“I wanted to apologize.” Jade’s words stunned me, rooting me to the floor. I didn’t see her as the type to apologize for anything, even if she was wrong. Seeing the shock on my face, she rolled her eyes and continued. “I didn’t stop you guys last night, not at first. It wasn’t until hands started roaming that I stepped in.”

  “Why?” I was dumbfounded. The whole point to having Jade in there was to prevent Sebastian and me from doing anything.

  “I’m not oblivious, Gaby. I know he’s in love with you and I’m pretty sure you’re in love with him, even if you can’t admit it to yourself. I didn’t see the harm in you two sharing a small intimate moment then being able to blame it on the blood exchange. I didn’t expect it to move that fast.” She wrinkled her noise showing she was uncomfortable in the conversation. “Then I saw how guilty Sebastian was afterwards. He wants you Gaby, but he wants you to be willing and I get that now. I didn’t see it that way.” She clapped her hands. “Enough with the heavy. You gonna try that?” She pointed to the blood.

  I wanted to scold her, but Jade seemed to have a good grasp on the situation. Instead I headed to the kitchen to prepare the blood Sebastian had sent. I offered Jade a glass, but she turned it down. When his blood touched my tongue, the flavor was wrong. It normally tasted like light. That was the best description I could muster. I barely finished the glass before I was running to the bathroom.

  “Shit, Gaby!” Jade stood just outside the bathroom as I spewed blood into the toilet. “Should I call someone?”

  “No,” I spoke before I heaved again, blood splattering against the water.

  I thought I heard her mumbling something, but my stomach heaved again, distracting me. Pain seared through my rib reminding me of my injury. Flushing the evidence I closed my eyes. Laying my head against my arm once my stomach settled I felt wiped. The pain dulled to an ache and I knew the poison was beginning to spread again. I was only there for a few seconds before strong arms lifted me. I felt something wipe across my mouth before realizing it was toilet paper. My eyes fluttered open, revealing Sebastian.

  “Jade called me,” he spoke seeing my confusion.

  I groaned. “I told her not to call anyone. I’ll be okay,” I spoke trying to angle my mouth away from him. I didn’t want him smelling me breath.

  “She’s hard of hearing and you, my love, are far from okay.” He carried me to the living room laying me on the couch then sat down on the edge of the cushion by my legs, facing me. “Vomiting blood isn’t a good sign, you know this. You need to take it a little more serious,” he spoke while handing me a piece of gum.

  I took it and popped it into my mouth before replying. “I know it’s serious, but it’s not like I can just go to the doctor.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair. “Was it the blood I sent?” he asked. I nodded.

  “What if it’s the bag?” Jade spoke. I had almost forgotten she was still there. Sebastian’s presence overwhelmed me when he was near. “I mean there are chemicals in them to stop the blood from clotting. What if that’s what’s made her sick?” I didn’t want her to be right. Damien had the right idea with the blood bags. I’d be able to feed from angel blood without making anyone feel uncomfortable. “You didn’t when you fed directly from Sebastian, right?” I shook my head. I could see where this was going. “There you go. If you need blood, feed from him directly.” I risked a glance at Sebastian who was looking down. His muscles were tense and his jaw clenched.

  “I’m fine,” I lied twisting uncomfortably from the ache in my side.

  “Gaby,” he sighed not believing me. Leaning over he raised my shirt. When the black lines became visible he frowned. “Let me feed you,” he pleaded before shooting daggers at Jade. He held her accountable for what happened that night, maybe not all of it, but she was guilty nonetheless. She did what was asked, but took her sweet time about it. “But maybe we should wait until Grayson is back.”

  “Oh, come on!” Jade exclaimed. “I apologized to you both already and you know that wasn’t an easy thing for me to do.”

  “Apologies don’t take back what happened. At least if it’s Grayson, I may get a fist to the face, but I know he won’t let us get that far again,” Sebastian spat.

  “It’s not that bad. I’ll be fine,” I tried to ease the mounting tension.

  “It’s not just you that you have to worry about anymore,” Sebastian glared at me.

