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“Dream on,” the sunshine personified said haughtily.

“Excuse me? If we are playing board games, I’m going to be the one to kick your ass,” I declared with my hands on my hips.

We narrowed our eyes at each other, all three of us seizing our opponents up.

“How about a bet,” I said.

Chapter Sixteen

It turned out we were pretty evenly matched in most games and the competitive spirit meant no one folded willingly but, in the end, Theo triumphed. I took second place which kept me safe from the bet, and Matthias lost.

He wasn’t happy when the blond chose his prize. Theo demanded that tomorrow, after I finished my work, Matthias was to spend the day away from me. The older vampire was furious. There was a terse word exchange that put me on edge, after which Theo pulled me to the side.

“I know it’s underhanded but it’s for his own good,” he explained. “At first, we didn’t have access to proper food here, like we have at home, just, ah, some refrigerated options that don’t help that much, but now I have scouted the area and we have other venues. Matthias still refuses to go replenish himself because he would have to be absent from your side for at least a few hours to visit the hospital we made a deal with or cruise for willing blood donors in one of the supernatural clubs.”

“Feeding from me wasn’t enough?” I asked.

“It helped a lot. But it’s a strain on your body, especially if you aren’t on the right diet,” Theo frowned. “It’s better to not rely on your blood for everyday maintenance of our bodies and to keep it for emergency or for... ahem... entertainment use.”

I flushed, remembering fresh blood was vital for an erection to happen for a vampire. I supposed what Theo was saying made sense; if even continuous feeding of one vampire would be taxing on my body I didn’t have a chance in hell if all three of them wanted to make me their main source of blood.

“I will talk to him,” I promised.

Theo left with a firm nod and I let Matthias do several sets of exercises in the middle of the room, as he tried to channel his anger into motion, before I approached him.

“You chose Tristan as your leader because you believe he will make the right decisions for you,” I stated quietly. “Tell me then: would he approve of you taking time off from guarding me to take care of yourself?”

“You know he would,” Matthias said, sulking. “But I just found you. I never want to leave your side again.”

That was... terrifying in the sweetest of ways.

“Hey, Theo won’t let anything happen to me. I will be here when you get back,” I promised. “I don’t have a phone but how about you text or call Theo and I will respond? Will that help?”

Matthias finally turned to me, his stiff shoulders slumping.

“Yes, it will help. Please,” he said.

That night he held me particularly tightly and his glare scared away anyone who dared to come close to me during my work time, but when Theo approached us he closed his hands into fists and darted off, as if he knew he had to tear himself from me or he would stay attached forever.

“Well, that went well,” Theo commented and we shared amused smiles.

We made our way back to my room.

“What’s the plan? Do you want to do anything specific or just hang?” I waved at my pretty bare room that didn’t offer many entertainment options.

Theo was opening his mouth to answer when a chirp from his phone interrupted him.

“Apparently what we are doing is answering Matthias’s texts,” he sighed, as he shot off a quick response. “Does he really have to interrupt my date before it even begins?”

“Is it a date?” I asked nonchalantly.

“It is if I give you this,” Theo said smugly and pushed a box of chocolates at me.

Strawberry chocolates. As in: real strawberries covered in chocolate.

“Damn, you don’t play fair,” I whistled.

“Only the best for you,” Theo promised. “Does it mean you will give me a chance?”