Bound and Bitten (The Year of Suns Book 2) Page 4

  “But it’s the blood that really matters. You wouldn’t necessarily be attracted to him or have anything in common.”

  “But I hoped for that. Like I said, some of us are romantics.”

  “Hmmm.”

  After a few moments, Vane asked, “Is there someone special back home? You only have to say so. I’ll understand and try to respect that.”

  “There’s no one. I’ve been with a few girls, but that’s it. I’m free, I guess.”

  “But you don’t like men.”

  “No. But if it’s any comfort, I would’ve been reluctant with a woman, too.” Arion wiped his mouth. “For vampires, fated mates are just part of life. Some shifters believe in different kinds of matehood, degrees of attraction and all, but it’s not the same. Taking a mate and being given a mate by the gods aren’t the same thing at all. To humans and shifters, fated matehood is strange.”

  “It’s not always instant happiness for vampires either. I’ve seen fated pairs who likely would’ve been much better off parting ways. And sometimes they do.”

  “Two people being thrown together, like you said. You get what I was saying earlier? Leading you on would be wrong. I like you, but I don’t feel any spark.”

  Vane nodded and downed the blood in his glass. “I do understand, but I won’t pretend to be happy about it.” He almost cringed at how pathetic he sounded, but he was worn out as well, both physically and emotionally.

  “I wouldn’t expect you to.” Arion sighed. “Could we pick this up in the morning? Between the day we had and the wine and food, I’m exhausted.”

  Vane rose. “Of course.” He considered apologizing about that melancholy comment he’d made, but that would only draw the conversation out. He needed time to think and get a handle on his emotions. “My room’s the one at the very end of the hall. The double doors. Come down there when you’re ready for breakfast in the morning. I’ll have something sent up.”

  “I’m not used to being waited on. It’s weird.”

  “Honestly, it’s easier than going down to the kitchen. I always feel like I’m in the way.”

  Arion stood up. “I can see that. It’s fine. I ought to enjoy it while I can, I guess.”

  You can enjoy it as long as you want if you stay. Vane tried to smile through his own growing sadness. “Think of it as a vacation. Tomorrow we can take that tour.” He didn’t want to linger and make things awkward. Talking with Arion had been nice, but it had felt strained at times. “Good night, Arion. Let me know if you need anything.”

  “Good night.” Arion crossed his arms, rubbing his biceps slowly, and gave a little nod before turning away.

  Vane spun on his heels and exited the room as quickly as he could. They hadn’t even touched, yet Vane ached from being so close to Arion. He knew his night would be long and restless, but at least he’d see Arion again in the morning.

  If not in his dreams as well.

  Chapter Two

  Twenty Years Ago

  3135, The Year of Blood

  Arion walked alongside Vane as they left the castle and descended to the main garden. The dominion he lived in was heavily wooded and green, but there weren’t many wildflowers in the region. The garden here had been cultivated beautifully, and the colors and fragrances intrigued Arion. “Are all of these plants native to this part of the world?”

  “Most of them are. Some are transplants that need special attention. My mother loves gardens so I gave instructions for this one to be expanded when I came to live here.”

  “What are your parents like?” Arion asked.

  “My mother’s soft-spoken and sweet, but she’s very strong underneath it all. My father is, uh, very serious. He’s straightforward. Exacting. Critical. We don’t get along that well. Mother says it’s because we’re too alike, but I don’t think that’s it. I’m the oldest, so he expects a lot from me. It’s done out of pride and love, but … well, let’s just say they’re very different people. But they’re devoted to each other, so they work. Mother calms him, I think. And she gives him purpose.”

  “I never knew my father. He was a lycan, but he didn’t live in our settlement. Passed through for a few weeks, then left. Never came back to my knowledge.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Thank you, but I don’t care to know him. I had plenty of father figures.” Arion stopped to smell the blossoms hanging on an arbor. “What are these?”

  “Moon blossoms. Very fragrant and hearty. They represent eternal love because they’re both beautiful and hard to kill.”

