Longing for You, стр. 13
“I’m the Duca of the Debrek clan, and when I give an order, it’sfollowed,” Alexis said matter-of-factly.
Katie stabbed a finger into Alexis’s chest. “I’m not one of yourvampires or Bhal’s warriors. I answer to Byron and Amelia and no one else. Youdon’t and will never have any say in my life, Alexis Villiers.”
Why did Katie have to be so insubordinate?
“Listen, there are vampires turning humans and killing them withimpunity, and witches who hate vampires out there. Our world has never beenmore unstable in at least a hundred years, and you want to go out dancing.Alone?”
Katie looked her straight in the eye and said, “Why do you care ifI’m safe or not?”
Alexis wasn’t expecting that question. Her anger was making herflustered. “I’m responsible for the safety of the whole Debrek household.”
“I don’t buy it.” Katie took a step closer to Alexis. So closethat Alexis could smell her perfume and see the throbbing vein in her neck.There was still a mark from where the other vampire had fed, and Alexis hatedit. It fuelled her anger and frustration.
Katie continued, “I don’t ever see you trying to impose theserules on any other human in the household. So try again. Why does the safety ofsomeone who you won’t even feed from matter?”
Inside Alexis was bursting to tell Katie that she cared, that shewanted Katie, but instead she stared at her stiffly.
Katie said, “Just as I thought. I’m going now and maybe I’ll meeta vampire who isn’t repressed and emotionless.”
Katie walked away, leaving Alexis alone. She looked over to the otherside of the room, where long ago she discovered her Anna, dead by the Dredvampires’ hands. Finding Anna like that had nearly destroyed her.
Alexis put her hands to her forehead and said, “No, I can’t feelthis again. I won’t.”
She had always been so determined that she would never let herselffeel for another like she did for Anna, but it had crept up slowly on Alexis,and one taste of Katie’s blood was enough to stir her heart again.
* * *
At The Sanctuary club, Katie and Daisy were dancing with two werewolveswho knew how to party. When the song came to an end, Katie said, “I think we’llsit down for a while. Thanks for the dance.”
“We’ll be here waiting for you if you change your mind, ladies.”The werewolves gave a synchronized theatrical bow.
Katie took Daisy’s arm, and they both chuckled.
“We’ve been popular tonight,” Katie said.
They had been asked to dance by one person after another eversince they arrived. They took seats at the table.
“It’s the novelty value, I think,” Daisy said. “They don’t oftenget humans in here.”
“You know, Alexis was trying to stop me coming tonight.”
Daisy grinned. “Oh, really. Someone feeling a little jealous?”
“Even if she was, Alexis is repressed up to her eyeballs. Besidesshe doesn’t even like the taste of my blood. She just loves ordering mearound.”
Daisy raised an eyebrow. “You know, you haven’t thought about onething.”
“What?” Katie asked.
Daisy leaned closer and said, “What if she didn’t run because shedidn’t like the taste of your blood? What if she liked it too much, and itscared her?”
Katie’s stomach flipped. Could that be true? Today when they hadboth been in the blood room, the feelings had been so intense. Did Alexisreally—
Before Katie could contemplate further, Daisy doubled over in painand grasped her neck.
“Daisy?” Katie took her hand. “There’s something wrong. You’re notgoing to dismiss this again. What’s going on? Tell me the truth.”
Daisy took a few breaths to calm herself, then pulled the scarf onher neck to the side. Katie gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. Therewas a fiery red vampire bite on Daisy’s neck.
“Is that—”
Daisy covered over the bite again and nodded. “The bite Victorijagave me when the Dreds kidnapped Amelia? Yes.”
Daisy had found Amelia in The Sanctuary, under the influence ofVictorija’s compulsion. She’d tried to help Amelia escape and to hold the Dredsoff until Byron got there.
“The bite’s never healed, and I keep getting spasms of pain fromit. It’s getting worse with every day that passes.”
“Tell me exactly what happened when she bit you,” Katie said.
“I got Amelia to the bathroom over there, and then Victorija andher Duca, Drasas, found us. I tried to protect Amelia. Victorija held me up bythe neck, and I bit her trying to defend myself. She bled, and then Byronarrived at the club, and Victorija wanted to drink my blood before sheretreated. She was angry, you see. She couldn’t compel me. Victorija bit me,then stumbled back, looking at me funny.”
Katie was shocked. “Oh God, you must be bonded by blood toVictorija.”
“That’s what I was frightened of. Byron’s vamps said it would healquickly, and it hasn’t. It just keeps getting redder and sorer, but I can’tbelieve that I could be bonded to an evil vampire.”
“Daisy, do you know that not any human—or even any vampire—iscompatible with a vampire for a blood bond?”
“What does that mean?” Daisy asked.
“It means that your DNA and only yours is compatible withVictorija’s blood. She can’t pick and choose who is blood bonded to her.”
“That means…” Daisy looked terrified.
Katie moved her seat closer and squeezed Daisy’s hand. “Rememberwhat happened to Byron? The blood of the bonded is like a drug to the vampire.No other blood will sate their need. Every time you feel pain in your bite,that is Victorija’s body crying out for your blood.”
“Oh, shit,” Daisy said.
“Daisy, you have to tell Byron and Amelia because when Victorijarealizes what’s wrong with her, when the Dreds find out, they will come for youand use you for your blood. She can’t survive without it.”
Daisy touched her hand to her head. “What, wait, I need to processthis. Give me a little time to do some research and work out what this means,find out if there’s a way to break this so-called bond. Then I promise I’lltell them.”
Katie was reluctant. She knew Amelia would be angry that she keptthis to herself, but if Daisy needed just a bit of time to get her head aroundit… “Okay, but