Page 16 of Love Lives

I didn’t say that out loud, but I wanted to.

Elle had brought up an interesting point, though. I'd never had a big awakening moment either. Not like Collin or Luke, but I'd had some magic for as long as I could think back anyway. What if it was similar for Elle? After all, she fulfilled some requirements I didn't. Like that whole love thing.

I'd never been in love with anyone.

Quietly, I studied my sister.

What if this could actually work?

If we could talk to Dad again?

He might even know what to make of that stupid prophecy. We certainly didn't.

Aldrich still wasn't on board with the idea, though. "You need to recover before you do anything."

"You're just scared I'll die before you can have your bite," I said to tease him.

He huffed. "I'm getting that bite."

"Bite?" Luke wondered out loud. My youngest brother had been so quiet I'd almost forgotten he was in the room with us. "To be honest, we have a bit of a blood shortage."

"WAFFER has been late in getting us new supplies," Morgan explained. "I'm sure they have a lot to worry about right now."

"Fantastic," I muttered.

"It's okay," Collin said. "We have enough blood to go around between all of us."

His boyfriend looked displeased at the idea, but didn't say anything.

"I can hunt for myself," Aldrich remarked. This obviously wasn't a big deal to him, reminding me once again how little he thought of the people he drew blood from. Maybe I shouldn't have offered him mine after all.

"I'm gonna go to bed," I announced.

"Wait," Elle cut in. "You don't wanna know what your talent is?"

My mouth ran dry. "I already know."

She blinked at me.

"Ask Jared," I said, motioning at my brother. Yeah, that was lazy of me, but I really was getting tired and I didn't want to explain, and I didn't want to answer any follow-up questions. So while all eyes turned to Jared, I stood and left the room.

Aldrich came after me, of course. "Can you manage the stairs?"

"I'll be fine." It was slow-going, yes, but stairs weren't the worst. At least I could hold on to the railing all the way. "Which room?" I asked, looking down the corridor. There were three doors to the left, and two to the right.

"This one." Aldrich walked ahead to a door on the left. "You'll be sharing with me. Sorry, but nobody gets their own room."

I didn't find it in me to argue. Besides, we'd spend so much time together in that hospital room, what difference did it make now? I only wanted to sleep.

The room we'd been assigned was small, with a twin bed in the corner and a mattress on the floor.

"Take the bed," Aldrich offered. "I'm not sleeping yet anyway."

"Thanks," I murmured, letting myself sink onto the bed. It wasn't the most comfortable thing I'd ever slept in, but for the moment, I didn't care. I had half a mind to just go to sleep in my clothes.

"You're not seriously thinking about doing it, are you?" Aldrich asked.

"Do what?"