Thirteen
Marcus
Avalon stood frozen amongst the rose bushes. She likely wasn’t aware of how still she actually was. She no longer felt the need to move, nor did any of her organs need movement to survive. The absence of her heartbeat frustrated Marcus to no end, but a large part of him was glad she was with them—even if she was no longer human.
The front door opened, and Lysander approached. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw him place armfuls of bags beside the couch before stepping next to him and Varos.
“How long has she been standing there?”
“A while.”
“You think that’s wise?”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
Varos sighed. “Because Lysander thinks she might smell blood and disappear on a killing streak.”
Ava’s hand twitched. “I won’t hurt anyone.”
“You didn’t want to hurt me,” Lysander countered. “But your fangs sunk into me the moment you located my pulse.”
Instinctively, Marcus spun around and smacked his flat hand into Lysander’s sternum. His friend flew across the room, crashing into the marble of the kitchen island. “Fuck you. You made her do that by cutting your damn wrist.”
Lysander pushed himself off the floor, keeping his head held high. His eyes, however, darkened in the presence of the beast lurking within. “And the same thing will happen with something as small as a papercut.”
“We won’t let that happen and you know that.”
Before Lysander could counter, Varos stepped between them, tired eyes resting on the two of them. “We’ll teach her to control her thirst and ensure that she won’t hurt anyone. After that, Avalon can decide what she would like to do.”
Varos then walked out of sight and into his room. Lysander stared Marcus down, his beast hovering just beneath the surface. Lysander had perfected his fa?ade for over a thousand years. This was the first time Marcus had ever seen him fighting for control.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“You meant it. You meant all of it. I hate liars and pathetic apologies.” With a deep growl rumbling his chest, Lysander turned and fled to his own room.
Turning back to Avalon, Marcus watched as the first sunrays lifted over the horizon and bathed her in a golden light. She looked beautiful, jaw-dropping even. She was still wearing nothing but Varos’s shirt. As the sun started to warm the air, creatures began to stir in the bushes.
With how still she was, a few butterflies landed on her. He wasn’t even sure she noticed until she lifted one arm and froze again. She watched as the butterflies fluttered around her and landed on her hand.
Eventually, she moved and scattered the butterflies around her. She turned and met his gaze with pain-filled eyes.
“Lysander bought you a few clothes.”
Avalon looked passed him at the bags, and her brows rose in surprise. “Oh.”
Marcus sat on the couch while Avalon peered through the bags.
She took a look at the logo on the bags and furrowed her brows. “I didn’t even know this store was open at night.”
“They love Lysander. They would make anything possible for him.”
“I’m pretty sure they love his money more.”
The lightness in her tone conjured a smile on his lips. “True, but the owner has a bit of a crush on him too.”
Avalon sat on her heels, throat jumping as she attempted to swallow.
“You’re thirsty, aren’t you?”
She dropped her eyes to her lap, fidgeting with the hem of a blouse.
Marcus went to the kitchen and returned with a glass of blood.
“I don’t like this,” she admitted, taking the glass and eyeing it as if it were poison.
“You’ll get used to it.”
“What about real food?”
“The only joy you’ll ever get from it is if you have a kink for others eating in front of you.”
Wide eyes shot up to him. “That’s a thing?”
“Don’t ask me. I hate watching Lysander eat.”
“Sorry.”
“For what?”
“Eating in front of you.”
“Well, you’re cute and adorable and he’s an ugly self-loathing bastard.”
Avalon finally giggled, and the sound warmed his frozen heart. “What if I ate it anyway?” she asked, taking a sip from the glass. The moment the taste had touched her tongue, she gulped the rest of it down.
“Your body would reject it.”
“That’s no fun. ”
“But let me tell you a secret,” he said, leaning forward and lowering his voice. “If you order Lysander something you enjoy and let the smell of it surround you while you drink, it comes pretty close.”
“I hope he likes garlic,” she laughed, brows fusing. “That’s just a myth, right? Garlic can’t actually hurt me?”
