Page 52 of Blood

“So, you’re saying we need to track Miranda sooner rather than later.”

I cast a knowing look in Nova’s direction.

She catches my gaze and inhales slowly. “You’re going to suggest jumping aren’t you?”

Kole growls a little and leans forward onto his elbows. His knee touches mine beneath the table. With Nova on the other side, I can’t help wishing this was a weekend vacation rather than another mission likely to get us frigging’ killed or worse – get humanity killed if we fuck it up.

“Kole, we could wander the city for hours trying to trigger a vision that will tell us where she is. Even if you are supercharged from Nova’s blood.”

The two of them smile. Kole’s is hungry. Nova’s is coy, and a little turned on.

“But if I jump, we’ll get an answer straight away.”

“The last time—” Nova slides her hand down my arm and takes hold of my hand.

“I’m stronger now. I’ve rested.”

Her jaw sets tightly. She looks toward the door, as if she can see the memory of Mack lingering there. Pressing her eyes closed, she nods. When she looks at me, this time it’s with a fiery determination. The kind that gets me hot as hell. “All right,” she says. “Where and when?”

“Upstairs. Now.” I push my seat back, down the last of my coffee and head for the door.

In Nova and Kole’s room, I ask her for a scarf or something I can use to limit my sensory input.

Nova’s lips curl and she giggles before opening up the holdall I saw Luther pass her before we left. She sifts through, showing me flashes of pink and purple. Are those…?

I shake my head.

Not the time, Tanner.

Not the time.

“Here…” She pulls out a black blindfold and dangles it from her index finger. “Seems like Luther packed me for all eventualities.”

Taking it from her, imagining slipping it over her mesmerizing eyes and taking it in turns with Kole to do all kinds of things to her while she’s forced to guess whose touch is whose, I kiss the tip of her nose.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter. “Could you stop being so cute for five minutes? I need to focus.”

Grinning at me, Nova gestures to the bathroom. “You need water?”

I nod, and head for the tub, then run a few inches from the tap, sit on the side and submerge my feet.

Nova turns the light out as I slip the blindfold over my eyes.

“We’ll be right here if you need us.” She and Kole position themselves at the back of the room.

A weight settles in my chest, heavy, suffocating. She’s scared, and Kole is too, which means I’m starting to feel scared too.

Memories of pain, and the sensation of my mind breaking near clean in two, make me shudder. If I’m going to pull this off, I need... more. I slip the blindfold back onto my forehead and turn to Nova. “I think I need…”

Without hesitating, she closes the gap between us, sits on the edge of the tub next to me, and presents her wrist. I trace her pale blue veins with my forefinger, then kiss them lightly.

I look for Kole, but he’s already there. Kneeling, so he’s positioned between us, he lowers his mouth to Nova’s wrist. With one quick bite, his sharpened front teeth pierce her skin.

She inhales sharply, and her eyes flutter.

Kole’s eyes blacken. His jaw twitches, and his fists clench.

But then he tears himself away, and stands up, moving away from us.