Page 43 of Bullets and Blood (Hunting Hearts #1)

Chapter Thirty-Six

On day six, Lance woke on the floor, surrounded by his destruction. His knuckles were caked in blood, and he had scratches all down his arms and legs where he’d tried to spill his own blood to stop the burn in his skin.

But today, his skin didn’t burn, and his mouth didn’t hurt.

The light didn’t stab his eyes.

His head didn’t pound with his own heartbeat.

The fresh cuts on his lip from his fangs stung, and his throat was raw.

He catalogued other aches and strange sensations as he lay there for a little longer, staring at the shadows on the ceiling.

What had Nix said about being turned? He’d had the hunger, and Nix had been with him for that.

They fed and fucked, and then he’d woken alone, not because Nix hated him the way he’d thought yesterday, but because he knew what happened next.

He swallowed and his throat felt as though it were cracking. He needed water. He was thirsty and hungry. He needed more than blood. He needed Nix.

Slowly, he forced himself up. His body was his, but it felt strange, as though he’d put on new skin, and it didn’t fit quite right. The damage to the bedding, and the bed, was too great for him to fix. If he knocked on the door, would it be open?

He wasn’t ready to find out.

He showered and put on the loose pajamas that had been placed near the door for him.

He hadn’t even thought about clothing before today.

He drank water until his stomach was full, and after staring at himself in the mirror and pushing back on his fangs with his fingers, he managed to get them to flick back against the roof of his mouth.

He looked as rough as he felt. His hair stood on end, and he was in need of a shave, and he had Nix’s bite marks all over him.

But he felt if not human, then something as close to it as he was ever going to be.

Dressed and with the blood washed off, revealing new pink skin on his knuckles, he knocked softly on the door, hoping someone was on the other side and that they would speak to him. “I’ll behave if you let me out.”

He rested his forehead on the door near the bloody smears he’d made. He didn’t remember doing half the damage he saw to himself or the room. The lock clicked, and Lance stepped back.

The door opened, and Nix stood there with his hair loose, wearing jeans and a T-shirt with bare feet. He wasn’t holding his stomach, and he’d shaved, so he looked entirely too edible.

Lance licked his lip as his gaze landed on Nix’s neck. His pulse was so welcoming…

His fangs flicked forward, and he gasped. He shouldn’t be thinking of his boyfriend that way.

Nix’s eyes widened. “That’ll pass…mostly.”

Nix’s smile was missing, and he was as cautious as a kicked dog.

“Was I horrible yesterday?”

Nix shrugged and glanced away. “I was wondering if you’d be happy to see me at your door. Or if you meant what you said.”

He could barely remember what he’d said, but his throat still ached from yelling. “Whatever I said, I didn’t mean.”

Nix pressed his lips together and nodded. “Were you really there the night of the slaughter?”

Lance frowned. “Only as a driver.” His heart sank. “What did I say?”

“That you wished you’d been in there to make sure none of us got out alive.” Nix watched him with wary eyes.

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember saying that. Have you been outside my room all week?”

“Only for bits and pieces, but I was there for most of yesterday until they dragged me away.”

Lance looked at the floor. “Why would you want to listen to that?”

“Because some of it, you meant. There’s truth in the rage. I never forgave my mother, and she knew that.”

“Even now?”

“Even now,” Nix said, his voice flat. “Death isn’t an easy thing to get past.”

Lance didn’t know what to say. He didn’t hate Nix for killing him. he’d hated being left alone and not knowing more about what would happen. His family had never shared those details freely, and there’d been no chance to learn. “I forgive you. You needed my blood to heal.”

Nix opened his mouth as though to argue and then closed it.

“Would you rather be dead?”

Nix pressed his lips together, then sighed.

“No. But I killed you, and I need to forgive myself for that.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

“If you feel up to it, you can come down for breakfast. Otherwise, I can get something sent up.” He looked past Lance.

“Although you might want to let someone go in and tidy up.”

His legs were tired, as though he’d been running all night. Maybe it was weakness from yesterday’s misplaced rage. He leaned against the doorframe, but he didn’t want to spend another day in his room alone.

