6. Finley
Finley
Derven looked at me in awe, his eyes wide, mouth hanging open, as I explained my healing abilities.
I’d hoped my magic had only changed his appearance and not anything else, but making him a little tougher to kill might not be all that bad.
If he got burned up in the sunlight, then I would be in trouble as well.
What I didn’t know was if this would last or was it just an aftereffect of having been healed so recently.
“You could make me human?” he asked, seeming unsure about the whole idea.
“All I know is that I’ve done it before when my magic was out of control.
It was that same night I rescued you all and my magic appeared.
We got into a fight with a coven of vampires that fed on druggies in Miami.
Then one thing led to another…” I trailed off, not really sure how to explain what actually happened.
Derven shook his head slowly, never taking his eyes off me, then paused. “Wait, so you’re telling me that at some point, I might be able to have you turn me back into a human, maybe have kids, grow old with you, and die like people should?”
Hearing him ask that surprised me. Most vampires lorded over human and supernaturals alike that they could live forever.
Then again, I’ve never met someone who was a thousand years old and watched the world change time and time again.
“I truly have no idea what the aftereffects would or could be. The one I changed, we killed to ensure that my secret wouldn’t get out.
There is no way to know what could happen long term. ”
His face turned serious as he dropped his eyes to look at his hands. I could only imagine what might be going through his head right now, but I understood what it felt like to have your whole world turned upside down.
“Finley!” Ayla’s voice chimed. I looked past Derven and found her sliding down the railing. “I’m so glad to see you again, and I hope you don’t mind I took your old room for now. Rathal suggested it was the best place for me right now as you move into the other house.”
A genuine smile pulled up my lips as I turned to greet her with a hug. While I’d never been one to have friends, I felt she and I could understand each other a little better than most. Her also being an elf would be invaluable to questions I didn’t necessarily want to ask Rath.
“I heard you are bringing more to join you?” I asked, then paused in surprise when a fork full of omelet appeared in front of my face. Derven clearly was taking his task of making sure I ate seriously and wasn’t going to allow me to be distracted.
While still unsettled with our new addition, my wolf was pleased to have been offered food from his own hand. Obediently, I accepted the bite, and my wolf purred with delight at being looked after this way. Plus, she was incredibly hungry and upset with me for it happening.
“There are three others who are going to come,” Ayla shared.
“They heard me talking to the elders and decided they too were tired of hiding in the shadows. Once the Dark Ring is gone and we have a queen to lead our people, there is no need for us to remain silent. Our people fought to protect the human world and now we would like to take our place back among them. While many of the elders who lived through the war disagree, it’s no longer up to them with you here. ”
Derven kept feeding me bites as I listened, my brain whirling from everything Ayla was telling me.
If more elves were going to come, then my plan to eventually ease the wolves into the idea wasn’t going to work.
I hadn’t planned to bring our pack into the matters with the Dark Ring, but it seemed the universe had other plans.
With the addition of Derven as well, the alphas had a lot to cover in the next pack meeting.
It seemed we were going to need a gathering sooner than later.
“Do you think it will just be the three or will there be more?” Derven asked, handing me a glass of water. I smiled at him gratefully and gulped down the cool refreshing liquid, not noticing how thirsty I was.
Ayla shrugged. “There could be more, but the ones who are coming are not fighters like myself. They are craftsmen. The elders were upset because they are invaluable to a clan, but they will be what we need to help build a new village for us to live in.” She then directed her attention to me.
“Would you ask the forest if it is willing to become our home? It would require sacrifice from it at first, but we always replace what we take, and with your magic helping it to thrive, that will happen much sooner.”
“Can I do that?” I reached out to Rath, who was helping the others pack, but I knew they were all listening in through our connection.
“Yes, nin mel, the forest has accepted you and allowed you to claim this land as your own. Asking for this will only endear you to them as it’s a sign of respect to the nature you protect and nurture,” he answered.
“This is how things were done before the war. Those who made a deal with the forest they wished to dwell in worked together to create the village the elves lived in. It’s a symbiotic relationship that benefits all. ”
As he explained it, I could see how that made sense but the reality that the forest all around me was sentient enough to care was still so new to wrap my mind around. “I will ask,” I said, unsure what else to say on the matter.
The guys trudged back and forth with baskets, trash bags, and boxes full of things. It seemed they were emptying the betas room first, which made sense since they didn’t have to deal with the stairs.
“Come, sangele meu, let’s move into the living room, so I’m not in the direct path of the sun when they open the door. While I believe I would be fine, I’m sure you can appreciate my caution,” Derven suggested.
Glancing at my plate, I realized I’d eaten everything. My wolf wouldn’t mind a little more food, but it would be fine until we got back to the house. We sat on the couch together, but I curled up in the corner bend, watching Derven. I had so many questions about this man, who I was now bound to.
Now that he’d cleaned up, I could see the attractive man he was and how it must have made it easy to find people to feed from. Then the realization of why I was bound to him and what that meant had me sitting up straight.
“You have to feed from me and only me from now on, right?” I stated bluntly.
Derven gave a slight nod as he watched me intently. It was almost as if he was sifting through my thoughts as I thought them.
“Not all your thoughts, just ones you think about me,” he corrected.
“I can’t listen in on the conversations you have with the others, but I’m aware when they happen.
It’s like a hum in the air, the same as an electric current through major power lines.
When you think of me specifically, it pulls me into your thoughts.
It’s supposed to allow me to understand what you’re feeling and thinking to better care for you.
Unfortunately, I can’t prevent it from happening, but I believe you are strong enough in your mental abilities to block me out with practice. ”
“You were doing that in the clearing before you bonded with me,” I pointed out.
“Noticed that, did you,” he said with a sigh.
“It was my first inclination that you might be someone that could be a Blood Bond. I just didn’t think the pull would be that strong.
It wasn’t at all like this with Marissa.
While I craved her and cared for her, our connection was nothing as deep as ours appears to be.
Maybe she was a match but not a perfect match which you happen to be.
The taste of your blood was like pure sunshine mixed with cayenne pepper.
Bright and packs a major hit, running like fire through my veins. ”
“So, how does this work?” I asked, leaning back into the soft leather of the sofa. “Do you feed daily? Will it need to be from the vein? Are there side effects I should know about other than possibly orgasming every time you drink?”
“My age is to your benefit, along with how potent your blood is. That taste I got from your finger will keep me going for days,” he shared.
“Under normal circumstances, I should say, right now, I am still weak from the silver and not having been able to feed as deeply as I need for fifty-odd years. Wouldn’t want an ancient vampire to be too strong and destroy everyone in the house, now would they,” he said with a dark chuckle.
Running a hand through his hair, he paused to watch the guys haul out another load before he continued, “While in a Blood Bond situation, it is more enjoyable for both parties if I drink from the source. It is not a requirement. If you would prefer to put it in a cup for me to drink, it is perfectly fine. I know this isn’t at all what you wanted for your life.
We might be bonded for life, but we are strangers to each other.
While I hope that changes quickly, I am an incredibly patient man when I need to be. ”
It gave me a sense of relief to know that I didn’t have to offer up my vein for this to work. Derven was right, we were strangers, but it had been the same thing for the others as well. It seemed the universe knew I was never going to open up easily on my own, so it forced me.