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ZAVIER

T he sound that comes out of me is equivalent to a dying animal getting run over by a car. I certainly feel that way as well.

“Fuck me,” I wheeze, as pain radiates from the top of my head down to my toes.

The last thing I remember is making it to the front door of the apartment and Celine dragging my sorry ass inside. Even though she tried to be careful, every pull against my arm felt like razor sharp needles. That feral vamp really did a number on me.

Thank God I had my emergency blood bag, but I can tell it hasn’t done enough for my body’s natural healing to kick in.

It may have sealed some of my gnarlier wounds, but venom still courses through my blood keeping me from a full recovery.

I need more blood, but I feel like complete shit and thinking about moving already has me sweating.

I look around the room and I’m shocked to see a small lump on the couch.

The black comforter from my bed covers said lump.

A dainty hand peeks out from underneath, dangling off the side of the couch.

I can’t help the smile that finds its way onto my face at her sleeping out here with me.

I must’ve scared the hell out of her, and while drinking blood in front of her was the least of my worries from last night, I know I’ll have to explain myself.

With Celine being my mate, I knew at some point I would have to tell her what I am.

This might not have been the timeline I planned to do that on but it’s the reality.

I’m not sure how she’ll take it since she’s pretty strait-laced, but I feel like at the same time she’s far more perceptive than people realize.

Of course, she’s a detective and it’s her job to be, but I’m not what people would call normal, and I think she recognizes that.

Holding in my groan as much as possible so as not to wake her, I shuffle along the floor using my forearm to hold my torso up and slowly scoot along to the couch.

The distance is only a few feet, but it feels like it’s a mile away in my current condition.

I have to stop multiple times before I finally drop myself not so gracefully next to her on the floor and reach up with a trembling hand to grasp hers.

Her hand feels so small in mine, and I revel in the feeling of her soft skin against my palm.

Right then a particularly immobilizing jolt of pain shoots through my chest and I yelp unable to keep it in.

Celine startles and rustles around beneath her blanket cocoon.

Her hand stays in mine, and I grip her hand to help myself through the episode.

“Zavier?” Alarm fills her eyes when she glances down at me in my sorry state. “Oh my God, it was real!”

I probably look like a ragdoll gone through a meat grinder.

“Howdy.” I wave my other hand in the air weakly and promptly regret the action. “Shit.”

She jumps out from under the covers and squats down next to me. Her cold hand feels heavenly on my forehead as she flits around me like a mother hen. If I knew coming close to death would get her to feel me up, I would’ve done it sooner.

“You still look rough. I thought last night was a bad dream.” Her eyes zero in on the empty blood bag over on the kitchen floor and I see the moment everything floods back to her. “You...” She gapes at me, mouth open ready to catch flies.

“Listen”—not wanting to waste any more time I plead with her— “you need to go see Luna and get more blood for me.”

“Blood? Luna?” Celine’s face turns pale as color leaves her.

Time is of the essence, and I don’t have the time to fully explain myself to her. I need more blood as soon as possible to finish healing and then I can explain everything better.

“Celine, please.” Another shiver wracks my body as the venom slowly eats away at my insides. “I know I have a lot to explain to you, and I promise I will, but right now I need blood. My body isn’t healing like it should and the bag last night wasn’t enough.”

“Zavier ... what is going on?” she asks incredulously.

“You’re drinking blood like it’s normal and asking me to go get more?

Not to mention you showed up last night looking like you had one foot in the grave.

” Her voice is getting higher and higher, and I continue to hold onto her hand even when she goes to rip it out of my hold.

“No one should’ve survived those wounds. ”

“I know. I know.” I wince when I hold my arm up since it tugs on the wound in my abdomen. “I promise you, you’ll get your answers, but please go to Luna and ask for more blood. Tell her I sent you and be as conspicuous as possible.”

“Luna? Like Luna Luna from the Bean Hive? That Luna?” At my nod she pales. “She’s in on whatever the fuck this is, too? Is it some kind of weird blood drinking cult?” I give her a look and she sighs in defeat. “Fine. I’ll go talk to her.”

Despite her obvious frustration she helps me onto the couch.

“God that fucking hurts!” I whine.

Celine pokes at my wounds and after wrapping me up mummy style on the couch she nods in satisfaction.

“Okay,” she mumbles to herself and after dressing quickly picks up her keys.

“You stay here, and I’ll be back.” Seemingly in a haze she goes to leave.

“You owe me an explanation, though, Zavier.” She points at me with what I assume she thinks is a menacing expression. “You’re not wiggling out of this.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Shnookems.” My joke doesn’t land, and she walks out without another word.

A soft meow from behind my head on the arm of the couch and a tickle of fur against my forehead is a welcome presence. Midnight paws at a strand of my hair.

“Hey, buddy.” He purrs in response. “Let’s hope I didn’t just scare your mother away.”