Page 35 of Caller of Crows

Keegan raised an eyebrow at him.

"Don't look at me like that," Altair grumbled.

"Like what? I'm just looking."

Altair scowled at Keegan and the other vampire held his hands up in surrender.

"Fine, fine, don't get upset." Keegan took a seat at his computer again. "You do what you think is wise, my lord."

Altair heard the mocking tone in Keegan's voice but chose not to comment or act on it. Instead, he turned his attention back to Sven's phone.

There were several notifications, a mix of app updates, and unanswered texts. Sven was popular, or at least, his friends were very talkative. Altair found himself a little intrigued, but he didn't open the conversations.

Instead, his gaze caught on the phone's background picture. A photograph of a beautiful sunrise above the city. It was breathtaking, the sky a canvas of oranges and pinks, the sun peeking over the horizon and casting a golden glow over the buildings below. The picture almost made Altair feel the warmth of the rising sun on his skin, a memory from a time long past.

Had Sven taken this picture himself?

Could someone who took pictures like that truly give up the sun?

ChapterTwelve

Something about Sven's words must have stuck with Altair because a few hours after the vampire left, other vampires of lower rank brought a TV into the room. And not just that, they also brought a whole lot of DVDs and books.

It was a nice gesture, even if the TV didn't have cable and the books were a mixture of trashy romances and thrillers. Still, Sven was surprised. He'd expected the vampire not to pay him any more attention now that he had his fill of mortal blood and mortal sex.

Sven flushed a deep crimson at that thought.

A vampire might have no trouble separating sex and feelings, but Sven wasn't as detached. He'd never had a casual hookup, never had sex just because.

Much less with a man. His community had been far too close-minded for that.

His fingers traced his lips, remembering the feeling of Altair's. He had no idea what the vampire thought of him. Altair was impossible to read. One minute, the vampire was threatening him, the next, kissing him.

Would he ever turn Sven, though?

Or was Altair simply toying with him?

Sven had no idea, and while having the TV helped, it wasn't enough.

He was used to being busy, taking care of his mom, preparing food, accepting all sorts of odd jobs toaffordthat food…

Doing nothing wasn't like him, and he was incredibly bored.

Worse, his thoughts kept straying back to Altair, to the way his fangs felt, the way he'd felt inside him.

Sven's cock stirred, and he groaned.

Fuck.

What was wrong with him?

He should be focusing on helping his mother, not lusting after a vampire.

His gaze settled on the crow who'd been his only companion for the last few hours. If Sven wasn't mistaken, that bird was keeping watch on him for Altair. Like a camera.

He couldn't help but wonder.

Was Altair watching him right now?