FORTY-SEVEN | BLOOD CURDLING

"-been acting strangely after taking the potion-" Mikyle's muttered conversation catches my attention a few hours later. I'm in the greenhouse, tending to the weeds that have begun popping up in my absence and reorganizing the potted plants Mom has brought in.

Since we're nearing the end of season for a few of these, I put them in order for harvesting since it's apparent now that we'll be stay here for a while. Now that Mom will be part of the Azure Pack, it's only logical that I will eventually follow in her stead or leave Kiwina to find a Pack for myself. Though, perhaps I won't need to since I'm only half Wolven. Perhaps once I Bloom, I'll have no need for a Pack and remain close by.

I should ask Mom if she's intending on moving closer to the Azure Pack's center or if she thinks I can continue living in this house. I've grown accustomed to the area and enjoy how secluded and centralized this place is to the school, town, and Azure territory. Then there's the fact that the property backs into the woods, ideal hunting grounds-

"Want some tea or coffee before we go, princess?" Mikyle asks me, walking into the greenhouse. His nonchalant tone is betrayed by the worry in his dark red eyes. I stand, dusting off my pants as I walk over to him.

"If you are just trying to entice me to consume more blood, you can just ask me outright." I ignore his question, knowing it's a smoke screen if I know what Hale's response would be to what I overheard. And I'm pretty sure I know what he would have told the vampire before me.

"Can you drink a donor bag?" He narrows his eyes at me, lips turning down at the corners.

"I don't think I'll relish the experience, but if Hale is concerned and thinks it's for the best, I can try." I shrug one shoulder. My father is ancient if his claims are to be believed, and he knows my stance on blood consumption, so if his course of action was to have Mikyle spike my drink... Well, I don't see any use in beating around the bush and wasting time and effort.

"He is worried about you," Mikyle confirms, his frown deepening. "And so am I for that matter."

"Thank you for your concern, but I feel fine." I tell him firmly, but he just takes a step closer, invading my space for the briefest second.

"But you're not, princess." He says softly, his expression softening a fraction. I wait patiently as he reaches out a hand, trailing the fingertips of one hand down the side of my face. His eyes flare bright crimson for a second before he lets out a sigh and waves for me to walk ahead of him.

"If you say so." I reply, brushing past him and go back into the house. However, before I can reach the refrigerator, Mikyle is waiting for me with a bag of the liquid that mirrors the coloring of his eyes. I take the plastic container from him without hesitation.

"So, the whole thing?" I clarify, popping the seal on the tube sticking out of the top the way I've seen Mikyle do.

"Yep." The vampire crosses his arms, tilting his head, making the golden brown in his hair catch the light. His skepticism is pretty high, like he thinks I won't drink the blood. I just give him another one-shouldered-shrug before bring the tube up to my mouth and begin sucking in mouthfuls of thick, cold liquid.

There's a moment where I hold the stuff in my mouth, my taste buds sending signals to my brain. I make a face, but swallow tilting my head as I think about the lingering taste on my tongue. *Disgusting*. It's too sweet and...something in the back of my head tells me it's at least a week old. Still, I said I'd finish the stuff, so I take a deep breath and stop breathing through my nose to make the process easier as I go back to drinking the liquid. I'm halfway through the bag now, and it's not that bad, the warmer it seem to get, the better and less sweet it becomes. Just when I think this, another thought runs across my mind: *this was someone's blood*.

Some poor sap gave this blood - a fluid that keeps humans *alive*- and a shudder jumps up my spine- Revulsion, hot and burning, slices through the numbness from before. *What the fuck am I doing right now?*

"What the-" I sputter, spitting out the cold liquid.

"Hey!" Mikyle hisses, only just dodging the projectile blood. I ignore him and rush over to the sink, hurriedly turning on the faucet and gargling fresh water.

"If I act funny, stupid, don't give me heroine." I seethe, brandishing the nearly empty bag blood bag at the asshole, fighting my gag reflex as I think of the shit I was just guzzling.* Blood. I was just drinking blood*. "I think I'm going to be sick-" I groan, dropping the bag and covering my mouth with my hands. I close my eyes as another wave of nausea tackles me- then I feel arms wrapping around me and a solid body pressing against mine. I feel my body freeze as I register the scent of over-ripe strawberries and iron.

"You can be pissed with me, that's fine," Mikyle murmurs in my ear, gently tightening his grip. "Just so long as you're you, I don't care." He breathes - so uncharacteristically sweet and, well, not him. I stare at the opposite wall for a second longer, wondering if I maybe passed out and am dreaming right now, 'cause this can't be real.

"Are you high right now?" I ask him slowly. He lets out a surprised sound - something between a cough and a chuckle. "Or sick?"

"Something you'll learn about us, princess," Mikyle sighs, releasing me slowly. "Is that we can't get high off drugs. Or get sick." His usual calm, relaxed expression is back and even his eyes have returned to normal.

"But potions work on us?" I phrase it in a question, wondering if they'll affect me even after I Bloom.

"To a certain degree." He tilts his head from side to side. "Doc must have made yours particularly potent, I'll have her adjust it-"

"No!" I say a little too loudly. "I mean, don't. It worked fine, we can just mess with the dosing-"

"Princess, that's reckless." Mikyle warns, narrowing his eyes.

"I didn't shake. Not once for hours." I point out.

"Fine." He gives after a long moment and goes to where I left the potion bottle this morning on the island surface. "I'll dilute the solution and prepare a few doses we can test over the next few days." He decides.

"Fine." I tell him, crossing my arms over my chest. "Did you really just make me drink blood?" If that's what donor blood tastes like, I don't blame him for hating the stuff.

"Sort of." Mikyle grimaces, picking up the bag from the sink and tossing it into the trash under the sink. "That one was expired." I gag, my hand jumping to cover my mouth again as my stomach rolls. But there's nothing in it anymore. I don't know how, but it's like my body already digested the stuff.

"You're disgusting-"

"I figured it would snap you out of whatever kind of trance you were in." Mikyle shrugs unapologetically. "Looks like it worked."

"And you just so happened to have an expired bag on hand?" I raise an eyebrow at him suspiciously. Mikyle's emotionless face breaks into a mischievous grin. "You jackass, you were gonna use it on me anyway weren't you-?" I seethe, my temper flaring up, but he's back in my space in the blink of an eye.

"Stay pissed at me, I told you, it's fine." He says softly, trailing the tips of his fingers along my cheek - like before. Only now, I can feel it. My breath catches in my chest and I feel my stomach clench for another reason entirely. But then, I can't help thinking of a different guy. A guy much closer to my own age. A guy I haven't seen in almost a week. A Wolven I'm really starting to miss.

"You're a masochist aren't you?" I shake my head at my shadow, pushing past him to escape to my room, only stopping once I've shut the door between us.

"I'll be anything you need me to be, princess, but only for as long as you need me." I think I hear him say, but I don't stop to see if I misheard. I need to get ready for the ceremony tonight, and now that I've wasted most of the day, I have to hurry. And not think about the complicated tangle of emotions I'm starting to feel towards the man on the other side of my door.