Chapter 11

Conversation stutters as I make my way into the cavernous, yet somehow still cozy, kitchen. Cassie and Gisele are laughing at something, Lyn looking on with a wan smile. Dabin's kneading some kind of dough, Danielle flipping bacon with an expert flick of the wrist. Kaus chops vegetables, and Lesath's arranging some kind of cheese on an ornate board.

It's… homey and unexpected, and I don't know what to make of it.

So I blink, standing at the threshold, back in my leather pants and vest.

"She's awake!" Cassie crows, pushing back her long tumble of red hair.

"How's your head feeling, you lush?" Gisele laughs some more, then takes an apple from Kaus' pile and bites into it.

Lesath looks up from the cheese, a slow, hot smile spreading across his face.

Heat rises in my chest, and it's not from the kitchen stove. Or fireplace. Or the heat from Danielle's magic, sizzling the bacon in the pan.

As if he can sense my discomfort, Lesath's gaze drops back to the cheese board. Which is ridiculous. The man loves to make me feel uncomfortable. That's like, his whole schtick. At least, I thought it was. Until last night, when he was so freaking nice to me, so gentlemanly and sweet, that I honestly don't know which way is up or down with him anymore.

I'd expected him to put the moves on me, feel up my leg or try to kiss me or something. I expected him to, and part of me even wanted me to. Wanted to know what it would be like to feel his adept fingers march their way from my calves to my thighs… and higher.

Fuck. I need to not think about that.

Lesath glances over his shoulder at me, a sly smile on his face. Like he knows! Like he knows what I'm thinking about, which is impossible.

"Good morning!" I finally say, much too brightly.

Gisele laughs even harder, even Lyn dissolving into giggles.

Shit. It's been so long since I've been around people that I don't even know what to do with myself.

"No reason to act all guilty." Gisele's eyebrow raises. "Unless there is. In which case, do tell."

"I'd like to make you feel guilty," Kaus tells her, continuing his knifework.

"You wouldn't even know where to start." Gisele doesn't even spare a glance for him. "Besides, I never feel guilty."

"You don't?" Lyn wrinkles her nose.

I step into the room, feeling super awkward. Which is silly, considering Kaus is by far the most awkward person. He's practically salivating over Gisele, his whole body seemingly attuned to where she is, his eyes constantly tracking her.

If Gisele knows, or cares, she doesn't show it. A small smile turns up my lips.

"Y'all seem better today."

"Yeah, getting a good night's sleep without worrying about a vampire draining, or worse, does a body good."

"And that stuff you gave us for the cuts and bruises works like a charm," Cassie adds. "Better than anything I've ever tried."

"How is your ankle?" Lesath appears by my side, holding out a piece of cheese for me. I stare at the cheese, then his face. Then back at the cheese.

No way am I letting him feed me.

"Good. Told you it would be fine." I take the cheese and pop it in my mouth. A small moan of pleasure escapes as flavor floods my tongue. "Mmmm, that's good."

"I like that noise you make," his voice drops low, dangerously so, and there is fire in his eyes.

"Get a room," Gisele says, tossing something at us. Lesath grabs it out of the air without taking his gaze off of me.

"They already did," Cassie giggles, and Lyn lets out a small laugh.

"Ugh," I huff. "When do we leave for Donnora?"

The sound in the kitchen dies, Dabin and Kaus laser-focused on me.

"What? Did I say it wrong again?"

Dabin's attention turns to Lesath, his eyes narrowed. "You said you were taking her to Kirdiff. To shop."

Lesath shrugs one shoulder. "We will probably stop there on the way home to Ulson."

"From Donnora." Dabin's gaze flicks to me, his expression thoughtful.

"You want the tattoos like Dabin has?" Kaus asks, the knife poised to chop, his face furrowed in confusion. "To protect you?"

Lesath nods once.

What the hell? "Why didn't you tell them where we're going? Why are you keeping secrets from me?"

"Oh shit, trouble in paradise," Gisele mutters, a hint of a smile on her face.

"It's not paradise," I snap at her. "You don't know what you're talking about." God, Lesath brings out the worst in me. I feel stupid. I feel like a fool.

Lyn appears on the verge of tears again, and she shoots me a sympathetic look, because she knows what happened between us. Cassie's eyes are round as saucers, and Danielle is staring at Lesath like he's grown horns. Maybe not horns, seeing as how her mate has them, but definitely a weird expression.

"Why would you risk taking her there when you can just seal the mate bond? You know that is the best protection, right?" Kaus asks.

My heart stops, my stomach plummeting. I feel sick. I could stop the curse if I have sex with him? This is so completely fucked.

Kaus stares around the room in disbelief, as if his solution is the most natural thing in the world. Well, maybe it is, in their world. My chest heats, and I just know it's going splotchy. I blink rapidly, trying not to cry.

Lesath tenses beside me, and anger radiates from him.

The icy cold fingers of fear stroke down my spine. The last time I saw him like this, on the brink, was after he first turned from scorpion to man, when I was feverish.

He's holding on by a thread.