Page 40 of Love Bites
It hurt more than any other punishment.
18
“Let him go.” Ignacio’s mother said. “Eat. Then you will speak to him.”
Katheryn sighed and took her advice. It wouldn’t do to speak to Ignacio on an empty stomach. She might lose her cool again. When she spoke to him, she wanted to do so with a level head and a clear mind.
She must also save her strength, in case he tried to bite her again. She would fight him off if it came down to that.
Cautiously, she took their bowls to the table and sat down with Josefina to eat in an awkward silence.
* * *
Katheryn foundIgnacio in the attic after searching for him in the entire house. Ignacio had his back to her as he sat before a black, grand piano. He was bent over the keyboard, his fingers moving sensually and expertly.
The dark, sad melody changed tempo suddenly into one that seemed very familiar to Katheryn, though she couldn’t remember from where. Ignacio’s body relaxed as he swayed gently from side to side, seeming to follow his fingers as they danced across the keys.
Katheryn had the urge to put her hand on his shoulder, but she fought the impulse. She wasn’t here to comfort him. She was here to listen to an explanation then leave. She wouldn’t stay at his home any longer than necessary.
“So, you’re a vampire.” The statement was fact and accusation together. Her voice was harsh and sharp, intended to cut him like a knife.
Fingers faltered against the keys, then there was silence. It was a long moment before he slowly turned and glanced up. He looked so tired so...defeated.
“I am,” he said. “I am a vampire.”
“Why didn’t you tell me when we first met?” she demanded angrily. “Or even after we started seeing each other? After we had—” she cut off the sentence and bit her bottom lip.
Ignacio sighed and ran a hand through his already mussed hair.
“I will not make excuses to you Katheryn. I will not say ‘I thought...’ this or ‘I wanted...’ that. The truth is I was a coward. I was afraid you wouldn’t want me once you realized what I was.”
As he spoke, she saw the yellow of his honey gaze was rimmed red, flashing like police sirens.
“I deserved to know,” she said, angrily. She refused to let his wounded puppy look affect her. She’d stand her ground without weakness, without mercy.
“You did.”
“I was always honest with you,” Katheryn continued. “I told you about my life, about my parents, about Hunter. But you...you couldn’t tell me you’re a vampire? You lied to me.”
“I did. I’m sorry. I know nothing can make up for what I did. I lied, and I bit you without you knowing what I am, but now, I’m willing to answer any and all questions...with honesty.”
Katheryn looked at him.Reallylooked at him. Despite his perfect, handsome features, Ignacio had creases in his forehead and dark smudges beneath his eyes. She’d never seen him look so weary. He was even a little pale.
“How long has it been since you’ve last eaten...or drank or whatever?” She eyed him suspiciously. If they were going to talk, she didn’t want him to take a chomp out of her midsentence.
He shrugged. “Since I bit you.”
“Do you get hungry every day?”
“Yes, like any human. The longest any vampire has gone without bloodwithoutgoing insane was about six months...that I know of.”
“Tell me about your species. What’s it like? Do you see in color? Or do you see red? Your mother kind of explained stuff to me, but her accent is very heavy, and her English isn’t so great.”
He seemed amused by the spate of questions. It was the scientist in her. Katheryn wanted to document everything, wanted to ask every question she could think of so she wouldn’t forget. Oh, if only she had a notepad.
She shook her head, reminding herself Ignacio wasn’t some speck under a microscope to be studied. He was a human being—er, vampire—and she was asking questions about him, his life and not about anything else.
“Always the scientist,” he replied. “Yes, I see in color. As for my species, there are two types of vampires: ones who are born and ones who are turned. We call them Natural Born and Made vampires. Although both have the same virus in their system, the two types are different.”
