Chapter 22

I paused outside his door with my hand in the air. I knew how this was going to go. After the very informative discussion with the Alterealm princesses, I needed to try. I knocked firmly against the ornate wood.

“Yeah.” Quinton called from inside.

I opened the door and went in, pushing the door slowly closed behind me. Quinton stood in the middle of the large room putting his leather vest on.

“Rea, is something wrong?” He shrugged into it, then stood there looking at me.

I shook my head, “not what you think.” I took a deep breath, then let it whoosh out, “I think it might be a good idea if you stayed out of the fray today—if possible.”

Gone was his concerned expression. It was replaced with a hard stare as he put his hands on his hips. “That, right there, is why my brothers don’t know.”

“I have kept my word and not told anyone.” I said with resolve. “I just saw how quickly you become drained and today we don’t know what we’re taking on.”

“We have people watching the warehouse right now, getting us numbers.” He did up the vest while eyeing me.

I didn’t know how to broach the subject of a blood bond. It was hard enough talking to the other women, without explaining why. The moment I’d heard that Chase had been able to connect with Alona and help her, and give Daxx a boost of strength through it, I knew it was what I needed with Quinton. I didn’t know if I could actually figure out the mechanics, but I had to try.

“What’s on your mind?” He came toward me. “I can see the wheels turning up there.” He tapped the side of his head.

“That transparent, am I?”

He shrugged, “or I’ve just had a few hundred years of observing people.”

“A few.” I smile briefly. I decided to just say it. “The women were talking about the benefits of a blood bond…” his brows drew together turning his expression into a scowl, “I wondered if that was something that would benefit us—” I motioned to him, “you.”

I watched his chest as he inhaled slowly. “You think you can work the blood bond and send me what—” he motioned in the air, “healing energy through it.”

I nodded, then shrugged, “I don’t know, but I think it’s worth a try.” I lifted my hands, “you won’t let me try this,” I lowered them and gave him a stern look, “I’ve never been sick a day in my life, so clearly my ability is more than just my touch.” I moved to close the space between us.

Quinton stood there, a mere foot separating us. The emotions going through his eyes were flashes as he thought it through. I wasn’t about to speak and disrupt his process. I honestly pictured him shooting me down before I uttered a complete sentence. “I don’t know, Rea.”

Him using my given name in a such a soft tone meant more to me than I had ever imagine it could. “Surely a small amount of your blood can’t cause harm to someone with healing running in hers.”

“I don’t like the idea of you being distracted because of me.” He huffed out a breath.

“I’m distracted watching you as it is.” I gave him an earnest look, “your skill at combat is both remarkable and terrifying.” I bit my lip, “I was sidetracked wondering if you’d elected to use one sword or didn’t have the strength to wield two in that cave.”

He shrugged one shoulder, “it was a matter of space to move.” He rubbed his hand over his jaw, “I didn’t want to hit one of my own brothers or their mates with two swinging.”

I opened my mouth, then closed it quickly. “I hadn’t considered that.” I inhaled through my nose and then blew it out, “but perhaps a bond would help so I don’t pause to deliberate your motives.” He was still not sold. “Don’t think I’m doubting your ability as a warrior or stamina, in any way—I would just like to know if you run into trouble or are injured.” I moved to close the space between us and placed my hand over his heart. “If you were injured, your brothers would insist I heal you,” I tilted my head to the side and continued to look up at him, “we both know that’s not as simple as they believe.”

“It could kill you to try.” He said with a gravelly voice.

“I know. I understand that now. Your fear of what will happen to me.” I said softly.

“I’m not willing to take that chance.” He said in a low tone.

“I understand.” I had no more words to try to convince him. “So, how does this work?” I gave him a curious look, “the blood bond. Do we drip it into cups like vampires or—”

He grinned. “No.” He huffed out a breath, “but it does involve fangs and to be honest with you, I don’t know if I’m strong enough to just take a taste of your blood.”

I raised my eyebrows, “says the man that’s been powering through a gradual death unnoticed by others.”

He snorted softly, “I didn’t say it’s been easy.”

“And yet you continue to do it.”

His eyes were locked on mine. “I have no choice.”

I couldn’t look away from him if it had been dire that I needed to. “Do this for me, for my sanity.” I tried to smile and failed, “I haven’t the time you’ve had to adjust to this.”

The serious expression in his eyes lightened to something close to humor. “That’s a pretty lame line.”

I grinned. “Social interaction is a new thing for me, I’m faking it completely.”

He chuckled softly, “I’ve noticed.” He nodded slowly, “I spent a hundred years wandering alone, so I get it.” Taking a deep breath, he blew it out and undid his vest.

I dropped my hand away and tried not to stare at his muscled chest, failing once again. “On the outside you are the image of the perfect male.”

His mouth quirked, then he sobered again. “You will have to take blood from my chest.” He watched me for a reaction, “I’ll have to bite you to get yours.”

I raised my eyebrows, “is it odd I don’t find that frightening?”

He inhaled slowly, then breathed it out, “no, it just means you’re definitely of Alterealm blood and my mate.”

I watched the battle taking place inside his head through the reflection in his eyes. “Let’s do it then. The others are gathering for food before we go over.”

He was all business at the mention of that. With an abrupt nod, he reached behind him and pulled out a blade, then paused. “It’s been three hundred years since I did this.” He stated quietly.

I patted his chest, hiding my own anxiousness, “you look pretty good for an old guy.” I joked.

He smirked and shook his head, “we really need to work on your social interaction, Rea, it’s rusty.”

I rolled my eyes, then sobered immediately as he dragged the blade across his chest.

He touched the back of my head, “I don’t heal as fast as my brothers anymore, but let’s not let me bleed out.”

I jolted and leaned closer, touching the tip of my tongue against the blood running down his skin. The taste wasn’t metallic at all, which I noted to think about later. Closing my mouth over the wound on his chest, I sucked gently. Quinton made a soft noise, but held me close, so I continued.

Lifting my head, I watched his chest as it closed slowly. It was a marvel to see. “Was that enough?” I looked up to see him standing there with his eyes closed. He opened them slowly and I felt a rush of heat as he stared down at me with red eyes. “Red is definitely your color.” I whispered.

He smiled and I got my first sight of fangs. They didn’t frighten me at all.

“You’re not afraid of them at all.” He stated.

I shook my head, still looking at them. “Quite the opposite.” I said with barely any voice at all.

He made a soft growling noise. “This is killing me, in new ways.” He stated, then reached and tilted my head to the side. I was like a boneless doll in his hands, willing to let him bend me to his will. He leaned down in slow motion and my heart kicked up to beat faster than ever before. When his breath brushed over my neck, I found myself clutching the arm holding my head. I closed my eyes when he bit into me and felt the tingle of excitement course through my whole body. He lifted his mouth away then sucked on my neck gently. I wanted him to bite me again but knew he wouldn’t comply.

When he licked over my neck, and lifted his head, he hugged me against his body. “See,” I cleared my throat to find my voice, “you are strong enough.”

His chest was rising and falling rapidly. “Barely.” He said in a hoarse voice. Squeezing me briefly, he then stepped back and began to button his vest with shaking hands. “We better get down there before they start harassing me.” He glanced at me and I was almost disappointed his eyes were brown again. “I’ll send you emotions through the bond while we eat so you can see how it works.”

I flipped my hair back from my face. “Hopefully I’ll be able to figure it out.”

Reaching over, he flipped my amulet around, so it was lying flat. “It’s all based on emotion and feeling, the stronger the emotion, the easier it is to relay.”

I nodded, even though I had no idea what he meant.