42nd & Lex (43 page)

“I don’t know,” I say truthfully. I want to blame it on
the excitement and my lack of lunch, but talking about blood has my stomach
growling like it wants more. My pulse races at the thought. “Let’s go check out
the buffet, shall we? The Enclave’s chefs really know how to put out a spread.”

Lucan and Mark join us in the line and we pile our
plates with all kinds of delicacies. Zaid and Amelia are waiting for us at the
head table. Max is at the next table talking to Cyrian. He gives me a shrug
when he catches me staring. 

“I'm starving!” I exclaim over my two heaping plates. “Amelia,
I hope I don’t get anything on your dress.”

She looks a little puzzled. “I'm surprised you can eat. I
didn’t eat for two days after our ceremony. And it was years before I could
enjoy a steak less than well done again.”

Mark snorts. “Try eating it raw.”

“So I take it you don’t drink blood?” Sarah asks. 

“Ah, no,” Amelia replies with a grimace. “I let Zaid
partake, but I refrain. Thank God the need for blood isn’t one of the things
being a Sodali confers on the human part of the equation.”

Sarah looks disappointed. “But a human could if they
wanted to, right?”

Amelia shrugs. Zaid and Lucan had been talking amongst
themselves but I can tell Amelia has urged him into our conversation
telepathically. Zaid chimes in right on cue.

“It won’t hurt or help a human to drink vampire blood. That
is assuming the human isn’t drained of their blood first, because that’s a
whole ‘nuther issue. But a little mutual exchange never hurt anyone.”

“What about a Halfling? What about Mark?” Sarah pushes. 

“Good question, Sarah. I’ve never heard of a Halfling
being able to turn anyone. So go ahead and feed your curiosity.” Zaid laughs at
his own joke. “So long as he hasn’t taken more than a pint of your blood, it’ll
be fine. Though I doubt you’ll like the taste of it. I haven’t met a human yet
that did.”

I nearly choke on my dinner. I want to steer the
conversation in another direction but Sarah has other plans.

“Abri liked it.” I’m unsure if this is to bolster her
own argument or to prove Amelia wrong. Unfortunately, Sarah was a little
jealous of Amelia’s Sodali status and probably now mine as well. “She said it
tasted like French toast and ice cream.”

Lucan, who has been silent thus far, sets his glass down
carefully on the black tablecloth. “
Really?”
His voice booms in my head.
The excitement of the evening has kept my mind so focused on the outside world that
I have forgotten Lucan and I can now hear each other’s thoughts without
touching.

“Isn’t that what you said to do? Think about
something pleasant, like French toast and it would taste like that and not
blood.”
               

“I was kidding.”

Whether it’s because she can sense our tension, or
because she is bored with the conversation, vampirism isn’t new to her after
all, Amelia asks Zaid to dance. Mark must have caught the same vibe because he
pulls Sarah to her feet, leaving Lucan and I alone at the table. 

“What do you mean you were kidding?”

“I was kidding. Thinking about something tasting
different doesn’t work for—” Lucan stops and thinks to me,
“—humans.”

“Are you saying that you turned me?”
I think back
at him, unable to say the words aloud. “
Oh God, now
I feel sick.
”

“I didn’t turn you Abri. That little amount I took from
you—even with the amount you took from me— wouldn’t be enough to do the job. You
heard Zaid; the human has to be completely drained first.”

“Did I take more from you than I was supposed to?”

“Just more than I would have thought, that’s all.”

“Oh, Lucan, something’s not right then. Because after it
was done I felt hungry, so hungry. And even though we’ve been eating,” I point
at my now empty plates. “I'm still hungry.”

“Abri, that’s not possible. I think you’re just
overwhelmed right now. But just in case, I’ll speak with Dr. Steinman about it
first thing in the morning. For now, let’s just enjoy the evening.” Lucan stands
up and extends his hand to me. “Shall we dance?”

I don’t want to keep thinking about it because I know
Lucan can hear me, but I know I liked it. I can’t stop thinking about liking
it. Even though we just ate, I still feel a hungry gnaw in my stomach.

