Page 67 of Fall of Dawn

“She never belonged to you.”

“And you think she belonged to you?”

I smirk.

“You got her killed. You know that, right? She went there to save you, and look what happened. In typical vampire fashion, you survived, and the human died. This truce is nothing but a smokescreen.”

“She saved your life.”

“What?” He cuts his eyes toward me. “What did you say?”

“I would’ve killed you many times over, but she stayed my hand. You owe her your life. She wasn’t your friend; she was your benefactor. A saint, as far as you’re concerned.” I turn to him, the vein below his jaw pulsing rapidly. I’d rather drain him and leave his corpse for the crows than be subjected to his idiocy any longer, but a deal is a deal. “She was nothing short of your god.”

He grits his teeth, his hands tightening on the wheel. “She meant more to me than you will ever understand.”

“True. I could never understand the inner workings of a wretch such as yourself. Small favors.”

He stomps on the brakes, the vehicle screeching to a smoking halt beside an abandoned farm.

“Out.”

“Pardon?”

He reaches for the pistol on his hip.

I break his wrist easily.

He yells and tries to knife me with his other hand. I redirect his swipe so that he stabs himself in the leg. Another yell.

Maybe I’m not killing anyone today, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have some fun.

“Fucking asshole!” He grips the knife handle as I step out of the vehicle.

I much prefer to walk anyway. The air is nice, crisp and promising snow, a palate cleanser after the tang of his blood.

He’s miles behind me in mere moments, my pace picking up even more as I near home.

Home.

The thought of it makes me feel almost light, as if I could sprout wings like a Corvidion and spring into the air.

The idea of somethingmine.

And somethingshared.

She’s bent over a microscope when I creep into her lab, her hair swept up in a messy bun, giving me the perfect view of her delicate neck. I ease closer, my fangs lengthening.

“You realize I can hear you now, right?” She turns, her eyes glinting as she smiles at me.

“Must you ruin my fun?” I capture her in my arms, inhaling her, surrounding myself with her.

“I’ll play along next time. Is that what you want?” She gets onto her tiptoes and kisses me, her adorable little fangs pressing into my bottom lip. I lick along them, drawing blood and sharing it with her.

Her arms twine around my neck, her body warm as I pull her tightly to me.

“How did it go?”

“Worried for me?”