Page 51 of Captive Hybrid
I nod without looking at him. ‘Yep.’ They don’t know Mordecai has reversed his thinking on that. I roll my shoulders, uncomfortable. ‘What makes you okay with… not being monogamous with someone?’ The question is for the room.
‘I guess, for me, I’m happy when I’m with her, and I’m okay when I’m not.’ Aidan’s gaze finds Evelyn. A smile curves her fine lips.
‘Well, I am monogamous with Siobhan, but I’ve been with a vampire woman before her, and we were more casual. I don’t know. I think everyone’s just different. Sometimes you want freedom and variety.’
This isn’t exactly enemy-cracking information, but if I can get them to talk about little, more casual things like their dating choices, perhaps they’ll open up (intentionally or not) about other things which could be useful. Besides, I feel like I’m getting a full-on education on relationships that outdoes any book I’ve read.
‘Does it have anything to do with how… often a vampire needs to eat?’ I try to keep my tone neutral, not too interested. I don’t plan to stick around here long enough to have many friendly dinners. This might be a golden opportunity that I can’t afford to miss.
The guys look to Evelyn to answer. For a long moment, those copper eyes take me in. ‘Vampires are almost always thirsty,’ she says carefully. ‘As often as a human is hungry. The older we get, often, the better control we have, but our thirst doesn’t decrease. To have a single partner, or person you drink from, isn’t always enough. A vampire can only drink from them so much without causing health problems.’
I frown, turning to Aidan. ‘Like what? Draining you?’
He offers a gentle smile. ‘No, like my fainting from blood loss. Severe low blood sugar. Things like that. And it would take me too long to regenerate my blood cells, anyway.’
My gaze slides to Will, an obvious question. ‘Yes, Zenna, that’s partly why I drink Siobhan’s blood. To heal faster. She also drinks animal blood sometimes.’
Huh. Okay, that’s kind of interesting. ‘Why not all the time?’
Evelyn makes a sound of disgust. ‘Because animals taste like feet.’
I let out a laugh. ‘How do you know what feet taste like?’
She gives me a look which makes all of us laugh. Okay, friendly conversation is going well, but it’s getting late. ‘Do vampires sleep, or only during the day or—’
Evelyn tsks me. ‘You read too much pop fiction, little one.’
And that’s all the questions she’s willing to answer. But her mouth is twisted in amusement. Okay. I’ll take what I can get. But I do need something else. I spread my arms, a yawn spilling from my mouth. ‘Sorry,’ I murmur.
‘Not at all,’ Will says. ‘It is late. Thank you for the evening.’ He rises, holding a hand out to me.
I take it and shake. ‘Thank you for coming,’ I say.
We say our goodnights, leaving the three of us. ‘Aidan, would it be okay if I talked to you… about something?’ I side-eye Evelyn, wondering if she’ll be pissed.
She simply looks to Aidan to see what he wants. A surprising gesture of respect.
He nods, indicating we head to the little library. ‘Sure.’
I lower myself into the same armchair as last time, tucking my legs up under my chin, arms wrapped around myself. I let us simmer in silence for a minute. ‘I was an idiot.’
‘To go off by yourself?’ Aidan sits opposite me, within arm’s reach. ‘Yeah.’
I lower my gaze. ‘I feel… suffocated here. I… I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to being down here, when I don’t know the way out of this place. If there’s even a way out.’ I rest my cheek on my knees. Not pushing for information, just stating.
‘That’s what you want to talk about?’ Aidan arches a brow.
‘I just want to know how long you’ve been down here. If you get used to it.’ My voice is tired, bleak-sounding. I’m pretty sure the ‘ground request’ he put in is bullshit.
Aidan runs a hand through his hair. ‘It’s really hard for you to trust us when you feel like you have no freedom.’ It’s not a question.
I raise my gaze to his, injecting every ounce of desperate hopelessness I feel. ‘Yes,’ I breathe.
Aidan harrumphs. ‘I get that,’ he says gruffly. ‘Would it make a difference if I said there are definitely exits? I mean, we don’t materialise down here,’ he adds with a smirk.
Yes. Please. Tell me.I have to guide Mordecai down here. Or me out, at least. I nod.
‘Drusilla will use you, you know. You and your mate, whether he accepted you or not. She will find a way to bring him here, to you.’
