Tainted Blood by Joann I. Martin Sowles Read Free Book Online Page B

shrugged. “Was an odd morning, that’s all.”
    “I can’t apologize enough. I truly am sorry.”
    I shrugged again and handed him the keys to my car. I didn’t feel like driving, and he didn’t question me.
    As we pulled away from the cemetery I took advantage of our time alone and pelted him with questions. “You’re getting married!” I blurted.
    He didn’t say anything, just kind of chuckled uncomfortably.
    “What were you thinking? You couldn’t just get back together, you needed to go all out and drop to one knee?”
    “She’s the greatest thing in my life, and I almost blew it.” He brushed his shaggy blonde bangs out of his eyes as he continued to focus on the road.
    “Are you sure this is the right thing to do?” I questioned. “Getting married isn’t something to be taken lightly. It’s forever, Carter.”
    He shot me a sidelong glance. “Kinda like bonding with a vampire?”
    “Touché,” I muttered. He had me there. I crossed my arms over my chest and slouched down in the seat. “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me,” I pouted. And maybe that was my biggest issue with the whole ordeal. We’d grown so close and had been through so much together, and then he does this . Without even telling me he was considering it. Maybe I felt a little betrayed, or left out. “You didn’t even tell me your got her a ring.”
    “It was my mom’s, my real mom’s. Julie gave it to me a few days after we saw her at the ball park. She gave me some of my real mom’s jewelry that she’d been saving for me since I was young. One of those items happened to be my real mom’s wedding set. She also mentioned something to me about not letting my happiness get away. So I decided I wouldn’t.”
    I didn’t say anything.
    “Look, Laney. I know you’re not totally thrilled about this but I don’t see how it’s much different from what you’re planning to do.”
    “What am I planning to do?”
    “With Oliver.” He gave me a “duh” look. “Once you guys…you know.” He ran his hand through his hair. Something he did especially when he was uncomfortable. “Well, it’s pretty much like you’re married.”
    I felt a burst of anger push though me. I knew Carter did not approve of the whole vampire bonding thing, but it gave him no right to judge me. Although, I guess I sort of deserved it since that was exactly what I had been doing to him. I took a deep, calming breath then said, “Let’s drop this.”
    It was silent for a few minutes, and then Carter said, “Missed you in class today. We have a bio exam coming up.”
    “Great.” I was so not prepared for any sort of exam. I’d barely passed my last quiz.
    We were home by the time I mentally stressed myself out over my grades. It was my birthday, and I really didn’t want to be stressing over school at the moment, but I really did need to pull it together. I still hadn’t heard from Oliver so I decided to squeeze in a bit of studying while I waited.
     
    I had just finished copying Carter’s biology notes when Felix showed up at the apartment and told us that he needed to speak to me in private. Uh-oh.
    Carter said he’d take a walk and left soon after Felix’s arrival.
    Felix took a seat across from me at the dining table, and the chair groaned in protest. He folded his massive forearms on the table, and his sky blue eyes settled on me. “That boy you met today, you need to keep your distance from him, understand?” I nodded, but asked why. “He just, well, I.” He looked away from me. “I really can’t say.” This was the first time I’d ever seen Felix stumble over his words
    “Is he dangerous?” I asked. He told me that he wasn’t. “Then what’s the big deal?”
    “Delaney,” his focus fell back on me, and his eyes met mine with all seriousness, “he is not supposed to be out in the world. There are plans set in place for Phoenix, and he is beginning to get a bit, well, rebellious.” He sighed heavily. “Spending