Marked by Blood: Book 2 of The Marked Series Ford, Rinna (books to read fiction .TXT) 📖

I sat it all down in front of me and looked over the table at all the food. It all looked good, but was that just because it was good before I became a vampire? I mentally slapped myself because I was being a ninny and went for the first thing I saw, which just so happened to be some roasted potatoes.

I scooped a helping onto my plate and picked up one of the potato pieces with my fork. I held it up to my nose and inhaled, smelling its incredible aroma. My eyes went bright at that thought and I shoved it into my mouth, chewing it carefully before swallowing it.

I sat back in my chair and waited. It was delicious and everything I remember roasted potatoes tasting like, but would I be able to keep it in my stomach? After a few minutes of feeling fine, other than still being hungry, I decided it was okay and continued eating with a smile on my face.

Xan shook his head, mirroring my smile, and kept eating his own dinner. There was so much to learn and since there was no one like me in the whole world, it wouldn’t be easy to manage it all. Xan could help me with my shifter side, Camille with my caster side, and Matias with my vampire, but no one could tell me how to put them all together or how all of these parts would react to one another. I’d have to figure that out myself.

As I sat there, eating my second plateful of food and drinking my fourth glass of blood, I knew I was up to the challenge.

* * *

I was only able to sleep for about an hour and a half before waking up refreshed and ready to start the day. Too bad it was still early and most of the supernaturals were still asleep in their beds, Xander being one of them.

I lay there for at least another hour, trying not to wake him, but I couldn’t stand it any longer. I carefully snuck out of bed and into the bathroom, grabbing a set of clothes on the way. I was dressed and out the bedroom door within minutes.

Walking down the stairs, I expected to be the only person up, but there were several others milling about. As I got a closer look, I realized they were all vampires.

A couple of them nodded their hello to me, but most of them went about their business as if I weren’t even there. I walked into the kitchen and found Matias pouring himself a glass of blood from a bag. It didn’t even occur to me to ask where the blood was coming from, but as I watched him empty the bag, I decided it made sense. It also made me feel a lot better knowing the blood more than likely came from a blood bank than unwilling donors.

“Good morning, little one.”

My eyes shifted from the bagged blood in Matias’ hands to his smiling face. When the cup was full, he handed it to me and reached inside the cupboard for another glass.

“Can’t sleep?”

I shook my head and brought the glass of blood to my lips.

“But you did sleep?”

“Yeah, for a little while.”

He chuckled a bit and finished pouring a new glass for himself. “Well, that’s more sleep than I’ve had in years.”

I gulped the last drop of blood and set the glass on the counter. “Vampires don’t sleep, do they?”

I didn’t know why I didn’t think about it before. Up until I woke up a vampire the day before, I honestly never thought about the supernatural species since I wasn’t one, not to mention I hadn’t come in contact with any to my knowledge. But Matias seemed as human as anyone I’d come in contact with, despite his incredible good looks. It was possible I’d come into contact with vampires in the past and just didn’t know it.

He shook his head. “I haven’t been able to truly rest since I was turned, many, many years ago.”

I slid onto a nearby stool and propped my head on my hands. “That must be rough.”

“Yes and no. It was hard at first, being eternally awake, so to speak, but now I don’t know any other way. I don’t get tired, not like humans and other supernaturals do, so I don’t feel the urge to sleep. I imagine you still need your rest because of the other parts of you, but you won’t need to rest as long as they will because your vampire side should rejuvenate your energy stores a lot quicker.”

I sat quietly and thought about what he told me. I wasn’t sure if I liked that or not, but it wasn’t like I had much of a choice.

“What else is different about being a vampire? I know I can run fast…”

“Yes, vampires are very quick, quicker than all other supernatural beings, and very strong, especially when their predator side emerges.” He rounded the island and stood beside me. “Some vampires can influence others with a look or the sound of their voice and all are exceptional hunters. Besides that and the immortal life, that’s it.”

With his closeness, I couldn’t help but squirm. “That sounds like a lot to me,” I told him, shifting in my seat. Soleil nudged me in agreement.

Matias looked down at me with a warmth in his eyes I wasn’t ready for and I wanted to melt into them more than anything else at that moment. I cleared my throat and looked away, trying to break out of the intimate moment.

“Well, I’m up now, so there’s no time like the present,” I giggled. “Do you want to start working on my new skills now?”

Matias relaxed his body and took a step back, but never took his eyes off of me.

“Of course, little one. Whatever you’d like. But I would like it if you had another glass of blood before we start.”

I nodded my head in agreement