Page 64 of A Hunt Bound in Blood

“Burn pile with these, yeah?” she asked, and didn’t wait for confirmation before she tossed them into the corner. “Don’t worry, I’ll get you something clean and dry. You won’t be walking out of here buck naked.” She waggled her eyebrows. “We wouldn’t steal the fun of getting into that state on your own.”

“We’re not sleeping together.” I stepped foot into the water and all embarrassment—gods, all thought of Cammon—disappeared. “How is it possible the water is so hot?”

Bathwater hot. Not quite scalding, but enough to give my skin a delicious zing. My shivers kicked up in response, but they washed away as I sank neck deep into the spring with a moan.

Kalla settled on a wooden bench set along the wall to my left and stretched her legs out in front of her. “Thank the dragons. Their fire boils the snow that settles on the peaks, and it has just enough time to cool before it reaches us.”

As I got comfortable, my drifting thoughts returned to Cammon and how he would react to such a luxury after so many days of cold rivers and rough sleeping accommodations. Would his heavy muscles relax in the water, or would they stiffen first, unused to the aggressive temperature? I pictured the steam clinging to his chest and dampening his hair. The way he might card his fingers through the chestnut locks to brush them out of his face, his biceps and forearm flexing with the gesture.

I shook off the fantasy before I sank too deep into it and forced my attention back to Kalla. “You’re not partaking?”

“It’s to my benefit to stay dressed. You are naked and sitting beneath me, leaving you in a more vulnerable position. Far more likely to answer all my questions honestly—or at least fumble any attempt to lie.”

Again, I had to laugh. “Your methods of power play are unique.”

“Yeah, well, you seem clever enough that trying to get one over on you would be a waste of time. Also, where’s the fun? People get confused when I put everything out in the open. They get distracted searching for what I might be covering up.”

I laid my arms along the edge of the stone and closed my eyes. “I can be as open as you are. I have no secrets.” Not that these vampires didn’t already know, anyway.

The shock of that truth had left me reeling when we’d walked through the main cavern, but now that it had settled, I found myself weightless. I didn’t need to shrink or lower my eyes or pretend to be weak with these vampires. They knew what I was and had just as much to lose as I did if anyone discovered them here. If they did choose to attack me, at least I could defend myself with everything I had.

“Really? None?” Kalla leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “Then please, tell me. How are you not sleeping with that man?”

Was she still going on about that?

“I met Cammon a little less than two weeks ago for one thing. Second, he’s a demon. Everything about him is made to be appealing so he can feed on our emotions. Third, he plays the rake for the newspapers. All fake charm. So yes, he’s gorgeous. And sexy. And alluring. But it’s a trap. One I do not mean to fall into.”

How much of that did I believe anymore? The first was fact. Two weeks was not enough to truly get to know anyone. Even when faced with life-threatening puzzles and late-night attacks. As for the not falling… No, I wouldn’t. That had to stay true as well.

“And?”

Her simple question, uttered as though nothing I’d said was cause for concern, made me crack one eye open. “That’s not enough?”

“Gloria, darling—”

“Glory, please. I’m only Gloria when I’m in trouble.”

“Gloria, darling, everything you just described could as easily apply to you. Except maybe the rake part. I know we found you straddling that delicious demon, but everything you just said screams prude.” When I raised an eyebrow, she leaned in closer. “You’re a vampire. You were made to captivate.” She leaned back and crossed one ankle over the other. “And if his behaviour is anything to go by, he has been properly captivated. Not many people would risk challenging Thorn.”

I closed my eyes again. “He reacted that way because of the temporary bond. May I repeat, we’ve only known each other for two weeks. Going that far is not something he’d be inclined to do without that push.”

“Temp—so you’ve fed on him?”

The joy in her voice, the need for the latest gossip, was so instantaneous, so natural, I felt as though I were sitting in my apartment with Ashara. I didn’t know this woman. Hardly any time ago, I wasn’t sure if she would tear out my throat, yet I couldn’t help but warm to her.

Olodin, it had been so long since I’d enjoyed the easiness of a friendship that I was too quick to give in. But what did it matter? For the first time in years, I didn’t need to fear my nature coming out. I didn’t need to hide behind excuses or lies or innocent-looking storage containers for my blood supply.

The freedom my companion allowed me caused my throat to tighten and tears to sting my eyes, but I breathed through the wave of emotion and nodded.

“We were attacked by shifters. Cammon didn’t know what I was at the time, so I couldn’t fight as hard to protect myself. The encounter nearly did me in. My blood reserve was too far, scattered somewhere in the camp, so Cammon offered—well, forced me to drink from him is perhaps more accurate.”

Footsteps padded nearby, and I opened my eyes to find Kalla walking a circle around the spring, taking me in. “You look pretty well healed except for the fresh wounds from tonight. How long ago was this attack?”

“Two nights ago? Three?”

A smile crinkled her eyes. “And you think it’s the bond that pushed him to stand over you like he was ready to go toe to toe with an elder vampire?”

A flutter stirred in my stomach. “You don’t?”