Blood Fever: The watchers by Verónica Wolff Read Free Book Online Page A

it was on a direct line to my lady parts. I flashed to a fantasy of going with him, disappearing into the shadows, where he’d kiss me like he’d kissed me before. I’d melt into him like a pat of butter on a hot skillet.
    And then we’d be discovered, and I’d be killed.
    Or
he’d
be killed, our bond would be severed, and I’d realize I was never truly attracted to him in the first place. Then some other vampire would try to bond with me and I’d be back to square one.
    No, thank you.
    I tugged back, reclaiming my hand. “Was that Gaelic? What ridiculous thing are you calling me now?”
Honeybun? Sugarbear maybe?
    His normally lively expression grew quiet. “Isle of my heart.”
    I swear, I felt an actual twang in my chest. Because that was how I felt.…I was an island, choked by my solitude. Did this reckless, inscrutable vampire actually see inside me? We had a blood bond—I’d assumed it was a purely physical thing. But had it attuned him to the ways of my heart? Could he sense my deepest secrets? Had he noticed just how lonely I was?
    I felt vulnerable, and it made me wary. “I’m not going with you until you tell me what’s going on.”
    “What’s going on?”
    “Why can’t I get you out of my head?”
    “Because I’m a handsome devil?” He gave me a naughty smile, knowing the truth of the matter was that my head had nothing to do with it—I couldn’t get the feel of him out of my
body
. “What’s going on is you need blood.”
    “I have a shooter of the stuff with every meal.”
    “
My
blood,” he said with a sexy growl. He got that look in his eye again—that twinkly, beckoning look—and nodded his chin away from the dorm. You’d think he was merely suggesting we sneak around back to make out like real teenagers would.
    I crossed my arms at my chest, closed for business. “Not until you explain this. Do other Acari have bonds like this? Why can’t anyone find out? Is it permanent?”
    “Perhaps. Because. And not necessarily.” He snatched my hand and began to walk. “Now come. Your peevishness is wearing.”
    I dug in my heels and snatched away my hand. “If you’re not going to answer my questions, then it looks like we’ve got nothing to talk about. I’m going inside.”
    Anger flashed in his eyes, sharp and crystalline. Adrenaline dumped into my body as I saw what rage smoldered beneath that carefree surface. “You’re a foolish child to deny me,” he snarled. “To deny yourself. It was foolish what you did to us. Now, more so, what you continue to do.”
    Terror sent my heart galloping. I’d gotten too relaxed with him. With all of our flirty banter, I’d forgotten—this was a
vampire
. He might be easy, sexy, devil-may-care Carden, but he was a creature who could turn on me in an instant, flaying me. Sucking me dry, if he chose. He was ancient, with the strength of ages.
    I wouldn’t forget again.
    “You only want me because of the bond,” I said, trying to sound reasonable. “Not because of
me
.”
    “Just let me take care of you,” he said through gritted teeth.
    But I didn’t want to feel like I needed a vampire. Especially not
this
vampire. Until I figured out why Alcántara seemed tohave it out for Carden, the last thing I needed was for the Directorate to think I was with him.
    “I can’t go with you,” I said quietly. Technically, I didn’t have to agree to go with him. I supposed he could just take me. Grab me, throw me over his shoulder, and do what he would. The way he stepped closer made me think for a second that he might.
    “Then I have two things to say to you.” His jaw was clenched, as though he was restraining himself from doing something bad. “First, Tracer Ronan is correct. Stay in your room. There is a killer out there, and no, it’s not me.”
    I mustered my willpower. It was the hardest thing I’d ever done. Putting space between me and Carden felt like walking away from an ice-cold glass of water while dying of thirst. But I