Chapter 102
Chapter 102
Even though it’d been three days since he’d fed from Chloe, he was apparently still capable of blushing. He felt his cheeks warm. “I go
out,” he said defensively. “This is hardly p>
Etta stared at his reddening face. Her mouth fell open as her eyes
went round as saucers.
“Babe?” Fran touched her shoulder, brow furrowed. “What’s wrong p>
“You’re getting live blood,” Etta said faintly, wide eyes still fixed on Amos’s reddened face. “Did you find a bloodmate? And you never introduced me? Oh, Amos, how could you? How long has this been going on? Does the Council know p>
“I don’t have a bloodmate,” Amos said, forcing the words out.
Etta stiffened.
“And I’m not hunting,” he added.
She relaxed. “Then… how p>
“I…” He scrubbed uncomfortably at the back of his neck. His face
grew warmer. “I signed up with a donor service p>
Etta’s brow furrowed. “No, not one of those mercenary blood–for–pay
places p>
“Yes. One of those p>
“Amos,” she said softly, appalled. “Those places… they’re so… wrong. It’s such a violation of the intimacy of feeding. And there’s such a risk with exposing yourself to a stranger! Jesus, tell me you’re being
Chapter 102
safe p>
For all her bouncy cheer, Etta was as protective a dam as Amos had ever witnessed. He was simultaneously touched and annoyed by her
concern.
“I’m perfectly safe, mother,” he said dryly. “My donor is trustworthy. And she may not be my bloodmate, but she’s… a friend p>
The seriousness faded from Etta’s expression, salacious interest gleaming in her eyes. “A friend, is she? Might this friend become more someday?” Etta waggled her eyebrows.
Amos stared back at her, unamused. “We’ve only known each other
for a week p>
“That doesn’t answer my question, sonny boy p>
He sighed. “I don’t know. Maybe? It’s too soon to hope.” Not that that
had stopped him.
“Hmmm.” Etta sank back against Fran, studying Amos.
Fran shifted, wrapping both her arms around Etta, resting her chin atop Etta’s head. “So… how was it? Having live blood for the first time in… how long? Since the blood banks started running. When
was that p>
“Nearly a century p>
“Christ,” Fran said. “No wonder you decided to pay for it p>
“But how was it?” Etta demanded impatiently.
“Good,” Amos answered flatly. He could feel his face heating all over
again.
Chapter 102
Etta cackled. “I’ll bet. And the donor? What did she think p>
“She’s a B&B,” he blurted out.
Fran and Etta were both stunned speechless. After a moment, Etta
was the first to find her tongue. “No,” she gasped, scandalized delight shining in her eyes. “She…when you feed p>
Fran let out a low whistle. “Lucky girl p>
Amos nodded. He wanted to dunk his burning face in an ice bath. He
shouldn’t have said anything, but he didn’t have anybody else to talk
to about it. Vampires were solitary by nature, forming bonds only
with bloodmates and progeny, but otherwise keeping to themselves.
That didn’t mean loneliness didn’t affect them. Especially for a
vampire with no bloodmate.
“No wonder she signed up to be a donor,” Etta said.
“She didn’t know p>
“How could she not know?” Fran asked.
“She’s never been fed from before p>
Etta’s eyes widened. “Are you the only vampire she’s feeding p>
Amos scowled. “Yes. Of course p>
“Well, I’m sorry, darling. I don’t know how these things work. I assumed the donors had a rotation of clients p>
“No. I’m her only…” He couldn’t bring himself to say client. “Her only
one p>
“Well, I suppose that makes this whole thing seem a little less…
commercial,” Etta conceded.
Chapter 102
Her grudging acceptance rankled. Amos scowled at her. “It’s easy for you to talk about the sanctity of feeding when you’ve had live blood
on tap for the last fifty years p>
“Hey,” Fran said mildly. “I’m right here p>
Amos gave her an apologetic look. “Sorry, Fran. You know I don’t think you’re just blood on tap p>
Fran rolled her eyes but smiled bemusedly.
At the same time, Etta grimaced at herself. “You’re right, Amos. I’m
sorry. I’m not trying to be a self–righteous nag. I just worry about you. I can’t help it p>
Amos let his annoyance go. “I know you do. I suppose I appreciate it.
Sometimes. A little bit p>
Back on comfortable footing with each other, Etta changed the topic.
“You might be wondering why I came by p>
“Isn’t the pleasure of my company reason enough?” Amos asked,
masking his amusement with a dry tone. He knew Etta would find any reason to come by, perhaps more often than Amos would necessarily care for. Not that he didn’t enjoy her visits. She just tended to give no warning and liked to strong–arm Amos into larks he’d rather not be a part of. After more than a century of vampirism, he’d adjusted well to the solitude. He vaguely remembered that even before being turned, he hadn’t exactly been a social butterfly. But, because of his introversion, Etta always showed up with a non–social
pretense for her visit.
“Of course it is,” she said, shooting him a look that said she knew exactly what he was doing. “Anyways, I don’t suppose you’ve heard
the news about Alex Markov p>
Amos sighed. “What has the fucker done now p>
Alex Markov was possibly the oldest vampire residing in Chicago.
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Nobody knew his true age. Whatever it was, he was ancient enough to possess powers that most vampires could only dream of attaining. He could resist daysleep. He was known to decorporealize and travel through shadows. It was rumored that he could inhabit dreams and communicate through telepathy. He allegedly had a bloodmate, but it was widely believed that he’d enthralled her rather than won her over through courtship–which was no better than psychic rape, and he probably hadn’t shied away from physical rape, either.
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Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.