Page 27 of Visions of You

It wasn't the taste, was it?

Jaron didn't want to think so.

Hadn't he seen a flicker of desire in Keegan's expression when he'd first offered?

There had to be some other reason the vampire was holding back.

A sinking feeling settled in Jaron's gut. Had he imagined Keegan's desire? Perhaps Keegan simply didn't feel the same connection that thrummed through Jaron's veins whenever they were near each other.

Was Jaron making a fool of himself by pursuing someone who didn't want him?

Jaron sighed heavily as he entered the harshly lit store, heading straight for the refrigerated section. He scanned the shelves, grabbing a few bottles of the highest-quality synthetic blood available. As he paid, he couldn't suppress a pang of rejection at the idea that Keegan preferred this cold, lifeless substitute to the blood running through Jaron's veins.

Bottles clinking in the plastic bag, Jaron hurried back to the apartment. He found Apollo and Keegan looking at Apollo's phone, images of the missing people on the screen.

"This is Holly, Rhyme's friend," Apollo was saying as Jaron approached. "And these are the other mortals that have been kidnapped."

Keegan nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. He glanced up as Jaron held out one of the bottles. "Ah, thank you."

Their fingers brushed as Keegan took the blood, sending a jolt up Jaron's arm. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask if Keegan didn't feel that, but the redhead was already turning away.

"I'm going to need some privacy to do this," Keegan said, heading for the bedroom. "The more I can focus, the clearer the visions will be."

The door closed behind him with a soft click. Jaron stared after him, frustration and longing warring in his chest.

To his surprise, Apollo rested a hand on his shoulder as if he could guess what was going on with Jaron. "Let him do his job," he said. "This isn't the time."

That was easy for Apollo to say. He was already with the man fate had chosen for him.

"All I want is to have a conversation," Jaron murmured. To be more precise, he wanted answers.

Why was Keegan treating him this way?

Was Jaron coming on too strong?

Could vampires not recognize their mates after all?

Jaron turned to Apollo. "Your vampire didn't struggle with the idea of fated mates, did he?"

Apollo looked at Jaron for a long moment, and then he looked at the door Keegan had disappeared through before focusing on Jaron again. "Is that what this is about?"

"Don't push him," Iskander said.

Jaron turned to Iskander in surprise. He'd almost forgotten that the vampire was in the room with them. "Did he say something to you?"

Iskander only shook his head. Jaron understood the vampire's meaning. If Keegan had said anything to him, Iskander wasn't going to discuss it.

"It's like your boss said," Iskander said after a moment. "This isn't the right time."

"Vampires get tired too," Rhyme chimed in, "after using their powers a lot. Keegan was exhausted when he got here." He paused. "You can tell by a vampire's skin color, you know."

Apollo raised an eyebrow at Rhyme. "Aren't they always pale?"

"There are degrees of pale. You learn to tell after a while." Rhyme looked a little uncomfortable as he said this and Jaron realized he didn't want to know exactly how Rhyme had acquired this particular power of observation.

"Okay," Jaron said before anyone could pose further questions to Rhyme. "Bad timing. I get it." He slumped on the couch. "I think I'll have some of that tea now."

Jaron watched as Keegan emerged from the bedroom an hour later, his eyes drawn to the vampire's face. Rhyme was right—when Jaron paid close attention, he could see the signs of exhaustion in the way the vampire carried himself. Had it been very difficult for him to use his powers just now?