Boring her? This was fascinating.
“So, when two vampires are blood-bonded, like Yvette and Haven, or like Eddie and Thomas, they will of course need to drink human blood to survive. The change that happens in a vampire when bonding with a human, doesn’t happen when two vampires bond. Don’t get me wrong, their bond is just as strong, their devotion just as deep, but they are physically able to drink blood that doesn’t come from their mate. Which of course doesn’t stop them from biting each other.” Delilah winked. “Mostly during sex…”
Fascinated, Lilo gaped her. But Delilah wasn’t quite done yet.
“It’s different for a vampire bonded to a human. He’s entirely dependent on her for his survival. He needs her. Of course, during my pregnancies, Samson was restraining himself to drinking from me just once every few days. He wanted to make sure I kept my strength.”
Nina huffed. “Yeah, ‘cause Samson is a gentleman. Amaury? Not so much! He was randier than a sailor while I was pregnant with Damian and Benjamin. He said I had a glow about me. Wouldn’t give me a moment’s rest.”
Though judging by her flushed cheeks, Nina hadn’t objected much to her husband’s advances.
When Delilah started to laugh, Lilo couldn’t help herself and chuckled.
“Well, we all know Amaury,” Delilah said and winked at Lilo. “Have you met him yet?”
“I ran into him in the hallway up on the top floor. He wasn’t too pleased to see me. He said no humans were allowed up there.”
Delilah shrugged. “Yeah, well, that rule’s been broken more often than I can count on both of my hands. He’ll get over it.”
Lilo moved her head from side to side. “You both seem to be so unafraid of them. Aren’t you worried that one day they’ll turn around and lash out? They’re so much stronger than you. So much more powerful.”
“They’re just like every other man,” Nina claimed. “They want the same thing. A woman who will love them and will never look at another man again. Once they’re certain of that, they’ll grant her every wish in their power.” Nina smirked mischievously. “It’s really quite empowering.”
Lilo’s chin dropped. “Are you telling me that you manipulate Amaury?”
Nina laughed. “I wouldn’t call it that. All I do is give him what he craves, and luckily that coincides exactly with what I crave, too. And if he showers me with gifts on top of that, who am I to complain? I’ve got two smart, beautiful sons, and a husband who’d kill to protect me. Who could want more out of life?”
“Don’t forget the not aging part,” Delilah interjected.
“Oh, yes, that’s not too bad either. I was twenty-seven when I met Amaury.” She swept her hands down her body. “And look at me now, twenty-two years later. Not too shabby for a cougar.”
“Nina, I don’t think you’re a cougar. You’d have to date a younger man for that. And despite his youthful looks, Amaury has long passed the four-hundred year mark.”
Lilo gasped. “Four hundred?”
Nina winked at her. “And before you wonder. No, a vampire’s sex drive does not diminish with age.”
Lilo felt her cheeks heat.
“Now, now, no need to be shy,” Delilah said. “Scanguards is like a small town where everybody knows about everybody else’s business, and rumors are circulating fast. I spoke to Rose a while ago. She mentioned she met you at Blake’s house. So as you can imagine, everybody is curious about you. Blake isn’t the kind of guy to indulge in casual things.”
“Not anymore anyway,” Nina added. “He sowed his oats when he was in his twenties, but then he got serious.”
“For him to have a woman stay with him, well…” Delilah hesitated. “He must care about you.”
“I’m just staying with him to make it easier to work together finding Hannah. You must have heard…”
Delilah made a dismissive hand movement. “We’ve heard. And if anybody can find your friend, it’ll be Scanguards.”
Nina nodded. “But your staying with Blake has nothing to do with that. He has you stay with him, because he wants you around.”
“And you’re staying with him,” Delilah added, “because you want to be around him. Or would you have accepted his invitation if he weren’t quite as good looking and charming?”
Lilo opened her mouth to respond, but the lie wouldn’t cross her lips. Delilah was right: she’d accepted Blake’s invitation because she enjoyed his company and she was attracted to him.
Delilah smiled knowingly. “And now, dear? Do you still feel the same now that you know what he is?”
She met Delilah’s green eyes, and contemplated the question. But she wasn’t ready to answer it, for Delilah or Nina, or for herself. Too many conflicting emotions warred inside her, and she was too exhausted to analyze them.
27