  “Lord Vane, Lord Vane!”

  They both turned to see a little girl racing down the path with something furry in her hands.

  Vane went down on one knee and smiled. “What is it, Tabitha?”

  Tabitha held up a little gray kitten to show him. “Bubbles had kittens, and now they’re big enough to be on their own. Micah said I could have this one.” She shoved the kitten into his hands.

  “It’s very pretty. What big green eyes. What will you call it?” Vane said as he stroked the kitten’s head.

  “Smokey,” she said with pride.

  “That’s a wonderful name for a gray kitten.” He cradled the kitten close for another moment and then gave it back to Tabitha, who was eyeing Arion. Vane looked up and said, “This is Arion. He’s my friend, and he’ll be staying here a few days.”

  “He helped you beat up the robbers. I heard,” Tabitha said, still eyeing Arion.

  “Well, actually he saved me from them. I did my best, but there were lots of them.” When she looked back to him, he said, “If you see strangers, you must be careful. Tell a grown up and stay away from them.”

  She nodded and then took off without another word.

  “Your people do seem to love you,” Arion said. “Not that I doubted it.”

  “Easy to love someone who doesn’t treat you like shit,” Vane said as he got to his feet. “The king put me here for a reason. The last lord was … troublesome. He had to be removed from power, actually.”

  “Oh. I didn’t realize that could happen. Aren’t dominions hereditary?”

  “Most are, but it’s up to the king ultimately. No one is fit to rule simply by virtue of being born a vampire. You have to be able to do the job. Willing to make the sacrifices.”

  “What’s His Majesty like?” Arion had heard lots of different stories about the man, but he’d only ever seen him once as he passed through.

  “He’s fun to be around, but unpredictable. Perhaps it’s safest to say I think he’s a good king who cares about his people, though at times you have to struggle to get his attention. And it’s sometimes hard to get him to see things from a perspective other than his own.”

  “Oh.” Arion looked around at the castle. They’d taken an extensive tour, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to find his way around at all on his own. “It’s so big. Kind of scary.”

  “Scary?” Vane asked, brushing some dust off the front of his robes. He glanced around before returning his gaze to Arion.

  Arion nodded and continued down the stone path. “So many big rooms and long hallways. Some areas have lots of people, but others seem almost deserted. Our houses are small and utilitarian. Close together. And the village is sort of built around the castle on one side, expanding out. You can go out in the woods to be alone, but you’re never far from other people.”

  “That sounds nice. I see what you mean about how big and labyrinthine the castle is?”

  “Laby … what?”

  “Labyrinthine. Like a labyrinth.” Vane pointed to the east. “A maze.”

  Arion looked to the hedge maze and nodded. “Ah. I see.” He turned on the path to walk toward it. “How big is it? Is it difficult to solve?”

  “It’s not too hard to solve, but it is extensive. It’s mostly for lovers to get lost in really.”

  Arion stopped. He’d wanted to explore it, but now he wondered if he should. Being around Vane confused him. He genuinely liked the man, and he
had to keep reminding himself that Vane had more than friendship on his mind. The vampire had kept his word and behaved like a gentleman all day, but Arion kept thinking of his behavior the night before. Vane’s infatuation couldn’t be more obvious, and he had sounded so sad just before going to bed. There’d been a hint of petulance in his reply to Arion reiterating that he didn’t feel any attraction toward him, but that could be put down to fatigue.

  Vane stepped in and said, “We can explore it later. I know you were more interested in the flowers.” He led them another way.

  “Yes,” Arion said. He took this chance to glance at Vane, walking behind him a little so he wouldn’t be caught. Vane’s demeanor seemed artificially nonchalant, as if he’d known exactly what Arion was thinking about the maze. Vane was handsome—tall and slender with dark brown hair that was about the same length as Arion’s, just brushing the collar of his robes. Arion didn’t really care for the flowing silk garments, but Vane wore them well. He probably had a nice, lean body, and he moved gracefully. Arion lifted his gaze and realized he’d been caught studying Vane. He cleared his throat and looked away. “What are these called?” He pointed, unfortunately, to a very common plant that most children would know the name of.