“Can we not share a room now?” He needed to know if Nix was still his. Or if he’d ever really been his. “I’m sorry I was awful.”

“It’s okay.” Nix didn’t meet his gaze, and he kept his hands in his pockets.

“It’s not. I don’t know what came over me.” He’d had no control, and it terrified him; it was the same urge he’d felt when he had Nix pinned beneath him. It was a part of himself he didn’t want to face.

“It’s what makes you stronger and faster, but if you don’t get it under control, it can be destructive.” Nix watched him as though he expected Lance to tear him apart. “It’s a normal part of being turned.”

Normal didn’t make it right.

“Did I bite you terribly and make your dislike of being bitten worse?” He couldn’t see any bite marks on Nix, but that didn’t mean they weren’t hidden. “Did I hurt you?”

Nix shook his head. “No, you were lovely. Mostly scratching and sucking, and I didn’t mind at all, but you need practice. You need to be safe.” He managed a small smile. “We can work on that.”

We can work on that. That was promising.

Lance offered his hand, hoping Nix would take it and bridge the gap that had formed. “Are we okay?”

Nix nodded, but it was unconvincing.

“I swore to the Reids yesterday.” Nix took Lance’s hand and turned it palm up.

There was no diamond tattoo marring his skin.

“They want to talk to you today. You gave up everything and were a little resentful about it yesterday. They’ll have a few questions for you before you can get marked.

” Nix showed Lance his bare wrists. “But we can do that together. If you want.”

Lance grasped both Nix’s hands. “They can wait. I need to know you don’t hate me.”

“I don’t hate you. I love you. You didn’t have to come to the warehouse. You could’ve left me, but you came with me to save me. Then you saved me again when I drank your blood. I don’t know how to repay that.”

“You don’t have to.”

Nix frowned. “I do.”

“You don’t owe me anything. That’s not how love works. I just want to be with you…even if you are trouble.”

Nix stepped forward and hugged him. Lance nearly fell over out of shock before wrapping his arms around him.

“Are you sure you’re okay? The Nix I know wouldn’t hug unless he was planning to stab me in the kidneys.”

“No weapons. I’m practically naked.”

Lance kissed him, trying to be careful not to cut either of their lips with his new fangs and failing. “Maybe after breakfast, I can make that totally naked.”

* * *

Getting naked had to wait. Lance was taken away as soon as they’d had breakfast in the dining room that overlooked the garden.

Nix sat there alone, drinking coffee and reading the paper and trying not to be nervous on Lance’s behalf.

He finished the paper, then fiddled around on the new phone for a bit, wondering what was taking so long.

He tried to log into the Hadley site only to find his password no longer worked. He wasn’t surprised at all. Tension crawled through him until he couldn’t sit still, so he started pacing. What were they asking Lance?

What if he answered wrong?

After another hour, Garrick turned up. “They’re ready for you.”

Nix followed him to a large lounge room.

Fifteen vampires sat or stood around to witness or ward off trouble.

In the middle was Ann Reid and another woman who was unpacking her tattoo gun on the coffee table.

Lance sat opposite them, and Nix joined him.

He stretched his fingers out to brush Lance’s and for a moment they held tight.

“This is a special occasion. Two new Reids ,” Ann said. “One by blood and one by oath.”

“Put your left arm on the table, wrist up,” Ann’s niece said.

Nix had been marked many times before. A tattoo was clear for three months on a blooded vampire, after that it faded to an illegible smudge. Nix released Lance’s hand and put his arm out.

She drew the heart in pen and repeated the shape on Lance’s arm. “Same needle, boys, or too soon?”

Word travelled fast.

Lance smiled. “It’s fine.”

Nix glanced at him. Did he realize the implications?

Ann’s niece lifted an eyebrow at him, and Nix nodded. Guess they were a recognized couple.

She inked the outline of a red heart on the inside of Nix’s wrist and then filled it in with the bright red ink of the Reids.

His skin heated. Every time it was redone, he’d have to swear to Ann Reid that he was still loyal.

The last part of his skin was colored. She gave it a wipe and then turned to Lance.

Nix flexed his wrist, studying his new mark.

New ink. New start. New life.