Page 8 of House of Crimson Kisses
Quinn touches my hand and pulls it away from my face. “I don’t have extensive knowledge, but I know a bit about the physiology of hunters and vampires from my studies when I was an apprentice. The fae too. One thing that I never forgot is that the properties of vampire blood are…”
“Interesting?” I try to shrug it off with a laugh, but it comes out like a stifled cough.
“Did you fall for the vampire you were dosing from?” Morrigan asks, taking me by surprise.
I glance at Bella and then tear my eyes away and nod.
It makes Morrigan’s lips purse. “I, too, have studied vampire physiology, history, anthropology and politics. You understand it’s expected as part of my role?”
I wince as I say, “It gets worse.”
Bella inhales a sharp breath. “I will actually drown you, Red, I swear to the gods. I will murder you, bring you back to life, and then murder you again for good measure. What have you done?”
Quinn’s eyes flick a surreptitious glance at Morrigan. I suspect between the two of them, they already have the answer to that question.
“You bonded yourself to them, didn’t you?” Quinn asks.
I nod meekly and keep my eyes low.
“I suspect the binding is why you collapsed. Where is she? This vampire you—” Morrigan cuts herself off and then kneels in front of me, gripping my shoulders. Her nails aren’t sharp, but her fingers grip tight enough to shock me. “Did you run? Please tell me she knows where you are, and you didn’t run…”
“Morrigan, what is it? What the hell is wrong?” Bella says, her voice pitching up.
But it’s Quinn who answers. “If she ran, that’s why her chest was hurting. When you bind yourself to a vampire, you can’t leave them. Like EVER.”
“How could you bind yourself without knowing all the fucking consequences, Red?” Bella’s pacing intensifies.
Morrigan pulls me to standing. “No wonder you collapsed. Your entire system is tied to hers. You need to leave. Now. You have a standing welcome because of what you did for this city, I’m not banishing you. But you can’t be here like this. You need to leave right now before this vampire c?—”
“Shit,” I say, cutting her off. “I collapsed from the pain, straining the bond, I suspect, but now… Now, I’m better…”
“Which means…” Quinn says, her eyes darting in the direction of the tunnels.
Morrigan whirls around. “Scarlett! Get to the tun—” but the word is swallowed as I put my hand over her mouth.
It’s too late. I sense her. It wasn’t Quinn’s tea, or at least it wasn’t all the tea. I’m better because she came after me. Hunted me down like prey. Ironic, right? The hunter becomes the hunted. Oh Octavia, you should be proud.
“Sweet mother of fuck. There hasn’t been a vampire in this city in centuries,” Bella whispers.
“I’ll leave,” I say, releasing Morrigan and sprinting towards the tunnel entrance.
But I am too late because beneath the curve of the New Imperium tunnel arch, buried in the murky gloom, is the shadow of a vampire.
A vampire I recognise. A vampire whose blood calls to me, as if my hunger summoned her.
Her foot hovers in the light of a lamppost, waiting, no doubt, because she knows she’ll cause shit if she steps onto the city grounds.
“Octavia, don—” I bark.
But she steps into the light as a set of Katana swords press against her neck and heart.
Chapter4
OCTAVIA
“If you value breathing, I would advise you to remove that blade from my neck,” I say.
“Thanks, but I’ll keep it where it is,” a woman snarls. “Move an inch, I dare you.”
