by Annika James
Conor’s eyes flashed open. “That…” He clenched his fists and gave a harsh laugh. “And I thought he was my friend. If he touches you again…” He sighed, the fight leaving him and his eyes flashed tenderness. “I’m sorry. It’s my fault. I should have… I don’t know.” He raked a hand through his hair, creating black spikes. “I handled this whole situation shitty.”
I didn’t want him to feel responsible. I hadn’t exactly handled all of this the best, either. I took his hands in mine, reveling in their strong warmth.
“Hey,” I said softly, drawing his gaze to me. “We’re a team now. We’ll figure this out, and pretty soon we won’t have to think about Tre at all. Okay? Just a couple days. I can stay home, study, practice spells, and Friday night, it’ll all be over and you and I will be together.”
He softened, smiling at me. His hands went to my face, cupping the back of my neck, thumbs caressing my cheeks. His touch took my breath away, and I held onto his wrists gently. His skin was feverishly hot.
He kissed me and the world stopped. His lips were soft and warm, and his tongue was scorching. I clung to him as he dragged my body up against his, hands still anchored on my neck. I was taken slightly aback at how demanding he was when we were kissing. It excited me and I gave all he asked for.
He broke the kiss on a gasping breath and pressed his cheek to mine, both of us struggling to regain normal breathing.
“Sorry,” he whispered raggedly.
“I’m not complaining,” I responded with a smile.
He straightened and backed away, letting go of me, cold rushing in where he had once been. He swallowed visibly.”I…haven’t…fed. I need to…go. Sorry.”
He moved to leave and I moved to stop him. My mom walked through the front door, freezing both of us. She took in the whole scene in a matter of seconds, Conor and I both breathing heavily, lips and faces red. She cleared her throat, mouth set in a disapproving line.
“Hello, Conor,” she said. “I’m Mrs. O’Hara, Ashlinn’s mother.”
Chapter Twelve
My mom held her hand out and Conor, suddenly calm and collected, shook it. He smiled easily. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. O’Hara.”
Mom wasn’t impressed with Conor’s easy charm, as she only offered him a tight-lipped smile. “You look like your father,” Mom told him, her eyes narrowed.
Did Mom miss Mr. Peterson? Did Conor remind her of the love she’d lost? There was so much about my mother I really didn’t know.
Conor looked surprised, raising his eyebrows. “Oh? You know my parents?”
Mom walked into the living room, gesturing for us to follow. “I knew your dad in high school,” she said, putting her purse on an end table. “How is he?”
Conor still seemed a little thrown. “Ah…he’s good. He and my mom have been split up for a while, but he’s enjoying his bachelorhood, I guess. He has an apartment on the other side of town.”
That was news to me, and I was again impressed with how formal Conor could be. It was weird to think he was only eighteen, talking the way he did sometimes. He fit right in with adults.
Mom raised her eyebrows and crossed her legs at the ankle. “Oh? Well, you tell him I said hello the next time you see him.”
Conor smiled. “Of course.”
I wondered how Conor was coping with needing to feed. Outwardly, he seemed completely normal, making small talk with my mother while hungry.
“So, you stopped by to do homework?” Mom looked at me expectantly. She so knew we’d been making out. I looked to Conor for help.
He didn’t miss a beat. “Yes. I brought Ash her homework so she wouldn’t get too far behind. I’ll be right back.”
I followed my mom to the kitchen as Conor went out to his car. Mom, cheeks pink and mouth pressed tight, busied herself with getting out chips and salsa.
“You okay, Ma?”
She looked at me surprised, and blinked. “Yes. Yes, I’m fine. I’m just worried about you, Ashlinn. Do you know what you’re doing?” She crossed to the fridge and pulled out a couple of sodas.
“What am I doing?” I asked evenly.
She set the pops on the table along with the chips and salsa and looked at me square. “You’re going to be Conor’s familiar.” It wasn’t a question.
I shifted a little under her gaze. “Well, yeah. I need someone and I like him.”
“Does he like you? For more than your power?” She was trying to be kind, her voice was gentle. I didn’t think she believed he really did.
