Love Bites

Chapter 12

Pacing the length of the small room I’ve not visited before, I bite my thumb nervously, wishing for this to be over. Being alone here is just making me feel even worse. When Zane was with me, his presence calmed me, something to do with being my mate. Now, though, I feel like a yo-yo, going back and forth, or a tiger in the zoo that paces the length of their fence, unable to escape their captivity. Yes, that’s what this feels like.

My nerves are fried despite the fact that I was absolutely certain last night that I would be walking out of here today. Everyone seems so sure about it that it only helped boost my own convictions. This morning, though, something has changed in me. I don’t know whether it’s because the reality of what’s happening today has finally hit me, or some other factor I’ve not yet considered.

Surprisingly, I managed to get a couple hours of sleep, which is apparently all I need now thanks to being a vampire. Sleep has been difficult to come by since I changed, and I am sure my sudden good night of rest has everything to do with my midnight flight with Gabriel. It left me feeling refreshed and ready to face the day.

As soon as I left my room on the unit, though, my nerves intensified. I’m not sure why I am suddenly so anxious about this, especially considering that both Zane and Jack seem confident that I’ll be granted my freedom.

Zane met me at the bottom of the stairwell, his foot tapping in an uncharacteristically agitated manner. As soon as he locked eyes with me, he was in front of me faster than I could blink, pulling me into his arms and burying his face against the side of my neck. At first, I thought he was going to bite me in the open corridor for all to see. Becoming a vampire must have turned me into a hussy, because I was suddenly quite open to that idea, moaning at the physical contact as my skin touched his.

However, he simply lifted me into his arms, my legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he brought me to this room.

Our reunion was steamy but fast, since we don’t have long until the assessment. Unfortunately, all our clothes stayed on, although that was probably a blessing considering I’m supposed to go out there and present myself as an upstanding citizen. Entering the meeting with a just fucked look won’t gain me any points.

Zane left a few minutes ago to get something important, with the promise he would be back soon, which leaves me alone in this tiny room with only my own thoughts. It feels like hours since he left, my body protesting his absence which is only adding to the unsettled feeling that’s growing inside me.

A certain male has been strangely absent this morning when I was walking around—not that I went into Gabriel’s unit to find him. Usually I find him lurking around somewhere in the building, and I hoped to see him before the assessment. When they free me, I don’t know if I’ll have time to track him down and say goodbye. Why does the thought of not seeing him again upset me so much? Sure, he’s sort of become a friend, and he helped me out last night, but we don’t really know each other. At least, not enough for me to feel so torn up over this.

Thankfully before I can begin to spiral, there’s a light knock on the door. Taking a deep breath, I straighten up and try to pull myself together to call out to whoever is there, but the door swings open, revealing a slight figure in the hallway. Blinking rapidly to clear my eyes in case she’s a mirage or I’ve finally lost it and am hallucinating, I stare at my best friend like I’m seeing a ghost.

We scream in unison and throw ourselves at each other.

Tina.

As soon as my arms wrap around her, I feel like I’m home. Her woodsy, slightly smoky scent brings tears to my eyes as a pang of longing goes through me—not longing in the vampire sense, but longing for our life.

While I missed my best friend so much during all of this, I hadn’t quite realised just how much I missed her until I had her in my arms. We are family, after all. I can’t imagine how difficult all of this has been for her, as she’s been kept in the dark thanks to being human. How Zane managed to convince the SNPD to let her see me, I have no idea. He told me that he has connections, and I’m starting to believe him now.

When Tina finally pries herself out of my arms, her eyes are red as she attempts to hold back her tears. She blinks rapidly and holds me at arm’s length, looking me over with a critical eye.

“Well…” She clicks her tongue. “For someone who accidentally murdered their boyfriend and was locked away in a supernatural prison after discovering they are a bloodsucking creature from fiction, you look pretty good.” Her tone is wry, and her smile is sardonic, but I can tell that beneath it all, she’s been worried for me. Sighing dramatically, she spins me around in place. “Being a vampire suits you.”

The smile I give her in return is fragile. “I missed you, Tina.”

This sets the two of us off, my eyes welling while silent tears roll down her cheeks as we clutch onto each other in a tight embrace. We say nothing as we hold one another, just the occasional sniffle escaping us. I’m not sure how much time passes, but an awkward sounding male cough reminds me of where we are and what’s happening.

