Page 46 of Abiding Blood

“No. It didn’t hurt, exactly,” he said, offering a weak smile.

I realized how close we still were, and I pushed myself back to create some space between us. “Thank you, Julian.” Wrapping my arms around my knees, I looked up at Julian, trying to gauge how he was doing. “I understand how uncomfortable that probably was. We can try a glass next time if you prefer.”

“No, it was fine,” Julian said thoughtfully. To my relief, his voice had returned to normal. “It wasn’t what I expected. Overthinking it over the last few days was far more uncomfortable than the experience itself.” He pulled the sleeve back down to cover his arm. “How often will you need to feed?”

Now it was my turn to consider. “I don’t know. Maybe a couple of times a week, depending on how you feel afterward. I don’t want to take too much and risk your health.”

Julian nodded. “Yeah, that sounds good.”

Now that the feeding was over, there were still things to take care of on the porch, and I thought it was a good chance to give Julian some time alone to process. As I turned to leave, I glanced back. Julian sat still on the sofa, gazing into the fire. He looked lost in thought, holding his arm, a small smile fixed on his face. My heart stuttered at the sight. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that smile, so I turned away and got to work.

After cleaning the items, I set everything on the kitchen island so Julian could see what I’d found. He wandered over from the living room but kept his distance. There was still a strange energy between us, and Julian seemed quieter than usual.

“I wasn’t able to find anything fresh, I’m afraid, and the stores and houses weren’t cold enough to keep the frozen foods. I supplemented what I could with canned goods, fruits, vegetables, and tinned meat,” I said as Julian rummaged through the groceries.

He held up a bottle of multivitamins and another of iron supplements.

“I thought they might help,” I said. “And I was right. You’re a bit anemic.”

Julian raised his eyebrows. “Am I? You can actually tell that?”

“I could,” I said, feeling oddly embarrassed by the admission.

“What else could you tell?” Julian asked, genuinely curious.

“Well, that you’re healthy. You’re not a carrier of the disease, in case you were worried,” I added. “You drink plenty of water and put pepper on your dinner tonight.”

“You could tell all that from the taste of my blood?”

“Yes.”

“And you’re sure you could tell if I had the virus?”

“Definitely. Most human diseases don’t affect us, but this virus, whatever it is, is fatal to us. Plus, it has a very distinct smell and taste,” I said, unable to suppress a grimace at the memory.

“You’ve tasted it before?”

I nodded. “And I almost died because of it. My age was the only thing that saved me. Many younger vampires perished before we figured it out.”

Julian circled the island, picking up and setting down several items. “You’ve mentioned your age before. You don’t look any older than I do, but I’m guessing you’re older than you look.”

I let out a small laugh. “Yes. I’m quite a bit older. I was born in the 50s,” I said. I studied Julian for a moment, then added, “The 1750s.” I could tell that wasn’t what Julian expected, and I thoroughly enjoyed the look of shock on his face.

Julian smiled and shook his head. “You were around before the U.S. became a country?”

“I’m afraid I’ve witnessed both this nation’s birth and its death,” I said.

We both fell silent then, and I regretted ruining the mood with my dark observation just as Julian was beginning to relax again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to⁠—”

“No, it’s okay. You’re probably right,” Julian said. “It’s just going to take some getting used to, like everything else these days.” Julian’s smile was tight, but he nodded at me before continuing to pick through the groceries.

I decided to return to my room and leave Julian to sort through the haul by himself. I’d already imposed enough on him that night. “I’ll say goodnight now. I think I’ll read for a bit before bed,” I said. “Thank you for the clothes. I can return them to you tomorrow night.”

“No need. I have plenty,” Julian said, looking up. He gave me an appraising, slightly suggestive once-over. “And they look good on you.”

My stomach tightened, and I became uncomfortably aware of the warmth of Julian’s blood pooled inside me. “Thank you, Julian. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, turning quickly to retreat down the hall toward my room.

Once inside, I thought about all that had happened that night. At first, I’d been pleased with how things had gone, both in finding the supplies and in feeding. I believed we had overcome a significant hurdle. I’d managed to feed without losing control or harming Julian. Julian didn’t seem put off by the experience and had agreed to feed me again. Neither of those concerns mattered any longer.