  My hands went to cover my lower stomach. I hated that he was right. The baby was the number one concern right now. Everyone seemed to realize that but me. I was too busy trying to ease the tension and spare feelings instead of focusing on the one thing that mattered. I couldn’t let my baby come in second to anyone. “You’re right,” I said firmly, then with a sigh, my expression changed. “And I’m starving.”

  Sebastian smiled at me knowingly. He traced his thumb down my cheek. “I know.” I looked at him curiously. “And we can wait for Grayson, if you want. I don’t have anywhere to be.”

  “Seriously?” Jade threw her hands up.

  Before I could make a decision, Grayson walked through the door. His brow knitted when he noticed people in the living room that he hadn’t been expecting. Sebastian smiled at me, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. He stood and walked over to Grayson. They began talking, but I couldn’t hear them. Deciding to be nosey, I tried using my vampire hearing, but still couldn’t hear them.

  “You’re weaker than you thought, huh?” Jade spoke bringing my attention back to her.

  “What do you mean?”

  “You can’t hear them,” she stated. “I know because they’re talking about you and you seem fine with it.”

  “What are they saying?” I whispered, realizing how stupid it was. Everyone here was a supernatural being and all had super hearing.

  “Nah, uh. I’m on thin ice with that one.” She pointed to Sebastian.

  Grayson

  I walked through the door expecting to see Gaby. I was a bit surprised to see the extra people littering the room and was a little more shocked that it was Jade and Sebastian. My immediate thought was something was wrong. Something had happened with Gaby or the baby and their safety was in jeopardy.

  Sebastian eased off of the couch. Seeing my expression, he seemed to read my mind. “They’re both okay.” I released the breath I wasn’t even aware that I had been holding. He went on to explain to me that he had sent blood to Gaby, but her body had rejected it. It took me a moment to realize what he meant by reject.

  “The poison is spreading, Grayson. She’s been being stubborn about it. My guess is she’s in pain from all the shifting she’s doing.” We both glanced over at her and saw her wince as she readjusted herself.

  “She never said anything.”

  He nodded not seeming surprised. “My guess is she didn’t want to make us uncomfortable.”

  I exhaled heavily, rubbing the back of my neck hating that he was right. She knew that her feeding from him bothered me, after all I had told her that. Instead of telling me she needed it, she kept it from me and told him. That hurt.

  “She called you because she was in pain?” I asked. I couldn’t hold the hostility that was invading my words.

  He shook his head. “No. Jade called me after Gaby tried my blood in the bag. She tried claiming she was fine until I reminded her about the baby.”

  I heard Jade speak to Gaby. I had wondered why she seemed okay with Sebastian and I standing over here discussing her. She didn’t even realize herself how weak she was.

  “I need to feed her, but I wanted to wait for you.”

  “Me?” I asked curiously.

  He swallowed hard. “I don’t want things to get out of hand. I doubt they would since she’s in better control this time, but as a precaution, I’d rather have you watching us if you’re both okay with that.”

  Sebastian’s statement stunned me. I figured he’d be chopping at the bit to have special moments with my wife, but Gaby was right. This wasn’t what he wanted anymore than me, but this was what Gaby and the baby both needed. I quickly wiped the look off my face.

  I walked over to the couch where Gaby sat. Her eyes darted back to Sebastian who remained standing by the door with his arms crossed over his chest. She eyed him like he sold her out. I wanted to chuckle, but I refrained. “Sebastian says the poison is spreading again and his blood in a bag didn’t work.” She hesitated almost as if she was ashamed to admit to me that she needed to feed, but she nodded. “He feels more comfortable if I watch you feed. Are you okay with that?”

  She peered back at Sebastian who shifted his weight nervously. I wasn’t sure if he was more anxious about her telling me no or that she might actually say yes. “Promise you won’t punch him,” she asked me.

  This time I couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped me. If that was all she was worried about then I’d happily agree. “I’ll do my best.”

  A few minutes later, we were ready. Sebastian sat on the couch and I watched Gaby approaching him. I stood against the wall watching them from a distance and Jade came to stand next to me. Sebastian had told her to go, but Gaby thought it was best she stayed. I may be the one watching them, but I knew Jade was there to observe me.