Tina seems to remember the same and takes a deep breath, stepping back and wiping at her face. She still looks beautiful, whereas I’m sure my face is red and puffy, making me resemble a tomato.

“Girl, this is crazy,” she says with a short laugh and a shake of her head as she looks around the small room. “I’ve been so worried about you. Thankfully that cute officer has been keeping me updated, otherwise I’d be going out of my mind.”

Jack. I have to make sure I thank him properly, as he’s gone out of his way to reassure Tina. No one asked him to do that, and it’s not part of his job to keep humans updated. He probably had something to do with getting her here to see me as well. My throat constricts at his kindness, and I find myself overwhelmed and unable to speak.

“I’ll give you guys a minute,” Zane calls from the doorway. “You don’t have long though, so make the most of it.” He closes the door behind him, and I hear his footsteps echo down the hallway as he walks away.

I watch the door for a few heavy moments after he’s gone, feeling him getting farther away thanks to the bond. All I want to do is tear out of the room after him and wrap myself around him, needing him to help settle this wild panic that has sprung in me overnight. I don’t want to lose this time I have with Tina, though, so I need to make the most of it.

“Are you okay?” she asks, sensing something is off. “Have they been looking after you here? I’ve watched those prison documentaries, so I know how they treat women in these places.”

Tina has always been able to read me like an open book, and while I’m not all that great at hiding my feelings, it’s freaky what she can figure out just by watching someone. If you were going to pick the supernatural out between us, all bets would be on Tina.

Snorting at her comment, I turn to face her, a small smile pulling at my lips. “Orange is the New Black isn’t a documentary, and this place is nothing like that.” Taking a deep breath, I shrug nonchalantly. “I’m safe, don’t worry. No one has hurt me, and I have people looking out for me.” An image of Gabriel flashes in my mind, and I quickly push it back and change the subject before I get too deep into that complex line of thoughts. Clearing my throat, I push my curls back from my face and take in my gorgeous flatmate. “How are you here anyway?”

When I was first arrested, I was told that I wouldn’t be able to see Tina until I was released. Honestly, this lifts my spirits so much that I am determined today is going to be a good day.

“Zane and Officer Hart have been working together to get permission for me to visit,” she explains, her eyes bright. “We finally got permission this morning by stating that I’m your only family and you need some personal items before your assessment.”

The fact that the SNPD allowed her to visit on the day I could be released gives me hope that Tina is a sign of my upcoming freedom, and because of that, I feel ready to get this over with so I can continue with my life.

My head tilts to one side as I process her words. “What personal items?” I ask, confused as to what I might need for the assessment that I would have left at home. As I glance around, I notice a duffle bag by the door that she must have brought with her.

She wiggles her eyebrows in response and grabs the bag, emptying the contents onto the small table at the back of the room.

It turns out that the important possessions she had to bring were clothes—several smart dresses, a pair of high-waisted, navy trousers, and a cute, white, cap-sleeved shirt. Deodorant, a hairbrush, spray-in conditioner, and my make-up are also among the clothes.

The dresses are cute, but more like what I would wear for a job interview, so I decide on the shirt and trousers. I feel so much better in my own clothes, like an actual person rather than an ID number on a piece of paper.

I finish buttoning up the shirt and find Tina looking at me with a critical eye, a finger pressed to her lips. She steps forward and reaches out to straighten my collar. My heart clenches at the action.

Tina brushes her hands over the material to remove any invisible lint, seeming to need something to do with her hands. “I’m not allowed to come in with you, so I got you this.” Voice tight, she turns and pulls a small white box from the duffle bag.

I recognise that box. It’s the type of packaging we use at the flower shop where I work, and perfect for protecting corsages. Tina lifts the lid and removes a single rose. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, with large, black petals. The very tips of the bloom flare open and end in a deep red that makes it appear as though they have been dipped in blood. I remember telling Colin about these very flowers just before I killed him, and as such, it feels like an appropriate choice after everything that’s happened.

I keep still as my best friend pins the flower to my shirt. The effort she went through to get it for me is one thing, and I’m very grateful for it, but it’s more than that. She’s put a lot of thought into this, finding something that will comfort me in a difficult situation when she can’t be there herself.

