Page 25 of Blood Ties (City of Blood #1)
Climbing Sarah’s steps midmorning, I knock on the door for the first time in a while.
I don’t want to disturb the sleeping vampire inside.
Thinking of the fact that there is a sleeping vamp on the other side of the door still feels weird, and thinking of Sarah with him is even weirder.
It’s still Ethan, I have gotten to spend some time with him over the last few weeks, and he seems like himself.
Except he feeds on Sarah and prowls the night streets.
I don’t have any room to judge, considering my own vamp was inside me 12 hours ago. If anyone can understand, it's her.
She opens the door with a big smile on her face. “How was it?” she blurts before I can even greet her.
Frowning, I tell her, “The date was perfect. The after was not.”
“Tell me the before and then the after.”
“He took me to his apartment.” I blush as she waggles her eyebrows at me and she cackles with laughter.
“He had ordered basically a restaurant worth of different creole food; gumbo, oysters, and whatnot. Afterwards, we fooled around a little. I got his shirt off and his chest is covered in tattoos. Too many to even describe. He has words in Italian, animals, swirling inky patterns. I didn’t stop and stare, I was busy, but I will definitely try to get a better look.
Well, maybe not. Anyway, my pendant burned him which was scary, but also really interesting to see.
I haven’t been around any vamps except in the bar, no one has threatened me or anything.
After that, I learned that Bash has magic fingers and he talks me through it. ”
“I swoon!” We both dissolve into giggles.
“Seriously, it was life changing. Then, I met his mother and she said she could smell sex, before she left like that wasn’t the weirdest thing to say. It was an absolutely insane interaction.”
“Holy shit, Elina! What did he say? I can’t believe your first meeting with his mom was while you were in your post-orgasm afterglow.”
“He said he has to talk to her now and explain the situation. Speaking of ‘the situation’, the after was heartbreaking and I don’t know what to do.
When I got home, he gave me a kiss goodbye and grand-mere saw us.
Once I got inside, she lost it on me. Telling me I should be ashamed to be with him and he is the reason why I’m an orphan.
What if she’s right, Sarah? What if this is a mistake?
” My voice is quiet as I speak, my uncertainty clear.
“Does it feel like a mistake? What do you want, Elina? I know you are so used to it being you and Celeste against the world—but what about you? What will you do for yourself? Are you in love with him?” She looks so sincere and open, waiting to hear what I have to say.
“No, it doesn’t feel like a mistake. I think I want him. I don’t know what my feelings mean yet; or maybe I am avoiding acknowledging them. But it doesn’t feel wrong. It feels so right.”
“Then do what is best for you.”
Should I do what's best for me? Consequences be damned? I need to talk to Bash. I need to figure this out.
After I get to the club on Monday and get the bar set up for the night, I wait for opening time. We time our opening with the sunset, and tonight, ten minutes before the official sunset, Bash walks in the back door.
“Hey, Tesoro. I missed you while I rested. Is everything ok at home?” He leans down and steals a kiss.
“Bash? What are you doing here already? The sun doesn’t set for another 10 minutes?”
“When you’re my age and a bloodline, you get a little more freedom from the sun.
As long as I am not in direct sunlight, I could, theoretically, be outside.
” I love that he is being open with me now, telling me more about vampires but I can’t tell anyone, Sarah and I don’t even discuss these things when we’re alone.
“I still need to rest when the sun is out, so if it was really cloudy, I could be outside though I don’t tend to try.
I need to rest, like I feel it in my body.
Not tired exactly, just a drive to close my eyes.
It’s almost compulsive. Which also means I can come out before the sun sets as long as I am not in the sun.
The shadows are long now, so there are lots of places to hide. ” What an interesting revelation.
“I guess that makes sense. And everything at home is ok, mostly, but I did want to talk to you so I’m glad you’re here.
Grand-mere doesn’t approve of us. She blames you and your family for everything that has happened to mine in the last 25 years, rightfully so.
She blames you for me being an orphan. She thinks I am making a mistake. ”
“Look at me, in my eyes and tell me this feels like a mistake.” I can’t help but notice the almost-mirror to what Sarah asked me earlier.
“No, it feels like the most right thing I have ever done. And that scares the shit out of me.” He sags with relief as though he was genuinely concerned about what my answer was going to be.
“We are going to figure this out—our families will have to learn to accept it.” Hearing this from Bash sounds very much like his mother doesn’t approve either.
Maybe if everyone wants us apart, it’s the right thing to do.
For the first time, I realize that this isn’t only about me and him, or me and grand-mere.
It's about a vampire prince and his family, too.
He is the heir to a throne built by blood, and what happens when he has to make a decision about me? About us?
“I guess it didn’t go well with your mom.” I sigh, hearing the first customer walk into the bar. “I have to get to work, but good to know we have a complete uphill battle here.”