“Yes,” I said a little defensively. “I think he does.”
She studied me for a moment more, heaved a sigh, and turned back to the food, straightening the bowls on the table. “Okay. You’re almost an adult. I don’t suppose there’s anything I can do about it anyway.”
I really wanted her to know Conor was for real. As I opened my mouth to argue, he walked into the kitchen carrying his backpack.
“I got all your assignments so you could stay caught up,” he announced, hefting the overloaded bag onto the table.
I smiled my thanks as he put an arm around my shoulders, pulled me close, and kissed the top of my head, all under the watchful eye of my mother. I tried for a reassuring smile. Mouth still pressed tight, she turned to grab napkins from the cabinet.
Conor sat and unloaded books. I sighed and settled next to him, not excited to see my homework. He raised his eyebrows at my mom as she sat across from us. “I know you must be worried about Ashlinn,” he said, making the pile of books in front of me larger. “Maybe I could explain some things to you? It might help.”
Mom quirked an eyebrow at him. “Okay.”
I pushed the pile of homework to the side so I could watch the exchange. Conor smiled at me, taking my hand and entwining our fingers. He turned to Mom. “Last week I noticed Ashlinn’s power was strong. To me, it was almost—intoxicating.” Mom’s mouth tightened. Conor was not saying anything to ease her mind. So not helping. “I asked my mom about it, since I had never encountered a witch whose power felt so alluring.”
His speech had fallen into the formal pattern again. Maybe because he was talking to an adult. It made me feel so much younger than him when he pulled out all the big SAT words.
I tried to focus on Conor’s story. “I was confused. My mom went to the Council and told me it had happened before, in other places. A powerful witch, approaching his or her ascension into power, still unable to fully control or comprehend their power can become extremely enticing to certain vamps. No one could explain why their power would draw some vamps and not others. They did say fights had broken out over powerful witches, regardless of who the power attracted. The fact was the power itself attracted vamps of all kinds. They would all want to control the witch, because then they controlled the power.”
“What if the witch doesn’t want to be controlled?” my mom challenged.
Conor smiled wryly. “Yes. Like Ashlinn. Sometimes, the witch is not strong enough to protect him or herself from vamps who want to bite them. Ashlinn needs a protector. If she were a familiar, no other vamp would touch her. She will not be controlled or owned by me, she will be an equal, a—consort—and she will be protected.”
My heart soared a little at his words. He wanted to take care of me; he wanted to be with me.
“Are you the only choice?” my mom asked.
Conor sighed, looking down at the table briefly before meeting my mom’s gaze. It was my turn to reassure him, he was my choice. I squeezed his hand.
Conor replied, “No. Matt offered, and there are other boys at school who have put in a bid.”
“Matt took back his offer,” I put in. “Tre is a total dick who only wants power.” Turning to my mom, I explained further. “He’s the reason I didn’t go to school today, really, and probably won’t be going for the next couple days.” Well, most of the reason. I hadn’t wanted to face Conor at school today after what I’d learned last night.
Mom’s eyes widened. “What happened?”
I briefly explained my run-ins with Tre the last couple of days. Mom pressed her hands to the table, face draining of color, eyes growing more pinched by the second. “Ashlinn, why didn’t you tell us? You were unprotected and walking around like a Happy Meal on legs.”
“Well, when Conor tried to bite me, my power reacted. I don’t know why—” Mom’s sharp gasp cut me off. Conor stiffened as Mom glared at him.
“Oh, I forgot.” I held out my hands. “See, there was this whole misunderstanding. But it’s all good now. And really, yay for me, being able to throw vampires across the room with my mind.”
Mom looked between us, shook her head, and braced her forehead in her hand with a sigh. “Oh, Ashlinn. This is what I did not want for you.”
“Mom, just because you didn’t want it for your life, doesn’t mean I don’t. I like Conor, and he likes me, and I think we’re good together. I think it’ll work out.” Okay, so I hadn’t been on the whole familiar bandwagon for very long, but I was getting used to the idea. And if it meant I got to be with Conor, well, bonus.
