Elizabeth Hunter - 03 The Scarlet Deep by Elizabeth Hunter

Author:Elizabeth Hunter [Hunter, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

CARWYN ANSWERED THEIR KNOCK with uncharacteristic churlishness.

“What?” The heavy door swung open, and his mood dissolved as soon as he saw her face. “Anne? What’s wrong?”

“May we come in?” she asked.

Carwyn frowned. “Murphy?”

“A few moments would be greatly appreciated, Father.”

He waved them in and shut the door. “You’ve got to stop with the father business. It bothers Brigid.”

“Sorry,” Murphy said, feeling moderately regretful. “It’s habit.”

“I understand.” He walked down the hall and led them into a library where Anne noticed a sleeping Brigid curled on the couch.

“Carwyn.” She halted. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea we were so close to dawn.”

“It’s fine.” He tucked a blanket around his mate. “Since we mated, she’ll sometimes wake when I’m still conscious. It’s very random. I’d put her to bed”—Carwyn poured two glasses of whiskey for them—“but she hates waking when I’m not there. She’ll be fine. Sit. You’ve a look about you, Anne. What’s wrong?”

“Is it so obvious?”

Murphy pulled her down to a couch and sat close to her.

Carwyn frowned. “Only obvious to someone who knows you well. What is it?”

Murphy said nothing, leaving Anne to decide how much she wanted to share. She trusted Carwyn completely, but…

“I have a condition,” Anne said. “I’ve had it for years. It’s nothing damaging, but I’ve always needed to feed more. I haven’t had a problem since I was a newborn, but with the feeding restrictions in place, I’ve been… limited. Animal blood doesn’t seem to suffice.”

The old vampire leaned forward, immediately alert. “You’re struggling with bloodlust?”

“Yes.”

“How often?”

“Do I struggle with my control?” Every night.

“No,” he said. “How often are you feeding?”

“Once a month with live blood. Animal and blood-wine between. But those don’t seem to be enough.”

“That’s surprising. And you’ve had problems recently?”

Murphy took Anne’s hand in his. “She took three humans in a park tonight. Was on the verge of tearing their throats out before I found her.”

Carwyn’s eyes widened, but he remained silent.

“Before the feeding restrictions,” Anne said, “I would feed twice a week. I never had a problem.”

“Twice a week at your age?”

She nodded. “As I said, I’ve always needed more. I can’t share why.”

“Hmm.” Carwyn scratched the heavy stubble of his beard. Unlike Murphy, he preferred to wear facial hair even though it took ages for vampire hair to grow. Combined with his size, deep auburn hair, and roughly handsome face, it gave the old earth vampire a wild and dangerous look. But as there were few who’d challenge him anyway, Anne suspected he kept the beard for his own pleasure. There was little to no artifice around Carwyn ap Bryn.

“The simple solution is that you need to be feeding more,” Carwyn said. “Your body is healthy, but your amnis must be starved if you’re having trouble controlling bloodlust at your age. Your mind was accustomed to a certain level of human blood, and then you cut it off. You essentially put your amnis on a diet your mind wasn’t prepared for.”

“But why isn’t animal blood enough? You drink nothing but animal blood.

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