“This way you have something to remind you of me in there.” She busies herself with making sure the bloom is straight, but I don’t miss the catch in her voice, nor the glossy look in her eyes.

Flowers have always given me strength, due to their determined resilience come rain or snow, as well as their stunning beauty. She went out of her way to get this for me, knowing it would strengthen me. Some people find Tina to be a bit abrupt or abrasive, but that’s only because they don’t know her. With her history, it’s not a surprise that she struggles to trust others, yet once you’ve earned that trust, she is one of the most loyal people you will ever meet.

Stilling her hand as she reaches to fix my collar again, I squeeze it in mine, waiting for her to meet my gaze before speaking. “Thank you, Tina. For everything.”

Hearing the hitch in my voice, she pulls away from my grip and takes a step back, pointing at me accusingly. “Don’t you dare start crying, you’ll make your make-up run.”

I’m not able to cry and I’m sure she knows this now, but I know her actions are for a deeper reason. She’s struggling not to cry herself. I’m sure we don’t have long before they come for me, so I press my hands to my face and pinch my cheeks to snap myself out of it.

“I just thought it was important to go into this meeting feeling like yourself,” she continues with a forced lightness. “It’s a good thing I came, as those generic clothes they had you in were depressing. Having your own personal items will help you feel more… you.”

Smiling fondly, I reach out and brush her shoulder. “You’re right. You’re the best friend ever.”

Chuckling, she grins at me. “I know. Now, tell me what’s going on between you and the cute vampire.” Sitting on the edge of the table, she leans forward and looks at me expectantly, ready for all the details.

Shit, I can’t believe I’ve not told her about Zane yet. I’d been so caught up on getting ready that I completely forgot, and it’s not as though I’ve had the chance to speak to her before this.

“You’re not going to believe this, T!” The buzz of sharing new gossip with my best friend sparks excitement in me. “Zane is my mate.” I whisper the last word, my face animated as I wait for her reaction.

She doesn’t disappoint.

“Mate?” she squeals, her eyes wide. “Like in Vampire Diaries?”

“Yes!” I cry out, then frown slightly as I try to remember what happens in the show. “Well, sort of. Not really.” Shaking it off, I continue to explain, my words a rush. “Anyway, I was drawn to him, and then I was learning to feed properly and almost drained my donor, so he took me to a cupboard and let me feed from him. We then fucked, obviously—”

“Oh, obviously,” Tina comments with raised brows, gesturing for me to continue.

Nodding, I carry on like she never spoke. “When we climaxed, the mate bond slammed into place, and we were mates! Now I can feel him all the time. It’s strange, but also kind of perfect. He says we were predestined to be together.”

My lungs burn, and I realise that I held my breath as I spoke, all of my words rolling into one. It’s a wonder that Tina understood any of it. In fact, she’s staring at me now, her shock obvious in her expression and the way she slowly shakes her head. “There is so much to digest there, I don’t even know where to begin.” Despite this, she seems to know exactly what she wants to ask me, leaning forward again, her voice hushed. “You bit him? Did he taste good?”

This is what I love about Tina, there is no judgement. I just told her that I drank someone’s blood, and instead of condemnation, she’s asking me if it was tasty. My eyes roll back as I remember the rich taste of his blood and how he felt beneath my mouth. Without warning, my fangs slide from my mouth, nicking my lip once more, a tiny drop of blood beading there.

“Oops,” I mutter, the word slurred thanks to my overactive teeth. I lick the blood, feeling my body heal the cut almost immediately.

“I’ll take that as a yes then,” Tina comments slyly, eyeing up my fangs and making me blush in the process.

A knock on the door startles us both. I’m surprised that I didn’t hear the person approach, but now that I pay attention to the warmth in my chest, I know it’s Zane.

“It’s time, ladies.” He doesn’t bother to open the door, just calls through the wood, giving us a little more privacy and the chance to say goodbye.

Tina and I share a long look, the happy atmosphere shifting as my nerves shoot through the roof. In theory, I’ll be seeing her again in a few hours when I’m released, but if the meeting doesn’t go to plan and I have to stay here, then I might not see her for a really long time.

Having a lengthy goodbye feels like it would jinx me, so I pull up my big girl pants and step forward, tugging her into a quick, strong hug.

“I’ll see you after the assessment.”