  Gaby hesitated approaching Sebastian. Having fed her several times I knew the easiest way was for her to straddle him, but with me watching she was unsure if it was all right. I clenched my jaw realizing this was harder than I had anticipated. She glanced at me and I smiled encouragingly at her trying my best to put her at ease. I raised my brow and gave a slight nod of my head urging her on even though the idea made me sick to my stomach. My breath hitched when she crawled into his lap. His hands came to rest on her thighs where they gripped firmly.

  “Nervous?” She asked him in a whisper. Logically she knew we could hear her even with a whisper.

  “Aren’t you?”

  The corner of her mouth pulled up into a small grin. “Yeah, but I’m in a little better control now.”

  “I hope so, because I really don’t want to get punched tonight,” he joked, but I knew he meant it.

  She giggled nervously and he gave her a half grin. The tension left her as she relaxed her fangs. Sebastian took a deep breath and his lips parted. I was already fighting my desire to slam my fist into his face just from him regarding her like he wanted her to bite him. Gaby risked one last glance at me, but I couldn’t refrain from clenching my fists. Returning her attention to Sebastian, she tilted his head to the side before sinking her teeth into his artery. Her groan reached me the instant his blood touched her tongue. I clenched my jaw watching her mold her body to his trying to shift closer. Sebastian’s hands moved up and down her back before gripping her under her thighs and adjusting her where he wanted. I suspected the angel bond was beginning to flair. Gaby moaned withdrawing her fangs. They were both panting, staring at one another. I shifted my weight to step in as they leaned closer. I couldn’t stomach the idea of my wife kissing him even if it was the blood.

  “No,” Jade demanded firmly, grabbing my arm. “She’s not done.” But before I could react, Gaby was sinking her teeth back into Sebastian’s neck. His hand moved up to cradle her head. His gaze locked on me. He almost appeared smug. I tried telling myself that it was just the blood, but I didn’t believe it. I knew what it was like to feed from the opposite sex, even on someone other than Gaby. It was euphoric. Within the blink of an eye, Gaby was on her back with Sebastian hovering above her. She released him with a gasp as his weight shifted over her. It was a sound I recognized and I didn’t like that Sebastian was the one causing it.

  “Okay. Now,” Jade stated as she released her grip. I was off, shoving myself away from the wall. Sebastian seemed to realize it, because he was off of Gaby a second later just as I rounded the coffee table. I was working on trying to control my breathing when Sebastian dissipated. “Fucker couldn’t take me with him?” Jade complained storming out of the apartment without a backwards glance.

  Gaby lay on her back panting. Her desire was evident. Licking her lips where Sebastian’s blood still lingered she glanced tentatively at me. She wiped her thumb across them before cleaning it off in her mouth.

  “She stopped me,” I said taking the seat by her feet.

  “Stopped you?” She wasn’t sure what I meant.

  “You looked like you were about to kiss? I was going to end it then, but Jade stopped me. She said you weren’t done.”

  She sighed looking guilty. “I wasn’t. I’m sorry you saw that.”

  “Not sorry you almost kissed him, but sorry I saw it?” I regretted the words the instant they left my mouth. I knew I shouldn’t feel insecure. I had her, but I did feel it. I think if it was anyone else feeding her, I’d be fine, but knowing that there was something between them made me irrational.

  “I am sorry, Grayson, but I’m more sorry that you saw it.”

  “It’s not going to be the last time, is it?”

  She sat up scooting close to me. I wanted to wrap my arms around her, pull her close to me, but in that moment I couldn’t. My emotions were toxic, not to mention she smelled like him. I needed space to make sense of my feelings. I didn’t want to react anymore than I already had and cause her more guilt.

  “I’m sorry to say it, but probably not. I don’t mean it to sound premeditated, but you and I have an eternity together and Sebastian is immortal too. I’m bound to need his blood again and until we can figure out if there’s another solution this is what the baby needs to survive.”

