Page 40 of Absolution

Seiran is mad at me. He acts like he’s the ruler of your life. It drives me nuts because I know he’s just trying to protect you.

That’s not his place though. I want it to be mine.

Sigh.

You’ve been asleep a long time.

Things are bad topside. Folks are talking war.

We’re pretty sure it’s the QuickLife.

Something in the formula.

Don’t drink the synthetic crap.

When you’re back, pick me.

I talk to you sometimes when I’m visiting, but I don’t know if you hear me.

I miss our online chats and your sarcastic emails.

The weather is warming up, you should wake up now.

I lost a cage fight yesterday. My face hurts from the beating I took. My pride hurts more.

Will you fight me again?

The lost fight was less than a week ago, though he’d looked okay when he’d brought me home. Crap, he was sappy. Was it funny that even his random texts made something in my stomach clench? Damn Luca Depacio for getting in my head.

I sent him a text.

You still awake?

It was almost one in the morning.

Yes.An immediate reply.

You’re kind of a text freak. Texting me the whole time I was to ground. Why not just keep a love diary or something?

Jerk.

Asshole.

Your asshole if you want it.

I laughed out loud and had to cover my mouth so I didn’t wake the babies or Seiran. Crap where had that come from? When was the last time I’d laughed? Grade school maybe? Fuck.

Come over.

Would Con get mad? Was I cheating on Con by seeing Luca if Con had never told me he wanted me before? Wait, he had, I just thought he was being nice. Fuck. I so didn’t need this insanity in my head. Going to ground should have fixed all my life troubles, right? I laughed again. Life. I was a vampire. I didn’t have a life.

Seiran’s?My phone buzzed. Technically Seiran’s place was upstairs, where I was pretty sure Con was staying.

Gabe’s. He’s not here. Seiran is asleep.

Give me ten.

Be careful.I sent him.