“You don’t have to worry about a vegetable killing you.”
“Holy water?”
“Not really. These days, that kind of holy water doesn’t exist anymore.”
“Silver?”
“That depends on the purity.”
“So, it can kill me?”
“The element itself can’t, but it does weaken you and burns like shit.”
“What can kill me?”
“Beheading.” Her eyes widened so he quickly added to soothe her worry, “Though it’s not easy to behead us, or even puncture our skin.”
Avalon set the glass aside, inspecting her hands. At first, she took in the details of her fingers, then her palm and her wrist before she turned and did the same to her knuckles. “That’s why Lysander used my own fingernail to cut my skin?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to hurt him again.”
“He provoked you.”
“He proved a point.”
Marcus lowered to his knees, taking her hand in his and gently smoothing his thumb over her knuckles. “You’ll learn to control your new self. The thirst will ebb with time.”
Avalon didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on his thumb.
“Are you upset with us?”
“I don’t know. Maybe, but I don’t want to be.”
“You are allowed to be. ”
“But you saved me.”
“Just like Lysander said, we could’ve also made you feel comfortable in your last moments.”
Avalon shrugged and twisted her wrist so now his hand laid in hers. “I always knew you two were different.” Her hand faintly shook as she giggled. “I thought you were angels. My angels. You saved me, then you came back and made me happy.”
“You speak too highly of us.”
“I was at my breaking point and you two turned my whole life around. You gave me hope. And when I saw you in that elevator again, I thought you’d come back to make sure I was alright. That you needed to know I was safe, maybe even happy.”
“And you were, both safe and happy. You did that all by yourself.”
One of Avalon’s hands held his, while she traced her fingertips over his palm. “And you came after me again and made sure I was alright. Only now, Lysander is upset with you.”
“The important part is that you’re safe. And you should know that he’s mad at us, not you.”
Avalon’s eyes met his, a hint of a smile teasing her lips. “Wait until I’m sticking my nose in his food.”
He smiled down at her, soaking in her touch.
“I don’t feel right.”
“Because your body is different now.”
“It’s not just that. It’s my mind too. It all feels off. Like I’m not myself.”
“Your senses are heightened and your mind is much sharper than before. You are still you, but you now have new abilities. I know you don’t want to hear this but you need to give yourself time to adjust.”
“How much time do I have?”
He ducked down to see her face, trying to understand the meaning of her words. “With us? As long as you need. ”
“And to live?”
“There is no limit.”
Wide, doe-like eyes found his. “I won’t die?”
“No natural death at least.”
“How old are you?”
He grinned at her, her curiosity so innocent it was adorable. “I’m not sure if I feel comfortable sharing that kind of information with you.”
Her lips formed an O as she stared at him, trying to find any sign of wrinkles or a hint that would reveal his true age.
“Why don’t you go try on those clothes? Then we’ll answer some of your questions”
Seeming as if she’d just realised how little she had on, she bit her lip. But like the newborn she was, she forgot her strength and made herself bleed. She whimpered and he was quick to reach for her.
“Careful there,” he hushed, his thumb picking up the few red drops that had spilled. “Don’t worry about it. It’s already healing.”
Avalon nodded and if she’d still been human, her cheeks would have tinged that beautiful cherry red. Pulling out of his touch, she scrambled to her feet and scurried off to her room with her new clothes.
The moment she couldn’t see him anymore, he sucked his thumb into his mouth. It was sweet, like a fine wine and his fangs throbbed as his tongue prickled to taste more.
“That good?” Varos asked quietly, appearing on the couch opposite him.
He nodded with a grin he couldn’t hide. Of course, her blood now was nothing like what her human blood would’ve tasted like, but he could now imagine how good feeding on her would’ve been. Though his blood lust loved the thought, his heart hated it. She was far more than just a good feast. Varos knew exactly what he was thinking but unlike Marcus, he also knew what her human blood tasted like.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been so close to heaven,” Varos confirmed with a cocky grin that Marcus wanted to wipe off his smug face.
“Fuck you.”