  “I appreciate your honesty.” I stood walking into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. My anger was pulsating through me. The urge to slam my fist into the wall was overwhelming, but I refrained. I really needed to clear my head. She was right. Sebastian was going to be in our lives forever and that thought hit me harder than I expected. “I’m going to go for a run.” I didn’t wait for her to respond before I made my way to the bedroom to change. I didn’t observe her when I left. I was worried she’d see the resentment on my face. It wasn’t aimed at her. I wouldn’t trade Gaby for the world. It was this helpless feeling I had that I was going to lose her eventually. Maybe not today or even in the next fifty years, but one day the blood tie they shared was going to win out. I knew if I shared these thoughts with her she’d do her best to reassure me, but it wasn’t what I wanted. There was something else I craved more.

  I had my ear buds in, but my music was off. I ran at a human pace but it felt like a light jog to me. It was hard not using my supernatural speed in moments when I was looking for an escape. I don’t know how long I ran before I saw what I had been subconsciously seeking. What, in that moment, I was craving with every fiber of my being.

  Gaby

  Grayson left without a backward glance. I remained rooted on the couch feeling I had made a mistake with my honesty. The way Grayson abruptly left made me wonder if perhaps I should have told him I would try never to drink from Sebastian again. Of course that was my goal, but deep down I think Grayson believed I liked feeding from Sebastian, that I would use it as an excuse to get close and perhaps even allow something to happen between us, such as kissing because I enjoyed it. I had spent months being with Sebastian while Grayson had been kidnapped. What my husband didn’t know was that I regretted it. I regretted that I gave up on him even though I thought he was dead. I regretted that I tried moving on to cover the overwhelming loss I felt. Most of all I regretted that I did enjoy kissing Sebastian. All I could do was try to never kiss him again and that was done one day at a time.

  I was almost positive Ava was responsible in some way for Grayson’s kidnapping and I wanted to berate her for taking him away from me for that time. It was easy to put the blame on her for that situation—and for the one where I now found myself hurting two men that I cared about—but even I wasn’t that naive. Grayson’s kidnapping may have been what drove Sebastian and I together, but if I was being honest, there had already been a flicker of something brewing between us before Grayson went missing. It may have taken time, but I think feelings would have developed eventually or perhaps not. I would never know.

  It was hours before Grayson returned from his run. I was in bed trying, unsuccessfully, to sleep. He didn’t speak as he walked past me straight to the shower. It wasn’t until he crawled in bed, pulling me into his arms that I finally felt a tiny bit of relief since I fed from Sebastian.

  “Don’t hate me,” I asked, feeling the tears threaten to fall.

  Grayson adjusted to gaze into my eyes, hearing the crack in my voice. “I could never hate you, Gaby,” he sighed. “I hate the situation.”

  I rubbed my face against his bare chest enjoying the feel of his skin against mine. “I just worry that you’ll eventually tire of my crap. First there was Anton, your transition, being kidnapped, Sebastian. Now I have to feed from him?”

  “Gaby, I’m not keeping a list of everything and weighing the pros and cons of being with you. I’m with you because I love you. I just…”

  “What?” I asked adjusting to see him.

  “I wish it wasn’t so hard sometimes.”

  I felt my lip quiver. “Me too.” I placed my hand against his cheek. Slowly I drew him to my lips allowing him to come to me. After what happened that evening, I wanted to give him every chance to stop me and for me to not to just take what I wanted. I was grateful when his lips brushed softly against mine. I moaned when Grayson deepened the kiss and was surprised when I tasted blood on his tongue.

  “I think we’re still technically on our honeymoon,” he whispered sliding his hand under my t-shirt. Within a few minutes, I laid on my back gazing up at my husband as he connected his body with mine, both of us enjoying the pleasure of one another, temporarily forgetting the issues at hand.

  The problem with eloping was the world didn’t care that you were suppose to be on your honeymoon, I thought to myself as I watched Grayson leave for work the following morning. That was why you were meant to plan a wedding and schedule everything. Grayson promised me a real honeymoon eventually. After all, we had an eternity, but for now, we had other things that were more important.