Page 31

I didn’t know much about Vlad the Impaler. I wasn’t exactly allowed to learn about those kinds of things, and I hadn’t had time to fill in all the blanks I wanted to. Even the vampires seemed to think he was a bit of a dick, and he was the original vampire.

Lucian was a bit prickly, but he wasn’t like that. He was from an entirely different world than I was, but I didn’t think that was a bad thing.

We were back to walking towards the crystal. The vampires were right. This was part of their test, but it was also ours. I didn’t know how many types of supernatural there were out there, and they clearly weren’t trying to kill us, but we were eventually going to meet some that didn’t have some kind of kinship with one of us and want to help us.

“I have no problem with you biting me,” I said.

I needed him to know that. We were a team and for some reason, he requested me. I didn’t know what it meant and how an original vampire from Romania connected to some kind of Fairy, but we were somehow. I was also connected to Anubis and some kind of god from Ireland who could talk to animals. I didn’t have the first clue what it meant because I didn’t feel different and I hadn’t had any powers show up.

“Absolutely not,” Liam said. “He can keep biting me, but not you.”

“Excuse the shit out of me, but you don’t control me.”

“I’m looking out for you.”

“I’m not an invalid just because I have diabetes. If my blood sugar levels are stable, I can and have donated blood. I’ve been managing this just fine without you since I was five and I know my body. I have yet to find anything I can’t do with the right planning, so stop making decisions for me!”

Liam looked stunned and a lot of that tirade should have been directed at Blue Matthews instead of Liam, but he was the one here.

“I didn’t mean forever,” Liam defended. “It hurts like a bitch. Let him practice on me until he can flip the switch where the bite feels good like they said and then he can bite you.”

“I hate agreeing with him and his neck is probably covered in germs, but I agree with him. I refuse to bite you until I can control the pain level.”

What was with these guys? Yeah, I grew up sheltered, and I had diabetes, but I wasn’t a porcelain doll. I got in so much trouble in first grade when a boy pulled my hair and shoved me in the mud, so I fought back and ended up breaking his nose. I was told it wasn’t ladylike, boys will be boys, and he was just bullying me because he liked me.

It didn’t sit well with me in first grade, and I had to bury that down or be punished. I’d be damned if I did it now. I knew it was probably going to hurt because Lucian just figured out who he was minutes ago. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t think I could take it.

“I don’t think he’s saying you’re weak and can’t handle it,” Khalid said. “I think this is more a Lucian issue, right?”

I could tell Lucian didn’t want to talk about this at all, but he could tell I was pissed.

“It is. I couldn’t tell you why as this has never happened to me before. I’m not Liam and I think if you’re upset about something and need someone stabbed, you can handle that yourself. I’m also sure you could handle the pain just fine. The idea of hurting you bothers me and that’s why I won’t.”

“I can deal with that.”

“You can practice on me too,” Khalid said. “We’re a team.”

“Well, now that’s sorted, we need to focus on these crystals. Those vampires had super speed, so Lucian does too. You got food when I let you bite me. Time to make up for eating all our food and ninja snuggling Sage while she was sleeping.”

Wait, what?