“This means nothing.” I close the application. I toss the phone on the table. “It’s just sex.”
He lifts his phone slowly. “With your bloodbag. Who you’ve been employed to study by the Historical Society for a project that wasyouridea.”
“It’s nothing.”
“The data suggests otherwise.” He pauses for effect. “Or rather, it’s data that you’ve so kindly left out of your spreadsheets.”
I don’t often subject myself to panic. It’s a fool’s emotion. Creatures incapable of reasoning succumb to it under duress.
But right now, my mind is spinning faster than a tornado.
“Darius, I don’t care who you fuck. Humans are open game as far as I’m concerned,” Drake says. “But your bloodbag—that’s a line we donotcross. We have regulations. We have guidelines in place for that. Because of your cousin. Hell, the Murillo Family got it right the first time.”
“I know, Drake.”
He glowers at me. “The Murillo Family stated very blatantly that having sexual relationships with bloodbags is a risk because humans become attached far too easily.”
“It’sjustsex, Drake.”
He sighs. “That you haven’t been recording in your observations. You’ve been lying.”
I don’t have an answer for him.
I don’t think I even understand my own reasoning.
What the hell is she doing to me?
Drake releases a slow, calculated breath. He’s really just making the sound for effect. Or maybe it’s muscle memory. “She clearly has you confused. You can’t do a proper study if you’re confused, Darius. You must cut it off. Now. You have to stop feeding on her. You must send her away.”
“Can’t. She’s Tessa’s sister. Quinn insists that she—”
“Good god, man. Can’t you just keep it in your pants, then?”
That disappointing tone slices deeper than any emotional wound I’ve received. Drake is a friend as much as he’s a potential colleague. His judgment is crucial to my application—and to the study at hand.
It’s imperative to follow his guidance.
I bow my head. “Yes, of course. For the study, I’ll be sure to control my urges. I can leave all of it out if—”
“No, you must log it. You have to record any abnormalities.”
“But what—”
His eyes glow red. “Log thefeeling, Darius. But not the action. You can report arousal as a side effect of a woman related to your brother’s lover. There could be something there. But make no mistake: If you report you’ve been fucking her, it’ll bring all the kingdoms down on us.” His eyebrows wind together with anger. “Again.”
“We don’t want another Bartholomew mishap.”
“No, we don’t. I’ve done well to keep the name of this kingdom clean in scientific circles.” He tucks his phone away. “I’d like to keep it that way, Darius.”
“I’m forever grateful for your silence.”
He smirks. “It doesn’t come without a price. Just remember that. And this blackmailer of yours…”
I nod. “I’ll handle it immediately.”
“I’ll keep my eyes peeled. You do well to do the same, Darius. Your enemies live among you.”
He’s gone in a flash. His absence screams at me as much as Amber’s body.