Page 49 of Mortal Blood
“Celeste!” Sam hissed, looking mortified.
“No, she’s right,” I agreed. “I don’t, but Thaden owes me, and if I can use his power to make your time here better, then I will. I can’t wipe out your debts—I wish I could—but maybe I can help in other ways.”
“Some of us are glad to be here,” a male voice pointed out, and I twisted round until I saw a guy with a shaved head watching me from one of the chairs. I remembered him, too, from my last visit, and the pale brunette by his side, who I knew had been through hell on the streets before she’d made her deal.
“Like I said last year, I’m not here to screw anything up for anyone.”
“We know,” the brunette—Nikki, I was pretty sure—said. Her voice turned wistful. “I just wish I had something to look forward to when I left here. You know, other than trying to get a clan to take me in as a blood bag until I get too old and unappealing.”
The shudder that ran through her delicate frame told me exactly what she thought of that career path, and I chewed at my lower lip thoughtfully. “Okay, let me give it some thought. Meanwhile, work on that list, okay? I’ll get to lessons early for the next couple of weeks so you can give it to me without risking Demir finding out.”
Or, I hoped, Astor.
Chapter Sixteen
“You’re sure youwant to go alone?” Cole asked, pacing our dorm and looking distinctly uncomfortable at the idea.
“It’s Thaden. It’s not like I’m not alone with him all the time.”
“That’s different.”
Itwasdifferent. On those occasions, I was giving him something he wanted. This time, I’d be telling him whatIwanted, and he had a less than stellar track record of giving a shit about that. But after nearly two weeks, I finally had the list from Sam and the others, and I didn’t intend to waste a moment getting Thaden to uphold his end of the deal. Because the things on this list? They were basic fucking rights, and Demir should have provided them forallthe humans he’d tricked into being here a very long time ago.
…None of which was Cole’s fault. I caught his hand in mine, stopping him mid-pace, and run my thumbs over his palm. He turned to me, thrumming low in his throat.
“Thank you,” I said. “For caring.”
“Always,” he vowed.
“But I have to do this alone.”
He blew out a slow breath. “I know. Doesn’t mean I have to like it, though.”
I looked up at the pout on his face and couldn’t keep the grin from mine.
“What?” he demanded.
“You,” I said simply, and he tugged me to him, holding me close. “You know, when we met, I thought you were the worstthing that could possibly have happened to me.”
“I recall,” he said dryly.
“I’m glad I was wrong.”
“I’d be happier if I knew that was because you realized I’m not so bad, and not because Astor threw a whole load ofworsethings at you.”
“Oh, you’re definitely bad,” I said with a teasing grin, and he nipped at my throat. “But I like that.”
“Good. Because you’re mine, princess, and nothing is going to change that.”
I basked in his words for a long moment before sighing.
“I’d better go. Thaden will be waiting.”
I made to pull away and Cole jerked me back against him.
“Let him wait,” he rumbled, and I felt his length pressed against my stomach, hard with his need for me. His hand slipped inside my waistband, nudging my panties aside to find me wet and ready for him.
Yeah, Thaden could wait.
