A Meet of Tribes (A Shade of Vampire #45)(42)

I made my way into the banquet hall after everyone scattered around the house. I didn’t feel very sociable, and I constantly checked myself for runes. I’d seen none since I’d awakened from my visions that morning, but I couldn’t shake the thought of them returning permanently.

The warming plates were still out on the dinner table, and I was pleased to see the effects of the Daughter’s intervention with the wards once more. I uncovered a hot dish and dipped my finger in it. Delicious.

I ate my dinner quietly. I’d changed into a pale green velvet skirt, settling for a soft ivory shirt with long sleeves and ample lace ruffles adorning the collar. I wanted to cover up as much of myself as possible, despite the high summer temperature. The less skin I could see, the smaller my temptation to give myself a once over for black runes.

As I chewed the last of my food, the double doors opened behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Field walk in. The black trousers he wore hugged his muscular thighs, and his off-white shirt was unbuttoned halfway down with the sleeves rolled up, enough for me to see his broad chest and toned forearms. His long hair was tousled, and his left jaw was slightly red. Heat seared through my chest as my gaze lingered on his lips. I willed my gaze back to my empty plate.

He pulled out a chair next to me and sat down, leaning into his elbow on the table and purposefully facing me. I could feel his eyes on me, and all it did was further raise my body temperature. I replayed the morning I’d spent in his embrace in my mind, when I’d just woken up from the visions, still shuddering from the sight of my runes.

Neither of us said anything, until I finally gathered enough courage to look at him. His turquoise gaze was fixed on my face, but I couldn’t read his expression. His eyebrows were slightly arched, though, enough to make me think that he was wondering about something.

“What’s up?” I asked, my voice barely audible and higher than normal.

“Not much. Just had a sparring session with Jovi. It got rougher than usual, but it serves him right,” Field replied with a satisfied smirk.

“Who won?”

“Who would you have wanted to win?”

His question confused me for a moment. I was unable to look away from those two blue-green pools of wonderful unknowns that made up a creature like Field.

“He does need to get some respect kicked back into him once in a while. I’ll say that much,” I quipped and took another sip from my water, grateful to have an excuse to look away before I lost control over my senses.

Field laughed and poured himself a glass.

“It will please you to hear that I wiped the floor clean with your brother, then.”

I felt myself smiling but my heart wasn’t really in it. I stared at my fingers on the glass, once again reminded of the runes. The persistence of my impending transformation was unbelievably frustrating, to the point where I realized I wasn’t even able to laugh at my beloved brother’s expense.

And Field noticed. “What’s wrong, Aida?”

The sound of my name in his voice made me look at him once more. My body softened under his inquisitive gaze. My knees weakened, and my spine tingled.

“I…I can’t get those runes out of my head. Every time I see them I’m reminded of my possible future, and it’s not something I’m looking forward to. I don’t want to go blind.” I ended my brief rant with a heavy sigh.

Field held my gaze without saying anything. A dozen thoughts darted through my mind. I wondered what went on in his. His poker face was exquisite, and I found myself both loving and hating the mystery of it. Not knowing what he was thinking was a double-edged blade.

He broke the silence. “Do you trust me?”

There was a familiar twinkle in his eyes. He most likely had an idea. Back home, that usually meant upping the danger level on my GASP training with the addition of new weapons. I wasn’t sure what it meant in Eritopia, but I trusted him with my life and soul and everything else I could give him.

I nodded, unable to utter another word.

He stood up and offered me his hand. I looked at it for a second and took it. His fingers gently folded over my hand, sending hot flashes through my core. He pulled me to my feet and tore off his right sleeve. My eyes went wide—both at the sudden gesture and the sight of his tanned skin stretching smoothly over his muscles.

He held the material up by both ends in front of me, and gave me a reassuring smile as he blindfolded me. I felt his breath tickle my cheek as he leaned in to tie the fabric behind my head. I felt hot and overwhelmed and tried to keep my breath steady.

Field took my hand again, while I got accustomed to the darkness. The thought of going blind caused a numbing pain in my stomach, but I followed his musky scent and the sound of his footsteps as we went outside. I heard crickets chirping somewhere nearby and a subtle breeze above us.

He stopped, and I bumped into him. I forgot to use my brain properly with his body so close to mine. I held my head down, not sure what to say or do next.

“I need you to trust me, Aida,” he said in a low voice that made my soul vibrate.

“I trust you,” I whispered.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. I held my breath as I felt his body against mine, a perfect match of forms. He held me tight, and I lost myself for a moment. I heard his wings flap, and the ground disappeared from under my feet.

I squealed and locked my arms around his neck, holding on for dear life and gasping for air.