By the time he reached the pack grounds, his head ached. And the headache got even worse when he reached his cabin.
Boaz slowed when he reached the bottom of the steps and saw Hansel was sitting on the porch. Waiting.
“What are you still doing awake?” Boaz asked as he climbed the steps and pushed the door open.
“I was waiting for you,” Hansel said, standing up. He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, shoulders hunched like he wasn’t sure how to start. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know,” Boaz said. “Brett said the bite wasn’t deep. He cleaned it and put some salve on it.”
“Good,” Hansel said, though he didn’t look fully convinced. He shifted his weight, glancing down, then back up again. “I should go. Its late.”
“Where were you? You weren’t at dinner,” Boaz said before he could leave.
“Shit, I forgot to tell you because of the…” He stopped mid-sentence, his eyes dropping to Boaz’s arm. Guilt flashed across his face before he forced himself to look up again. “I went to the monastery.”
Boaz frowned. “The monastery? Why?”
“To find out why that damn vampire woke up.” Hansel's voice went low. “Get this…the current Priest? He refused to feed him, and now he’s dead.”
Boaz straightened slightly. “Dead?”
“That bloodsucker killed him,” Hansel said. “Bit him and drank him dry. Brother Lacus could barely get the words out when he told me.”
Boaz’s eyes widened.
“And it gets worse,” Hansel said. “The vampire stayed there for two days after he woke up.”
“Why?” Boaz asked.
“He was waiting for blood,” he said. “Your blood. That’s why he came here.”
Boaz went quiet for a second, his thoughts churning. There was one other reason why he came.
“He came for Lyla too,” he said slowly. “She’s his bride.”
Hansel let out a growl. “Fuck that. Are you seriously going to let him have her?”
“Of course not,” Boaz said. “Why do you think I got dressed up tonight? But everything just went to shit when the vampire appeared.”
“Don’t give up. She’ll be yours, just keep working on it,” Hansel said.
“Fuck, why is this so hard?” Boaz asked rubbing the back of his neck.
“Love is hard. You have to fight for it,” Hansel said with a tiny smile as he walked down the stairs backwards. “Night, Boaz.”
“Night,” Boaz said as he watched him disappear through the trees, before he turned and stepped into his cabin, shutting the door behind him. Exhaustion dragged at his limbs as if he’d spent hours working the fields without a break.
He stripped out of his clothes, down to his boxers, and dropped onto the bed. The mattress groaned under his weight as he turned to face the painting.
It rested where he’d left it, waiting. He hadn’t even gotten the chance to bring her here. To show her. To give it to her.
That damn vampire was ruining everything.
Chapter 7
Alexander
Just drink it.