Chapter 26
I stared at my phone screen, reflecting on the unhealthy obsession that had developed in just twenty-four hours. I found myself anxiously waiting for their call, despite having promised myself I wouldn't answer if they ever reached out. Yet here I was, hoping for it.
If one of them did call, I wasn't sure what I would say, but the desire to know whether they prioritized me lingered.
I rested my hand on my neck; the skin around the mark was slowly healing, but I couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like if they both fed from me—each on either side of my neck, savoring my blood and praising its taste.
"Are you eating your food?" Kemesha asked caringly, pulling me from my fantasy. It was a wild thought, one I'd never entertained before—being food for vampires, especially them. No one else. It felt like a morbid twist.
I glanced down at the takeout. It tasted terrible. Food didn't hit the same way it used to. I nodded, forcing another grain of quinoa down.
Kemesha, dressed for work, joined me at the counter and lifted the lid from my food. "You remember that couple, right? The human and the vamps?" she asked, clarifying further.
"Mhm, them," I muttered, my disinterest evident as my eyes darted between the food and my phone.
"They finally launched that dating app for humans and vamps to connect."
"Eww," I replied, my disgust colorable. "What a disaster that's going to be," I whispered.
"It won't. Come on, stop focusing on the negative.
Let's concentrate on the positive—humans will start regaining their privileges," she said, enjoying her quinoa.
Kemesha loved food, regardless of whether it was branded or off-brand.
Her curves were a testament to her love of eating, alongside the gym sessions included in her rent package.
"Is that really fair? Because it still feels negative to me."
"That's because you're not thinking about it from the right angle."
"I am thinking about it, Kem."
"You aren't, Xan," she teased, her expression serious.
She was taking this vampire-human dating app too seriously, while my mind was preoccupied with whether either Wade or Jager would call.
What if they didn't call? Maybe they weren't interested, which, in a way, was good because I hadn't been interested either.
"Anyway, look at the bright side. Just imagine if five out of ten humans and vampires find love, settle down, and have kids.
Those kids will be half-bloods. And if those half-bloods then end up with humans, which could be three out of ten, their children will be fully human.
It's all in the studies," she explained excitedly.
"All I see happening with that dating app is vampires wanting to meet up and, just like guys wanting sex on the first date, they'll want blood. I don't trust them. Why don't we focus on saving up and getting out of this city that's infested with those same bloodsuckers?"
"What if one of us falls for one of them?"
"I would never betray you like that," I replied.
Her brows furrowed as she finished the last of her quinoa and chicken, eating faster than usual. I took my time, carefully chewing, as my taste buds struggled to accept the food.
"It's not betrayal; it's love," she whispered.
My gaze drifted back to my phone. It had only been twenty-four hours since I last saw them, but it felt like I was missing something.
Maybe I missed the perks they brought—both their charm and their wallets.
It certainly wasn't their calm demeanor or the sweet way they treated me.
I couldn't deny the possibility that they genuinely wanted to care for me.
"We can't love those things."
"What if I do love one of those things? What would you do then?"
I was momentarily at a loss for words. She wouldn't dare love them; she knew how terrible they could be. Our landlord would kick us out if we were even five hours late with the rent, and five hours was an eternity.
"I don't know, Kem. But I don't want to lose you. We've been through thick and thin since we were young. We've always supported each other. Would you really leave me for one of those things?" I asked. "I'd understand if you wanted to have a fling, but fall in love?"
"You could fall in love with one too—the Icelandic princess or the businesswoman."
"No," I said flatly.
"Are you in love with a vamp or not?"
"No, I'm not interested in any of them. But we have to consider it."
"No, we don't. I refuse to fall into a hopeless love.
I'm determined to leave this place and have a real home—in a human neighborhood.
A house just like we always dreamed of: nice gardens filled with white lilies, two bedrooms, because we're not bringing a kid into this messed-up world.
That's the promise we made when we were nine. "
"But what if—"
"Save your 'what ifs.' We're either in this together or we're not, Kem. Are we in this together or not?" I asked, unable to resist glancing at my damn phone again.
"We've got each other."
"Good. Now go to work, earn your tips, and bring them back to our shared safe."
She smiled.
Bored, I stared at the television, keeping my phone at a distance. It rested on the counter, and my increasingly sore neck instinctively turned to check it.
I made sure to set the ringer to very loud. Turning my attention back to the screen, I noticed that instead of our usual news anchor—someone I had watched for years—a vampire was now presenting the news. Were they really pushing every human out of the good jobs?
I wondered what had become of all those humans who lost their jobs. Did they anticipate it and save enough money to settle in human neighborhoods? Or were they walking around with stress and hopelessness etched on their faces, unsure of their next move?
If that were the case, I considered myself lucky to have landed a job that no privileged vampire girls would want.
Suddenly, my phone rang, and I sprang off the sofa in an instant. The number wasn't saved in my contacts, but I instinctively knew it had to be them. I quickly composed myself, though a smile crept onto my face.
"Snow bunny."
Jager's voice came through the line, smooth and hazy like the sky. I leaned against the countertop, feeling my body swoon. "Yes," I whispered softly, my heart racing with excitement.
"Are you taking adequate rest and medication?"
"I've been resting," I replied, contemplating how Wade's voice would sound over the phone—deeper and huskier, likely making me swoon even more.
"You haven't been taking medication?"
"I don't have any medication."
"Well, that gives us a reason to come over. We're bringing some painkillers."
"Yes!" I blurted out excitedly, my eyes widening in horror as I realized how I sounded.
I quickly composed myself for the second time.
"I mean... no... yes, my neck is a bit sorer, so the pills could help.
But I don't want you guys in my house." I wasn't sure why I felt the need to add that; a part of me craved their company, especially since Kem wouldn't be home until around 3 a.m.
"Uh... when are you coming by?" I asked, walking into my room and heading to my closet to find something more suitable to wear.
"In the next two hours. We have more work to do."
"Alright. I'll be waiting... I mean... yeah, sure."
She chuckled, clearly amused. I felt myself swoon again. "We can't wait to see you," she whispered.
Me either, but I hung up, a heavy blush coloring my cheeks. I needed to get ready.