‘And if not,’ I continue, grasping at straws now, really, ‘I don’t have to feed from humans. Bram and Lucy don’t. They’re on a meat-based diet, and they’re doing just fine.’
‘You don’t,’ she agrees, ‘but the urge can be pretty overwhelming at times. You need to make sure that your determination not to hurt people is stronger than your blood lust.’
The phrase ‘blood lust’ makes me want to gag again. Lust in general is kind of my jam, but definitely not in this context. In fact, the mere thought of it revolts me so much that I almost don’t register the last thing she said.
Almost.
‘Is yours?’ I ask, my voice quiet.
Florence turns to me with a softhmmm?
‘Is your determination not to hurt people stronger than your blood lust?’
She pauses for a moment– just a single, worrying second. ‘Usually.’
‘Florence!’ My pulse, which had finally slowed just a little, ramps right back up. ‘Again with theusually. You’re not inspiring a lot of confidence here.’
She laughs, and for the first time I notice her canine teeth are slightly more prominent than the others, as though she’s got the merest hint of fangs. ‘Don’t worry, Quinn,’ she says, past her smile. ‘Everything I do is above board, from an ethical point of view. Working at the clinic helps with that. There’s often a vial or two that need disposing of.’
I feel a crease form between my eyebrows. ‘You literally drink people’s blood?’
‘It’s a few drops.’ She shrugs. ‘They won’t miss it. By the time they get back home after their appointment, they will have fully regenerated it.’
I’m a little shocked, I have to admit. ‘So you… what? Take an extra vial of it just for kicks?’
She sobers, looking at me intently. ‘Idon’t. I take only exactly what’s requested. But sometimes there’s a mix-up, or sometimes Cam goes rogue.’ Her gaze holds mine. ‘In that case, if it needs disposing of anyway, then I might as well have it.’
I’m both horrified and relieved by her answer, but I understand that she needs to feed. I mean, we don’t judge a lion for tearing a gazelle apart, do we? So it’s morbid curiosity, rather than suspicion, that drives me to ask the next question.
‘Did you do it to me?’
I can feel her studying me before she answers, like maybe she’s not sure I can handle the truth.
‘No,’ she says eventually, and it feels like the truth, but a simplified version of it, like the giant mass of ice hidden beneath an iceberg.
‘Were you tempted?’
Her face falls into a frown. ‘That’s not a fair question. OfcourseI was tempted. I’m tempted every time, with every person.’ She looks back at me, golden eyes searing into me. ‘But God, if we were judged on the things wewantedto do, we’d all be in trouble.’ Her eyes turn molten, holding mine with an intensity that makes every cell of my body stand to attention. ‘Tell me you’ve never been tempted by anything, Quinn.’
But how the hell can I, when the mere sound of my name on her lips makes me think ungodly thoughts? I’m tempted by every inch of this woman.
‘I…’ I start, clenching my jaw. ‘I can’t.’
Her eyes flare, like she can see into my mind and likes what she finds there. One of her hands moves towards me, stroking under the edge of my jaw before she lightly cups my chin in her hand. ‘You don’t need to be scared of me,’ she says quietly. ‘Once upon a time I swore an oath to do no harm.’
I nod mutely. It’s all I can do. I can barely cope with the feeling of her hands on my face without combusting. Somehow, inexplicably, her cold skin makes mine ignite, a trail of fire following the path of her fingers until she lets go of my chin and the flames burn out.
ChapterSixteen
FLORENCE
FLORENCE
Tap.
I’ve got Quinn’s number now, and I’ve been formally invited into his home, so there’s really no reason I can’t call him or knock on his door, but there’s something about this little routine that calls to me.
FLORENCE