Page 61 of The Vampire Curse

“A-Alaric…” I gasp his name. Or, I think I do. I can’t tell if my mouth is working or if it was an inaudible breath of air.

Time is lost as the universe seems to explode around me, and I’m stuck in this moment for an eternity, trying to catch my breath.

Without warning, the magic releases me, and I collapse backward, pulling in deep gulps of air. I press a cold hand to my suddenly burning forehead.

The mattress shifts and I blink up into Alaric’s face, but he’s not even looking at me.

He straddles my hips and pulls my shirt up to expose everything from below my breasts. I’m too out of it to protest. He presses his palms to my ribs. His fingers splay across my flesh, covering most of my abdomen.

A look of intense focus sits on his features, and crimson circles the sapphire of his eyes, but unlike when he needs to feed… it’s glowing. His eyes slide shut once more.

Red magic forms in veins over his hands clasped to my sides, brightening. I only have half a second to think how beautiful he looks before the tingling starts anew, and I’m filled with that same overwhelming sensation.

My spine arches as every muscle in my body spasms. A scream scrapes up my throat but catches and dies.

I try to reach for him, to tell him it’s too much, but I can’t control my limbs, so I twitch and flail.

An eternity passes before my lungs work again. I draw in a sharp gasp of air and collapse back into the bed.

Alaric climbs off me and gathers me in his arms, pulling the shirt back down. He holds me to his side, trailing his fingers up and down my spine in soothing strokes.

“What was that?” I ask. It’s an overly simplified version of the question I wish to ask.

He helps me sit up then loosens his embrace.

“That is how my power works. I forgot you were unconscious the last time, I should have warned you—”

I press the pads of my fingers to his mouth, silencing his apology. I stare in complete awe at my leg. In place of the three long gashes are soft pink lines. What amounts to days or weeks of healing has just taken place in moments. The skin is smooth, so the scars will be almost nonexistent.

I face him again, wrapping my arms around his neck, and quietly say, “Thank you.”

He hesitates only a second before his arms band around me, squeezing harder than before now that I’m healed.

We stay like this until a yawn forces its way out. Alaric pulls back, disengaging from my embrace.

“Wait,” I say, grabbing his wrist. “Don’t go yet.”

I hadn’t meant to stop him, but I don’t want to be alone right now. I’ve felt alone since the moment he sent me back to Littlemire, and I need a friend right now.

He settles himself back down, sitting against the headboard, his legs stretched out before him. I scoot into his side, our hips touching, and rest my head on his shoulder.

“It is a good thing you bathed,” he says. I stiffen, leaning away to look up into his smirking face. “You smelled like a demon’s ass.”

I swat at his shoulder and he laughs, tucking me closer.

I’ve never had anyone I could sit like this with, saying nothing, doing nothing. This moment holds the peace of solitude. I curl into him—this unexpected source of comfort and safety.

Safety in the arms of a vampire.

Months ago, I would have said it was impossible, and yet, somehow, that’s exactly what I’ve found in this man.

He picks up my hand and entwines our fingers together. His thumb creates slow, lazy circles on my skin.

“When you leave tomorrow, please say goodbye—I know I didn’t give you that courtesy, but I won’t be returning.”

I freeze and swallow past the lump stuck in my throat. “I thought we were coming back here after the solstice.”

Alaric pulls in a slow, deep breath then says, “That was when you were joining me.” His fingers squeeze mine. “It would mean a lot if you say goodbye.”