Forbidden (Blood Ties #7)

I rolled and climbed out of bed before padding to the walk-in closet. A surge of awareness came, stopping me. I swiveled around, flicking my gaze to hers. But her eyes were closed.

In and out.

In…and out.

Her breaths never changed.

Hmm.

I pulled jeans from the drawer and strode toward the kitchen. It was still early, only a few hours after I’d fallen asleep. But my mind was racing and my heart…it needed a reason, a reason for all of this, a reason for hope. I slid a cup under the coffee machine and pressed the button before heading upstairs to my study.

I grabbed the laptop and the charger before heading back down. A splash of creamer and I set myself on the edge of the bench, turned on the computer, and logged in. That nagging feeling of being watched washed over me once more.

I glanced toward the hallway, seeing nothing but gloom, then scowled and turned back to the blinking green lights on the server. I scratched the prickly hair on my jaw. My head was a goddamn mess. I needed to get back in the game. I needed to get control.

The bitter tang of coffee made me wince. Still, I swallowed and typed out the commands.

RC: I have another name

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…

The lights blinked and blinked. I waited, drinking my coffee, and watched for a response. A response that may never come. Maybe he was hunting? Maybe he was—

SC: Give it to me.

My heart leaped at the command. I typed:

RC: Julius Harmon

…

…

I waited, but there was no response. Not that I’d really expected there to be. Not anymore. I logged off the server and closed the laptop down. Sitting back, I lifted my gaze to the brightening sunlight in the window.

She only had an apple.

My brows pinched.

She only had an apple, so she must be hungry.

I shook my head. No, that wasn’t something I cared about. If she didn’t eat what I’d made her, then it was her own goddamn fault.

Chomp.

The memory of her consuming the apple filled me. Before I knew it, I’d risen from the bench. I was hungry myself, wasn’t I? I turned my focus inward…but my belly was quiet.

“Fuck it,” I snarled and yanked open the cupboard, pulling out the glass container of oats.

She didn’t eat meat. So, what the helldidshe eat?