“Mrs. O’Hara, I would do anything to assure Ashlinn’s safety. I was even going to concede and pressure Matt to be the one. Although, Ash is quite…persuasive, and stubborn.”
Mom smiled a little, easing the tension. “She is that. Fine. Stay home, away from this Tre, but use the time to work on controlling your powers. Why didn’t you use them against Tre?”
I shook my head. I’d wondered the same thing. “I don’t know. Unless my subconscious didn’t want me to do anything in such a public place?”
“Hmm. Well, that’s a possibility, I guess. I’ll find some books to help you with control these next couple days.” She stood. “When will you officially become his familiar?” Her attempt at nonchalance was almost working.
I cleared my throat. “Um. Friday night. There’s a Council gathering. They want me there, I think, to evaluate me or something. Is that okay?” I added as an afterthought.
“I guess. Although, Ashlinn, when you’re bitten, it can be very—stimulating. Please be careful and think about your decisions.”
Oh, Goddess! Was she talking about sex? Conor was trying not to smile. Bastard. I squirmed, face on fire. “Yeah okay, Mom. Sure.”
She left the kitchen and I exhaled on a long whoosh of breath. Conor let loose with laughter. “At least she’s not totally against it.”
I shot him a death glare. “We’re not… I mean, that’s not in the plan, right?” Was he expecting to have sex with me?
He studied me with a smile. “No. There were no plans for that. I can control myself, if need be, remember?”
Suddenly, my mind was on overdrive. How many girls had he bitten in the past? Had it felt like that with all of them? He’d dated Victoria for a long time; he was probably all experienced, while all I’d done was a few kisses here and there. Wait. Hadn’t he said earlier he needed to feed? Was he just going to run off and bite some other girl? Would it feel all good to him when he bit someone else?
Conor laid a hand on mine, stilling my silent questions. “I will not force you, or seduce you, into doing anything you don’t want to do. I have bitten many girls—mostly human, some vamps, no witches.” I bit my lip. He shook his head and continued. “I haven’t slept with them all.” Not all? I did not want to know. His voice lowered. “I’m not a virgin, but I don’t sleep around.”
I swallowed. He could read me so easily; he knew exactly what I’d been wondering. “I’m sorry for being such a girl,” I whispered.
He chuckled. “Don’t apologize. These are things people discuss when they’re in a relationship. You should know.”
I tapped my pencil against my book. There were things you always wanted to know, but were never really ready to hear. “I dated Steven Henry in eighth grade for a couple weeks. And there was Jake Spencer last year. We didn’t last long, either.” I was pathetically low in the date department. “I haven’t had—sex with anyone.”
With one hand he squeezed my fingers, with the other he lifted my chin to look me in the eyes. “Ash, I’m not worried about any of that. I’m more worried for your safety. We have to get you to Friday. I’m sure Matt and Cora will help, and after Friday it’ll be me and you. Nothing will be able to separate us.”
“Until you get tired of me,” I teased.
He leaned over and kissed me softly. “No chance.” He looked down quickly, but not before I noticed the strain around his eyes.
“Hey, you need to feed.”
His eyes met mine again, brows pulled together, forehead furrowed. Yeah, he was hurting. “Ah, yeah. I can stay, if you want.”
“No. No. You need to go. I just—” I fidgeted, not wanting to whine about him biting another girl. Especially, if I wasn’t exactly ready to offer my vein.
“It won’t mean anything, Ash. I promise not to do more than feed.” He paused, thinking. “Do you want to be there?”
My eyes snapped wide. “Um. Ha ha. No, no, not really.” The thought of watching Conor bite someone else made my stomach churn and my throat tighten. I couldn’t help the picture of Conor wrapped around some other girl, face buried in her neck. A snap caught my attention. I now held two halves of a pencil. Oops.
Conor looked from my broken pencil to my face. “Okay. Bad idea. I can feed from the wrist. And I can feed from males. Though, that’s always a little awkward.” His lips twisted into a wry smile.