We spend the rest of the night dancing and trying not to
think about me wanting blood. It is three o’clock in the morning when the limo
drops us back off at the Chrysler. It’s a bit tricky to fit Lucan, me, and my
dress into the Iron Beast but we do it. I am a little sad it’s time to take the
gown off. Definitely a Cinderella after the ball moment, but at least I get a
little help from my Prince Charming in taking it off.

The others have booked a suite at the Algonquin to give
us our privacy. We haven’t been alone in the apartment for days and the quiet is
somehow strange to me. Zaid promised to call immediately if anything happened
on the Serge front.

The Council has approved the use of deadly force against
Serge if he puts up any resistance. This jazzes Zaid in a way that makes my
skin crawl. I’m certain Serge will resist, but even if he doesn’t, Zaid will make
sure it looks like he did. Lucan’s touch on my arm saves me from thinking too
deeply about what that might entail.

“Abri, I am so overjoyed. I never dreamed this would be
possible for me.”

“Me either. I always figured I’d be an old spinster cat
lady. Can we figure out someplace else I can wear this dress?” I ask as I
finish hanging it up in the closet. “It’s too beautiful not to wear again.”

“There is a charity gala next month for the foundation,”
he says, kissing my shoulders. “You are the guest of honor as our new General
Counsel.”

“General Counsel? What do I know about non-profits? I’ve
only ever done family law.”

“Well, the Abri and Lucan O’Reilly Women’s Shelter is
going to need someone who can help set up the legal aid department, isn’t it?” His
kisses travel up the back of neck.

“Really?” I gasp, turning around to face him. “Lucan
that’s fantastic. But what about my job at Carson & Jones? I can’t just
quit out of the blue.”

“I’ve already talked to Spencer and Will, they think
it’s a fantastic opportunity for you and it will bring some good publicity to
the firm. They’re planning to make pro bono at the shelter a requirement for
new associates. Now, enough about work; I think I have something far more
interesting to show you.”

I start to ask how he is on a first name basis with my
bosses but the question gets lost somewhere between his kisses. The kissing
continues until the backs of my legs touch the edge of the enormous bed. “I was
going to change into my pajamas,” I tease. “Being that I’m naked and all.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary.” Lucan dips his
head down to kiss the side of my neck again. “Aren’t you curious about how
things will be now that the trifecta is complete?”

“It will be different? Because it was pretty amazing
before.”

“Let’s find out.” He steps back from me to remove his
jacket and shirt.

“Let me.” I reach for his top button. I can’t keep my
thoughts from replaying the events that led to our completion of the trifecta
in my head. With the buttons undone Lucan shrugs the shirt and jacket off his
shoulders and onto the floor. His face wears an expression of uncertainty. “What’s
wrong?”

“I'm testing our mental connection. You can hear me, can’t
you? We will be able to tune each other out in time, according to Zaid. But apparently
in the beginning it’s pretty constant. Or at least it was for Amelia.”

“I’ve been so spazed out today that I forgot that was
even possible,” I laugh. I try to still my mind and listen. What I hear is
disturbing. Lucan is singing the words to Hanson’s
Mmm Bop
. “Oh lord,
now that is just wrong. Is that what I have to look forward to, a lifetime of
bad song lyrics stuck in your head? I can’t believe you even know that song!”

“The late nineties had some great music,” he defends. “I
can’t believe you haven’t heard me all night. I guess that brain of your is too
focused itself to listen.”

“You’re probably right. I can’t hear you over me. Have
you been able to control hearing me more?”

“I can hear you at a longer range now and even through
walls if you’re close enough. Zaid says I will be able to shut it off easier
now as well. Eventually, it will be something we have to choose to do.” His
hand wonders over my side as he talks. “Now, I believe you were in charge of
removing my clothing.”

I unfasten Lucan’s belt as he kicks off his shoes. “Almost
done.” I drag my finger down his washboard stomach, thinking it will catch the
waistband of his boxers but there is nothing there. “Why Mr. O’Reilly, I see
you’ve gone commando as well,” I tease.

“I didn’t want you to be the only one.”

We waste no time seeing if the Sodalis bond has changed
anything for us. Lucan no longer amps me when we touch but there is definitely
still a connection there. The feeling of completeness that I felt during the
ceremony washes back over me as soon as our bodies join. Lucan runs his hands up
my arms as he raises them above my head.

