Page 48 of Resurrection

“Your flock was there? I know Mike has quite a lot of them in town now.”

“About two dozen?” Gabe said, seeming to think about it. “Not even a drop in the bucket of those who are actually mine. But that would be way too many to fit in even a stadium. Not sure how many are still in this world. Not when you count those I created, and those they created.” He fell silent for a minute, staring into the distance as though lost in thought. “Good though. Mike picked those who sort of space large chunks of time.”

“Do you remember more?” Seiran wondered if he was there at all in Gabe’s memories, or ever would be.

“A lot, yes. Not all, but it’s coming back.” Gabe moved away from the door, crossing the room in movements that felt more like a tiger than a man drunk on blood would look. “You’re familiar with the reconnection ceremony?”

“Read about it a long time ago. You take blood from theircibos?” Seiran couldn’t help the hitch in his voice. “Maybe negotiate for some of them to become yourcibos.”

“I think we’ll save that part for you. The negotiation and choosingcibos,” Gabe said. He stopped at the other side of the counter, keeping the space between them, but his gaze intense.

“I’m not sure how that would work.”

Gabe shrugged. “We have time. That smells good.”

“I love cake,” Seiran said lamely. “Chocolate the most.”

“Maybe that’s why the small taste of you I had,” he glanced at his phone, “yesterday now, tasted like chocolate cake?”

Seiran thought about that. Did blood taste different to vampires? He’d read some poetic stuff like that, but thought it all conjecture to sound flowery and less brutal. Sam never mentioned it, but his eating habits weren’t something Seiran ever tried to pry into.

“I haven’t had cake in a couple weeks…” He tried to recall the last sweet he’d eaten before Gabe had that leftover drop from the knife. “Mostly been eating fresh fruit and real cream. The kids have a half dozen wild berry bushes on the property. They all go crazy this time of year. Blueberries and raspberries mostly.”

“But you tasted of chocolate and strawberries,” Gabe said mildly.

“I think you’re imagining things. Does everyone’s blood taste like something?” Were all thecibosso alluring that way?

“Yes. Not all good. Some blood is sour, or bitter, some sweet. Some spicy. Some a mix. Doesn’t seem to be related to the food they eat as much as their personality.”

“I am not a chocolate covered strawberry.”

“Not moist and sweet?” Gabe asked, sounding amused.

Seiran licked his lips and wondered why his body responded to those words. Thoughts and images filling his head with so many sexual innuendos. It had probably been too long since he’d had sex, even by his own hand. And Gabe was hot. No way around that. “More tart and bitter.”

Gabe nodded, “A bit of bite on the chocolate end, less sweet and more decadent, fudgy and rich.”

This was not going in the direction Seiran had hoped. He didn’t want to feel drawn to reconnect. Desire and longing. Though that was a lie too, since he’d felt the pull the minute he’d set eyes on the vampire again. Time hadn’t severed the Focus bond or his emotional ones. No matter how much he might wish it would have.

“I should go shower,” Gabe said, turning toward the door to the basement.

“We should probably get the sharing the blood thing over with,” Seiran said quietly, feeling some giant knife tearing into his guts with a thousand worries.

“Over with…” Gabe muttered. “Well, come down then. Let me get the bar smell off. I had forgotten how much it can linger.”

“I like the bar,” Seiran said. “Even if it stinks sometimes. Food sometimes smells, but it’s always good.”

“Do we serve that cake at the bar?” Gabe nodded to the last dredges on Seiran’s plate.

“No. This is something new. With cherries. Didn’t know if I’d like it, but it’s just enough to keep the cake from being too over the top with chocolate. The bar keeps things easy. Basics like brownies with ice cream.”

“Not much of a bar anymore though, right?” Gabe said. “More a posh drinking spot, known for good food. Smoking no longer allowed.”

“Yeah, that started ages ago, before you went to ground really. I tried to fix up the menu and suddenly it became a place to eat.”

“And Mike ran with the concept. Three locations now? Bloody Bar and Grill? A menu with bite.”

“It was kind of a funny logo idea, but people like it. We sell T-shirts and stuff. Sometimes even host weddings. Each location has a rolling menu based on the area it’s in.” Seiran knew they all did well, but it felt strange to be discussing food. He got up and rinsed the plate before putting it in the dishwasher. “Cupcakes decorated like a vampire bite…” It sounded cheesy, but was a big requested item.