“What do I do, Boots?”
The cat looked up at me with his beautiful green eyes, and then he ran his head against my hand without a care in the world. For a second I wished I was the cat and not the one having to make decisions about a vampire needing my blood for survival. This wasn’t just any vampire, though, this was Braden. The kind-hearted guy who saved me that night from Jackson and his asshole friends. Braden, who seemed upset and concerned for me after he told me the supernatural shit was real. The guy who stepped up and took the risk of letting me know he and his cousins were all vampires.
Someone knocked softly on the door, and my heart rate picked up.
“Come in,” I said softly.
Val walked in wearing a knitted dress to cover up her revealing swimsuit. My eyes left the perfection of the beautiful vampire and focused on the distressed look on her face. “Hey, can I talk to you for a sec?”
“Sure,” I motioned toward the bed and got up to sit next to her on it.
“The guys are all talking. Cole mentioned that you’re willing to help bring Braden back to us with your blood.”
“I was, I mean I am, shit…” I looked at her, tears of fear filling my eyes, “After everything you and the other girls said tonight about the feeding and the sex, I feel like I’m a virgin on her wedding night scared out of my mind wondering—”
“Stop.” Val placed a hand over my fidgeting ones, then brought her arm around me. Strangely, it was comforting. “All that talk was just us screwing around. This will not be a sexual experience for you. Braden is in trouble, and I think your mind will block endorphins, and so will his if he feeds from you.”
“And if not?” I looked up at her, “How does this work? What if I’m not ready for this and he overpowers me because of the sex thing?”
“I guess you missed the part where I told you that the Banners are not going to let you get hurt or frightened. I have a special ability to read people’s emotions and feelings, I can promise you those four won’t let you be hurt or scared, and they are actually very pissed off that you’re in this position right now.”
I ran a clammy palm over my forehead, “What are my emotions telling you? Can you read them?”
She hugged me tighter, “Yes. You are fighting all of this with your human mind. Your body and soul know its connection to the guys, but your mind is trying to find reason with all the overwhelming information you have running in your mind.” She sighed, “I feel sorry for you. I think that’s how I got over the fact that I lost Braden to you. That and the fact that it’s evident Braden is solely yours now. It’s sort of like I can feel he’s mated, even though he isn’t. All that aside, if there is anything that sticks with you—in all of this—let it be that you have four men who have already equally devoted themselves to only you. You haven’t seen it all yet because you have just been brought into this life, but the rest of us have. It will take time, your entire world changed in a matter of twenty-four hours, we get the fact that you will have trouble accepting this life.”
I went with the first instinct that hit me right then and stood up, “None of that matters right now. Everything inside me tells me I have to help Braden—that I want to help Braden.” I looked at her like a revelation just hit me from nowhere, “This is strange.”
“What?” she asked curiously, standing up, her vivid blue eyes studying me.
“It’s like this is my purpose—who I really am…” I stared over at the glass doors that led to my balcony. “Why would I feel like this so suddenly?”
Val chuckled, “Because you’re accepting it. You’re a Life Blood, Elle. I have a strong feeling that Braden in trouble right now is helping to open up that supernatural part of your existence.”
“You’re probably right and I need to stay with these emotions and go help Braden.”
“Then let’s go.” She reached for my hand, “Listen, once we get Braden up and running again, we girls will find a way to get you through this. Lizzy will probably sit this out because she’s having a hard time getting over Logan. She really was convinced they were mates, but she’s a fucking idiot to begin with, so don’t worry about her. Logan has always screwed with her mind. But, seriously, the rest of us get it and understand this transition will be rough in the beginning.”
“And once I accept it all?”
“You mean once you and the four guys have completed your bond and are inseparable?” she laughed.
“I guess. Will you all still be here?”
“We’ll probably become very close friends when all of you have bonded,” she squeezed my hand, “like sisters.”
“Val!” I heard Lucas shout, “You’re coming with Jay and me to hunt down that healer.”
“No need for that. I’m helping Braden.” I said to Lucas.
His brilliant eyes studied mine, “That’s something you and the Banners need to discuss. I have my orders from Cole, and they don’t have anything to do with you helping Braden.”
Before I could respond, he and Val vanished before my eyes. I opened myself up to the energy I always felt with the Banner cousins, and I let that guide me in this large house to wherever they were.
I overheard them talking from a room downstairs just beyond the living room.
“It’s fucking bullshit. I’m not putting her in this situation. We all promised we wouldn’t scare her, and look at the shit she’s been through since we brought her here,” Cole growled.
“Zac’s jealousy isn’t exactly helping either,” Logan argued. “You need to get over yourself. You love her as much as we do, and if you get your fucking head in this, you’ll stop treating her like shit.”