Our Sodali markings glow as our wrists touch and my skin
feels a little warmer there. The air around us begins to vibrate and hum. I
open my mind to Lucan’s, joining us on yet another level. We make love for
hours until the pink light of dawn begins to edge its way across the horizon. 

“That was different. I can’t really put into words how,
but it was different. Better. Amazing.”

“I agree.” Lucan rolls onto his side to look at me. “I'm
a little worn out between the ceremony and this. I’m going to need to, ah, feed
before I’m of any use today.”

 “Well, you can feed from me now, right?”

“Ah, well,” he stutters. “Yeah, I guess I can. I mean,
if you’re willing. I would never assume.” He lowers his eyes in deference to my
decision.

“I’m willing if you are. Are you more of a neck or a
wrist man?” I ask dangling my wrist in his face.

“Abri,” he chides. He’s quiet for a few seconds and then
answers, “The wrist is easier for the donor.”

“Wrist it is then. This way I can watch too. I'm
curious.”

Lucan bends over my wrist and kisses it where the veins
show a faint bluish green under my skin. The coolness of his touch makes them contract.
His extended fangs shine white even against his pale skin. My breath catches in
my throat as he strikes against the thin skin. I feel the release as the blood
flows out of my body and into his. Lucan looks into my eyes as he takes a tentative
pull. His expression is full of concern.
“I’m okay. Keep going as long as
you need,” I think to him.

Abruptly, Lucan’s fangs retreat from their hold and he
licks the wound to seal it.

There is a small, wet smear of blood trickling down my
arm when he releases it that I want to lick clean. He was right about needing
less blood after we were bonded; he’s barely taken a mouthful.

The gnawing in my stomach returns and I try to ignore
it. Of course, I’m hungry; we’ve been up all night exerting ourselves. Pancakes
sound good. Pancakes and, well, blood. I refuse to acknowledge that last part
as anything more than morbid curiosity. Too late. Lucan is looking at me with
eyes wild with fear.

“Abri?”

“Yeah?”

“We need to go see Dr. Steinman. Now.”

“Why? What’s wrong?” There is no obvious injury to my wrist.
“I feel fine. Just a little hungry myself. I'll go make some breakfast.”

I am half way out of the bed when Lucan grabs my wrist
again. “There’s something wrong with your blood.”

“I told you, I'm just hungry. We’ve been up all night.
Not to mention I drank a lot last night. What you taste is probably about 80 proof,”
I laugh. “Nothing to go see a doctor about, especially a vampire doctor.”

I feel a little unsteady on my feet. “Weird, you didn’t
take that much. I must really be dehydrated.”

“No, I stopped because there was something wrong.” He pulls
me back down to the mattress. “Your blood tastes like mine—like vampire.”

The room spins and the air rushes out of my lungs on par
with being hit in the chest. “You didn’t say it tasted like that yesterday,” I
scream. “You said it wouldn’t turn me.”

“For godsake, Abri, I didn’t turn you. I took even less today
than I did last night. What you ingested last night is gone from your system by
now so I still couldn’t have turned you.”

“Then what the fuck’s happened? What am I?” I am still
screaming. “A fucking Halfling? An abomination the Council will want to punish
you for. Sure, they liked Mark and all but it’s not like they’re going to let
this keep happening.”

“There’s no way…” His voice trails off.

“Finish your thought. It’s not like you can hide it from
me now anyways,” I retort. 

“Get dressed.”

“I’m showering first,” I yell back. I am too pissed to
focus my attention on his thoughts to see if I can make out anything. 

I make quick work of showering and find some jeans and a
sweatshirt to put on along with proper underwear. I am in no mood to be sexy
this morning. I feel betrayed. Had Lucan, Zaid, and Amelia lied to me about the
bounds of Sodalihood? Had they conspired to trick me into doing this for Lucan
knowing I would become some sort of freak?

No, that couldn’t be true. Amelia said last night that
she didn’t like blood. And if Amelia was really a Halfling, surely that would
have had come up by now. There has to be a logical explanation for all of this.
Like I’m just friggin’ hungry.

“We’re stopping for bagels then,” I yell out
unnecessarily. “I’m friggin' hungry.”

***

Lucan and I screech to a stop in front of the Enclave
about twenty minutes later. There is no valet this early in the morning so
Lucan hits the emergency flashers on the Evora and gets out.