  “Lilacs,” Vane said. “I believe they represent unashamed passion, though I have no idea why. They’re such a delicate flower, and they don’t have very bold coloring. It’s probably something to do with an old legend.” Vane stopped and turned to him. “I guess we can’t avoid awkward moments, but please don’t be self-conscious. If we’d gone into the maze, I wouldn’t have thought you were inviting me to touch you. And I’m not going to jump to conclusions just because you’re studying me. Yes, if I’m honest, I want nothing more than for you to stay here with me and accept the mate bond. But I’m not going to jump you. I won’t force a seduction, no matter how much I want you.”

  Arion took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I don’t mean to be so, I don’t know … skittish.”

  “It’s all right.”

  “But you’re being so kind.”

  “I guess. It’s very easy to be kind to you.”

  Vane smiled, but to Arion he looked sad. He’d been happy only moments ago. Arion wanted to do or say something to make him feel better. “I do enjoy your company. And,” he paused, having second thoughts for a moment, but then finally said, “you are handsome. Your appearance isn’t the problem. It’s me.”

  “I wouldn’t use the word problem,” Vane said. “You can’t help your desires.”

  Arion moved to a bench and sat down. “It felt amazing when you drank from me.”

  “Yes, it always does to humans. I’ve been told it is even better when the vampire’s your mate, but I’m not sure. It may depend on the person.” Vane moved to the bench but didn’t sit down. He clasped his hands behind him and gazed around the garden.

  “Don’t you need to feed?” Arion asked, wanting to give the invitation but not sure how to do it.

  “I had some blood this morning, but if you’re offering, I’d love to feed from you again.” Vane sat down and looked at him. “You’re curious if it will be different this time?”

  “Curious in general. Being bitten by a vampire sounds terrifying, but it’s not. Not at all.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No. It felt good. Very good. I expected pain, but there was almost none.”

  “You offered even though you expected it to hurt?” Vane asked, tilting his head.

  “Yes. I had no idea how injured you were. How much blood you’d lost. It would’ve been wrong to deny you something I knew for a fact would help you heal and recover.”

  “You’re a very good man, Arion. You have a noble heart.”

  Arion shook his head, laughing. “You really do think too much of me.”

  “Maybe.” Vane gazed down at his feet.

  Arion shifted a little bit closer. “You can bite me again, if you wish.”

  Vane looked up, his eyes going red in an instant. “You’re sure?”

  Arion nodded before he could change his mind. “Yes.”

  Turning slightly, Vane took Arion’s hand and turned it over. He kissed Arion’s palm and then gently bit his wrist. Arion gasped at the sensation. It felt so different without the adrenaline pumping through his body. And he could see what Vane meant about how intimate the act was. How could a vampire not come to have feelings for someone it did this with? Vane’s mouth felt warm and soft against his skin, and Arion hardly felt the fangs in his flesh. Pleasure coursed through Arion, and he bit his lip to stay silent. Vane actually moaned as he drew back and licked the wound. His eyes had transitioned to black, but he closed them after only a brief glance at Arion. When he opened them again, the irises had faded to a sort of golden color.

  Arion’s breathing had shallowed, and he could feel his cock straining at his pants. He didn’t have a full erection, but he had stirred during the feeding. His body tingled as they looked at each other. Vane smiled. “This color means happy.”

  Arion blinked, not sure what Vane meant. “What?”

  “My eyes are gold, aren’t they?”

  Arion nodded.

  Vane’s smile widened. “That color means happy.”

  Such a small thing made him happy enough for his eyes to change color? “How strong does the emotion have to be for your eyes to change?”

  “Depends on the vampire, but some can control it very well. I’m not that good at it.” He cupped Arion’s cheek. “But that made me very happy. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He felt warm and cozy, as if he’d been sitting by a fire, and he wanted to move closer to Vane. But he waited to see what Vane might do next. If the vampire tried to kiss him again, he didn’t know what he’d do. He thought of how Vane’s mouth had felt on his wrist, and he laughed nervously.

