17. Callie

Isighed with a deep satisfaction as I pulled on warm, clean, dry clothes and the chill which had built in my bones over the last few days finally subsided.

Magnar had changed too, though I could tell that the freezing rain had been more of an irritation to him than an actual issue and for once I could see one good reason to envy those who were held captive by the vampire curse.

I grinned as I yanked on the fluffiest pair of socks I’d ever seen and scrunched my toes up inside them happily.

“I’ve never known someone to get so excited about clothes,” Magnar murmured as he watched me.

“Never in my life have I had my pick of what I’d like to wear like this,” I replied. “And I don’t think I’ll ever get over the thrill of it now.”

“Well it’s nice to see you smiling,” he said as I got to my feet. “Even if I wish you’d keep your clothes off instead of piling them on.”

I snorted a laugh and made to walk past him but he caught my waist and dragged me against him instead.

“Can’t I keep you to myself for a few more moments?” he begged and butterflies writhed in my belly at his words. The last four days had been spent on the road and with no real shelter we hadn’t actually been away from the others in all that time.

“So long as you promise not to remove my new clothes,” I countered.

Magnar sighed as his hands shifted across my lower back and he pulled me against him more firmly.

“I can’t promise that.” He caught my mouth with his and I melted in his arms, twisting my fingers into the material of the black t-shirt he’d pulled on as I drew him closer.

He pushed me until my back collided with the glass storefront and I laughed as his cool fingers shifted beneath the hem of my sweater, sending shivers across my skin.

One of his hands moved to cup my jaw, tilting me towards him as his tongue invaded my mouth and a groan of longing escaped him.

His mouth moved lower, his fangs brushing against my throat as I arched into him, urging him on. He released a dark laugh at my impatience and I tightened my grip on him.

“Didn’t I say so!” Fabian’s voice rang out and Magnar twisted away from me, snarling like a feral animal as he dropped into a defensive stance before me.

“Just wait a second, Fabian!” Montana called as she hurried after him and I reached for Magnar’s hand to keep him beside me.

“We don’t have time to wait,” he snapped. “I’m thirsty now.”

My heart pounded as I realised what this was about and Magnar growled at Fabian in a clear challenge.

“Can we have a word?” Erik asked from the back of the group, planting a hand on Fabian’s shoulder to halt his advance.

I tugged on Magnar’s arm, forcing him to stay beside me as I stepped closer to them.

“Okay,” I said hesitantly, eyeing my sister. I expected to see the same hunger burning in her eyes as I did in the Belvederes’ but strangely all I found there was concern.

“We have a bit of an issue,” Erik muttered and I could tell he felt a little uncomfortable about voicing this request.

“It’s more than a bit of an issue,” Fabian hissed, his eyes lingering on my throat.

I swallowed nervously as I recognised the desire I saw there. I’d given in to that hunger in him once and I’d sworn I’d never do it again.

“You can’t expect to feed six vampires from two mortals,” Magnar said firmly.

“Easy enough to say when you’re well fed,” Fabian replied. “We don’t all travel with our own personal blood slave.”

“Don’t call her that.” Magnar’s voice dropped menacingly and Fabian shifted into a fighting position.

“We came here to ask,” Erik said quickly. “Before the situation gets any more desperate and we have to demand it.”

“I am demanding it,” Fabian countered.

“You can demand it again and I’ll gladly rip your head off and stuff you in one of those bags for the rest of the journey,” Magnar replied and I could tell he meant it.

“It’s alright, Magnar,” I said with a sigh, realising I didn’t really have a choice about this. “It’ll be fine.”

Fabian took a step forward and Erik’s eyes glimmered with what I could have sworn was excitement for a moment but Magnar shifted to block their path.

“Look at the size of her,” Magnar snarled. “How do you expect her to sustain three vampires for the next few weeks?”

“Well she’s managing well enough to keep you going,” Fabian replied darkly.

“Maybe we can just get everyone fed tonight and then tomorrow we can think about how to deal with this going forward?” Montana suggested and I could tell this whole conversation was making her really uncomfortable.

“Okay,” I breathed and I pushed my sleeve up as I prepared to face my nightmare once again.

Magnar’s hand curled around my exposed wrist as he stopped me from advancing. “If one of them places their mouth upon your flesh I’ll rip their fangs from their gums and force them down their throats,” he snarled.

“We have a funnel and a bottle if you’re willing to cut yourself?” Erik suggested, eyeing Magnar cautiously.

I glanced up at Magnar and he nodded reluctantly.

“Let’s get this over with then,” I sighed as I followed them from the store.

“I’ll go and find Chickoa,” Fabian murmured before speeding away from us.

Erik led the way back downstairs and through the mall and Montana moved to walk beside me.

“I’m sorry about before,” she murmured.

“It’s okay, Magnar realised what was bothering you so I understand. You’ll be back to normal again once you’ve fed.”

She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Well actually, Julius already...”

“Oh,” I replied, surprised that the slayer had been willing to help her and feeling immensely grateful to him for it. “That’s good then.”

Montana nodded but I wasn’t entirely sure she agreed.

“I hate that you have to do this,” she breathed.

“The stronger we are the sooner we can get to the mountain and end this curse once and for all,” I replied. “We’ve all made sacrifices to get this far, I can make this one too.”

She nodded again silently, taking my hand in hers. “But if it’s too much then you have to tell us.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

We arrived at an old food court and Fabian appeared, towing Chickoa along with him. Her cheeks were stained with the evidence of tears and I tried to hide my surprise as I noted her hand in Fabian’s. Her gaze locked on me desperately and I gave her a brief smile as I dropped into a chair.

Fabian shoved a bottle and funnel across the table at me and I took Fury from my hip.

I pressed the blade to my skin and sucked a breath in between my teeth as I struck it across the flesh of my forearm.

I held the cut over the funnel and stared as my blood ran into it.

Chickoa drew forward, moaning in desperation as she watched my blood drip from my skin. Her fingers tightened on Fabian’s as if they were the only thing stopping her from leaping at me.

As the bottle came close to filling, Magnar tore a strip from his shirt and drew me away, pressing it down over the wound.

“Thank you, Callie,” Montana breathed and I nodded awkwardly.

The other vampires eyed what I’d given them as if they didn’t think it was enough but Magnar glared at them and they didn’t voice any objections.

Fabian passed the bottle to Chickoa first and she groaned as she lunged towards it.

I took Magnar’s hand as I turned away from them, not wanting to watch as they devoured my blood.

There were some tins of food gathered on one of the tables and I dropped down before them hungrily. The cut on my forearm burned with pain and I sighed as I pulled a can of corn towards me. I just hoped that we would make it to the mountain soon because I wasn’t sure I enjoyed being on the menu.