look intrigued. “Vampires bond through sharing blood under certain… circumstances but, we can also drink it for sustenance or pleasure. Vampire blood isn’t a sustainable source of nutrition. It’s potent though, as it's the concentrated minerals of whatever we’ve ingested that day.”
“Have you both tried it?” It’s Ash asking the question this time.
