Page 20 of Bitten & Burned
He froze for a long moment. Long enough that I began to worry if I’d broken him or something by bringing up the subject.
“I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ and drop it. Heard loud and clear.”
“No, no…” Vael turned and reached for my hand. “I just… had no idea you were thinking about that.”
“I wasn’t. Not until today,” I said. “If I’m being honest, it’s because it’s something Silas mentioned in passing. I told him we haven’t been together long enough to consider it.”
“Haven’t we?” Vael asked. “Come to think of it, we’re practically living with one another as it is… It’s the logical next step.”
“What is it, though?” I asked. “Besides the obvious that I already know.”
“Well, it’s where I share my blood with you, not enough to turn you, but enough to bind you to me. The blood isn’t even important; as a witch, I’m sure you know, magic is mostly intent. The rest is just tools and conduits.”
“Right.”
“Well, that’s the case here. The blood is the tool. The conduit through which you cast the binding magic. It ties your life to mine. I’ll be able to feel you, and you, me. I’ll know your emotions, know when you’re in pain, and most importantly… so long as I don’t come close to draining you, I’ll be able to take more blood from you. More of the cursed blood. Which would help you immensely with your pain levels.”
“Right, but I don’t want to do this just for pain management,” I said. “Plus… isn’t it just vampirism-lite? Like a trial period before you would ideally turn me fully?”
“Do you wish to be turned fully?” Vael asked.
“No,” I replied. “I wish to remain the way I am.”
“Then a blood bond is the closest thing we can get to curbing your pain.”
I cocked my head slightly. “You don’t want me to become a vampire?”
“If you don’t wish for this life, darling, I don’t wish it for you. I want you to be happy in your skin. I chose this. It doesn’t mean you have to.”
He said it like a vow; part of me wanted to believe being chosen could be gentle. But another wary part knew vows in Camarae’s tongue were hard to untangle once they’d been knotted.
“Even if it means I die before you?”
“Well, a blood bond will lengthen your life considerably. And I, for one, think the pain management benefits pale in comparison to the thought of a near eternity spent with you.”
My heart hammered in my chest.Gods, I think I love him. I bit back the words, settling for a warm smile. “So you’d be willing to try it with me?”
“Didn’t think I’d ever want to—then you came along.”
I had to admit that it felt good. Too good. Gods, I hoped he wasn’t just blowing smoke up my ass. I took several breaths, counting in my head before I replied. I didn’t want to scare him off.
“Has anyone else in your coven ever bonded to someone before?”
Vael pondered the question before answering. “Cassian may have had a bond like this before, but he and his partner let it fade.”
“Let it fade?”
“Yes, if you don’t nurture the bond, it withers and dies.”
“Does that hurt?”
“It’s more emotional than physical, though Cassian mentioned there was some discomfort. Once it’s gone, though, it’s as if a weight lifts.”
I nodded, thinking it through. If none of them had bonded before, would they accept it? If I bonded with Vael, and he was connected to the others, then by extension, they’d be responsible for me. Had he thought about that angle yet?
“Do you think your coven will approve of the bond?” I asked suddenly.
Vael paused, his hand still on Fig’s back, mid-scratch. “I hadn’t really thought about it. Why do you ask?”