  “What is it?” Vane asked, gently pushing Arion’s hair off his face and caressing his neck with a very light touch.

  “Saying thank you and you’re welcome, as if I just passed you the salt.”

  Vane laughed as well. “I guess so, but I wanted to thank you. It’s always your choice when it comes to your blood.”

  Arion nodded, his heartbeat growing erratic as Vane continued the delicate caress. He wasn’t even sure Vane realized he was doing it.

  Seeming to notice what he was doing in that exact moment, Vane let go of him and sat back. “Did that satisfy your curiosity or give you more questions?”

  “Both.” He shrugged. “I don’t know.” Shifting on the bench, he said, “You were gracious enough not to look, but I think you know I reacted.”

  “Yes. When I’m drinking from you, I can sense your emotions. At least a little.”

  “But that’s only my body’s reaction.”

  Vane nodded. “But where does the body end and the soul begin? The heart and the mind?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Well, you aren’t running away, so I won’t complain.”

  Arion stood and stretched, his body seeming to have come down from its agitated state. “I don’t run from a challenge.”

  Vane rose and smirked at him. “A challenge? I’ve never been called that before.”

  “A new experience then.”

  The smirk turned to a flirtatious smile. “I like the sound of that.”

  Arion licked his lips and began walking again. “Where to next?”

  “The stables. That’s the domain of the famous Bubbles, who keeps this dominion populated with kittens quite well.”

  Arion laughed. “I see. She rules over the horses and the humans alike.”

  “Oh yes. Just wait until you meet her. A queen if you ever saw one.”

  They smiled at each other, and Arion looked away first. Though he didn’t feel the same spark Vane did, he couldn’t deny how happy he was in that moment.

  And how wonderful it would be to stay that happy forever.

  ****

  Vane wanted to crawl into bed and sleep afte
r what his nerves had been through, but he wanted to see Arion even more. His parents had stopped in briefly on their way to some kind of appointment—Vane hadn’t really been listening—so dinner had been served early so the servants traveling with them could eat and they could all spend a little time together. Arion had been seated on the other side of Evane, Vane’s mother, and it had pleased Vane to see them talking throughout the meal. Vane’s steward, Marius, and his father’s steward had been across from Arion, and they’d kept up a line of informative but boring conversation. Vane had been very nervous about Arion being around his parents. It seemed to have gone well, but he hoped Arion didn’t think he’d planned it.

  Arion had been with him for five days, and Vane worried he might leave soon. They’d spent plenty of time together, but Vane couldn’t be sure Arion was truly warming to him. The lycan possessed such an open and loving nature that Vane couldn’t tell how the other man felt about him. He entered the hedge maze and paused a moment to orient himself. It took him about five minutes to make his way to the center, and he smiled when he saw Arion sitting by the reflecting pool. “I see you found the center without any trouble,” Vane said. Arion had excused himself to explore the maze as everyone left the dinner table, and Vane had been worrying himself silly as he said goodbye to his parents and saw them off.

  “I only got turned around a few times,” Arion said. He smiled and moved over on the bench he was sitting on.

  Vane accepted the unspoken invitation and went to sit beside him. “If I’d known my parents were coming, I would’ve warned you.”

  “It’s fine. I liked meeting them.” He folded his hands in his lap and gazed into the pool. “Your mother is very sweet, and she was so nice to me.” He laughed. “But then you did introduce me as your savior, so I guess that would endear a man to anyone’s mother.”

  “True.”

  “I did worry they might question my presence. Things don’t seem as formal here, though. Or maybe I’ve just built up this idea of what vampires are like in my head.”

  “Degrees of formality tend to be dictated by the lord of the land. You’d think the king would be incredibly formal, but it’s the exact opposite most of the time. Some vampires are very elitist and snobby. Others are extremely open. I was raised in a pretty open household, but my father’s very exacting, like I said. Certain standards were always to be upheld, but he could be very generous and understanding. I think my parents struck a good balance.”