Breach (The Blood Bargain) (32 page)

"Cheers." We shouted in unison, the clink of our glasses resonating our vow. Zack may be boasting to all that would listen, but he wouldn't be the one to write this story in the pages of history. When pen went to paper the real heroes would be forever remembered.

"To Junction! May I never have to leave my warm bed again." Ben rose his glass in a second toast.

"Amen to that!"
Rylie rapped on the table with a laugh. By the time the candles burned low, most had cleared out of the Garage.  Ben had left with his fiancé first as he was still somewhat under the weather with his injuries.  I'd lost track of Dimitri when he walked outside with Adam, but it had freed me up to play a few rounds of darts with Rylie until Alyssa dragged him away with a wicked smile.  

The cool outside air did little to awaken my senses, I was on my way to passing out with the glorious after effect of a sharp hangover.  My only goal was to make it back to my own bed.

I found D in the alleyway I typically took on my way home.  Leaning up alongside the brick building with his head tipped up to the moon and arms folded.

"There you are.  I was wondering where you ran off to."  I waved on my approach, focusing on my footfalls so I could muster the appearance of a straight line.

His gaze snapped over to me, jaw clenched.

I stumbled backward. "You okay?"

"Yes."  His eyes had wandered back to the sky, in my inebriated state I wasn't sure which star he was mad at.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course.  Come."  He put his left arm over my shoulder, pulling me close.  "Let me walk you home.  I have matters to discuss with you."

Hurrying me out of the alleyway we turned onto 1st.  The sound of our feet on the concrete lost in the orchestra of crickets.

"So...what do you want to talk about?"  I slurred, reaching out in front of me I caught a firefly in my palm on my third try.  "D?"  Releasing my glowing captive I smiled, watching the little light dance in the darkness. Looking to my left I noticed D was no longer next to me.  He had stopped a few paces behind.

"
Liv. As the council member liaison to my kind I beseech you to speak for my cause.  For you see with the addition of Fang and Alyssa my home has become rather...cramped."  Lowering his hood, he ran both hands through his hair.  "I was wondering if housing could be allocated for myself and my line."

I didn't know why he was behaving so awkwardly over a simple housing request.  I smiled, taking a step towards him I lost my footing.  He caught me by the arm,
helping me back to an upright position with a chuckle.  "Okay, I'll see if something can be carved out for you and Adam. I know the infected home is still vacant, you may have to clean up some blood splatters and-"

"Not just Adam."  His hands landed on my shoulders, steadying my balance.  There was a fear in his beautiful eyes, trepidations about something...something serious.

"What?"  I whispered, not following.  Dear Lord what kind of robotic vampire lizard half sibling did we have to worry about this tim-

"You."  Gently he placed his soft hands on the sides of my face, ice blue eyes boring into my soul.  "You are my bond, therefore a very important part of my line.  Where ever I may lay my head it will never be my home...without you."

"Dimitri..."  I stepped-mostly staggered-back, shaking my head.  There was still so much of our bond I didn't understand.  I wasn't sure which emotions were my own, and which were created for me.  

"In the eons in which I have lived, no one has ever  risked as much as you have for me.  No one has loved me as you do."

"I don't..." 

"You do.  As I you."  He kissed me, soft cool lips a feather weight against my own.  "As I you, Evelyn."

Well,  I suppose there was only one thing I could say.  I opened my mouth to respond-

and vomited all over his shoes.

Coming Soon

Midnight Accession

The truth behind the undead plague becomes clear as the war between the Queen and Twifel Princes comes to Junction. Unexplained murders and outbreaks rein as the vampire lords play their cards in the shadows, threatening to wipe out what remains of the human race.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Macaela
lives in the American Midwest with her husband and many children.