A Third Tidbit From The Secret Keeper
A third tidbit from my CampNaNoWriMo project, The Secret Keeper. Enjoy!
Sunset came far too quickly. Rising, Julian stretched his cramped muscles, pleased to find that his injuries had healed completely. Shuffling out of the room Miles had shown him to the night before, he made his way toward the kitchen and rummaged through the refrigerator for a box of the synthetic blood. While it didn’t hold a candle to the real thing, it did curb his thirst for blood.
Ripping the carton open, he downed it in one drink and reached into the refrigerator for another. He was in the process of gulping it down when a very disheveled Mara sauntered into the kitchen. She sat down on one of the stools, accepting the box of blood Julian offered her.
“Thanks,” she said, tearing it open with her teeth.
“Welcome.”
“What’s on the agenda?” she inquired, a dab of blood dripping down her chin as she hastily sipped from the carton.
“Miles, Lorelei, and I are heading to Misanos.”
“You’re kidding!?”
He shook his head, his black hair falling across his brow. “Nope. We head out as soon as we’ve all fed.”
“What about the rest of us?”
“You’ll head to Budleby’s and remain on standby.”
“What if we refuse?”
“I’ll brook no argument.”
“But . . .”
“No but’s, Mara. We can’t all march into Misanos without warning. The Fae do not tolerate outsiders.”
“Then why are you going?”
“Lorelei’s safety is my first priority.”
Her nostrils flared with anger. “And ours means nothing to you?”
He sighed, clutching the edge of the counter between his fingers, the wood splintering beneath his hold. “It means everything to me,” he hissed. “Why do you think I’m sending the rest of you to Budleby’s? You’re safer there.”
Her mouth trembled slightly as she fought the tears that were quickly rising to the surface. Without warning, she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms about his neck. “You can’t leave me behind, Julian. I forbid it!”
He reached up to disentangle himself from her grasp, yet she held on as if her very life depended on her holding onto him. “I can and I am. I’ve no use for you where I’m going.”
She slid her fingers into his hair, yanking his head down forcefully. “Don’t you love me?” she asked as she caught his mouth with hers.
