Page 59 of These Eternal Bones
I don’t say it out loud, something I’m sure he’s grateful for as he tells the Chimera to bring my paint set to the library. The older man glances at me, an odd look in his eyes, which I dutifully ignore. Elric has beengetting…more possessive. I’ve found that my interactions, even simple ones, put everyone in danger. It doesn’t take research to assume that’s due to him ignoring the bond. That concept alone feels like tar in my chest.
I wrap myself around him, pressing kisses to his neck in thanks, until I realize we aren’t heading to the library at all. “Elric, this isn’t the way to the library.” I sigh, straightening.
“Quite right, my love. I’ve decided I will have you first.”
“Oh yeah? And if I say no?”
He chuckles, his chest rumbling, setting off butterflies in my stomach. “You won’t.”
He’s right, I won’t.
It takes another week before he relaxes while we’re in the library. Or perhaps he’s merely distracted today, judging by the way he can’t seem to keep his claws hidden… it’s a bad day to live in his mind. His eyes track every stroke of my brush, adoringly as always, but there’s something more too, a predatory edge.
He hasn’t been feeding.
It's been ten days since the last time, and I cannot begin to describe the odd way in which I ache for the press of his fangs. It feels slimy, taking advantage of his current state, but it’s the only chance I’ll get, the only chancewe’llget. As the days pass, it only becomes more nagging and more insistent. I bat the guilt toward the back of my mind, steeling myself before letting out a very sudden, very forced cough.
He's at my side before it finishes. “Molly?”
The worry in his voice needles at my chest as I keep up the act, clearing my throat a time or two. “I’m okay. The cold air, I think, is doing a number on my throat.” I don’t even know if that makes sense. His concern is a tangible thing as he touches and frets, studying every breath as he reaches into me, tugging gently at my blood.
It’s not a particularlyfunfeeling, but it no longer holds the horror it once did.
“Perhaps some tea, though? With honey.” I cough again for good measure.
“Of course.” He rights himself, scanning the room for something.
No, someone.
My heart lurches, my hand covering his on my shoulder. “You sent the selkie away, remember?”
“Why?” he utters it before he means to. The look of frustration on his face is enough to have me batting tears from my eyes.
“She and Tien went into town. The woman from the barter shop had said she found some things that might interest you.”
His growl sets off deep in his chest, his tendrils snapping and writhing, betraying his agitation. “Yes. I’ll grab it for you.” He leans down, capturing my lips in a kiss that has a shocking amount of fang before he stalks from the room.
That…worked better than I had hoped.
“Please be careful of the ladder. It was a weak step toward the top.”
I all but scramble from my seat, gathering my skirts in my palms as I race over to the ladder at the back of the winding, twisted library. Nothing had struck me as odd about the way Cartiel offered that information at first, but after nearly two weeks to stew, it occurred to me I’m nearly certain he would rather lick the dirt underneath Jin’s hooves than be remotely thoughtful.
But what he would enjoy is disturbing any semblance of peace for my mate.
The thought angers me as much as I’m grateful for it this time.
I force myself to slow as I climb the ladder, testing each rung, finding them all sturdy and sound. My eyes scan rapidly over the dusty, aged spines of the books. How long does it take for an immortal vampire who doesn’t eat human food to make a cup of tea?
I’m about to find out.
I’m less gentle than I’d like to be as I jerk book after book out, most of the spines missing titles. My heart races in my chest like a runaway train when, time and time again, I find nothing of importance, losing precious seconds struggling with some words. My skin breaks out in a cold sweat, the prickle of awareness making me jerk my head around toward the doorway, finding it empty. My eyes scan the room until they graze the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the bluff.
Focus, Molly, focus!
I step up higher, as high as the latter will allow. Vertigo swaying when I glance up and see how close I am to the vaulted ceiling. My hair falls into my face as I jerk my head down, back to my task, until something catches my eye. A little ways down, wrapped in paper, is a large stack of books, free from dust. My eyes widen as I strain to reach it, my shoulder aching, but there’s no time to climb down and move the ladder. My breath all but stops dead as I only grace it with my fingers, inching it closer and closer to me.
Please. Please. Please.