I swallowed. “What…what about me?” My pulse hammered in my ears. I heard my blood rushing in and out, in and out.
Conor’s lips clamped together as his eyes focused on my jugular. Cabinet doors rattled behind me and Conor’s eyes diverted to something behind me. “Uh, Ash, calm down, before you…” A dish flew off the counter and crashed to the floor. “Yeah, destroy the kitchen.” He forced a laugh even though the look of worry in his eyes betrayed his true feeling.
I gripped the edge of the table as I forced my mind to calm.
My mom rushed into the kitchen. “Ashlinn.” She came to me, placing her hands on my shoulders, gazing into my eyes. Still, all I heard was the pounding of my heart. Why was my power acting up now?
I felt a warm calm seep into me with Mom’s touch. The pounding eventually faded. When I felt like myself again, I looked to my mom. “What was that?”
She looked to Conor, who had stood and backed a few paces away from the table, green eyes wide, bottom lip caught between his teeth.
“Your stress levels must have spiked,” she murmured, studying me before giving Conor a disapproving look.
“It wasn’t him,” I rushed to his defense. “It was me. He needs to feed, and I offered, and—and then all I heard was my pulse and my blood and nothing else mattered.”
Mom resumed studying me, her hands still on my shoulders. “You and Conor must have a…” She hesitated and looked at him again. He held her gaze, waiting for an explanation. “You must have a bond. Your power obviously reacts to him. You can sense what he’s feeling. You’re scared, so you react without control.”
Conor moved forward a step and gripped the back of the chair. “If you’re afraid, Ash, it won’t work. I can’t force you.” His mouth drooped. My mom moved behind me, keeping her hands on me the entire time.
I shook my head. “I’m not. I’m not afraid.”
He raised a shoulder, face ashen. “Maybe you are and you just don’t want to admit it to yourself,” he said softly.
A sharp pain stabbed my stomach, making me gasp. Conor looked away.
“I have to go,” he whispered.
“Conor,” I protested, clutching my stomach as another pain shot through me.
He grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder. He locked stares with my mom before bending to kiss my forehead, his lips a cool whisper against my hot skin.
Straightening, he touched my face with the lightest of caresses, lips pulling into a sad smile. “I’ll come by tomorrow.” He looked up to my mom. “I’m sorry.”
I wanted to get
up and stop him from leaving, but my body felt as though someone was pushing down on my shoulders, holding me to my chair. My stomach still ached with a gnawing hunger that seemed to burn as it consumed my insides.
“Conor.” It came out a whisper.
His eyes drifted to my face once more before he turned and left. At the sound of the front door closing, my body faded back to normal. As the leaden feeling, as well as the pain, left, I felt foolish. Had I imagined that hunger? Not being able to move to him?
Mom came around and sat in the chair Conor had vacated. “Are you okay now?” Her forehead wrinkled with concern.
I nodded out of habit. I wasn’t really okay. In less than an hour, Conor would be biting someone else, and it would feel intimate. That girl would want him, want him like I wanted him. She would want his hands on her, bodies pressed together. I closed my eyes. He was supposed to be mine now. Why wouldn’t he just feed from me? Oh, yeah, because apparently my subconscious feared him. Why couldn’t I stop him from leaving?
“I kept you here.” My mom’s soft words resonated through my mind.
My gaze shot to her. “What?”
“I was afraid of what would happen if he bit you now, before you have control. You had to let him go tonight. Your power knew his hunger and it reacted.”
Had I been feeling his hunger? “How will we get through Friday night if my power won’t let him bite me?”
Mom pressed her lips together. “We’ll just have to teach you control before then. You should probably spend as much time with Conor as possible, so you can be more comfortable with him. Once he’s fed tonight, he should be fine for the next couple days.”
Control. In two days. That meant no dishes flying when Conor went to bite me. In two days. Right.
Chapter Thirteen
Sleep evaded me. I tossed and turned in my bed, unable to get comfortable. Thoughts of Conor with another girl invaded my head and kept me from being able to relax completely. I knew it was necessary, but I didn’t have to like it.
