Chapter 24
"Your blood?" Julian repeated from behind him.
Was this some type of trick? Rafael thought. A vampire offering him blood — that was almost humorous to him.
"My blood… vampire blood has healing properties," Viktor replied.
"And what other deceitful function? It would probably make me beholden to you, right?"
Viktor stayed silent. Rafael rolled his eyes.
"Only for a night," Viktor said defensively.
Rafael chuckled then.
"Goddess knows what havoc you could wreak with just one night," Rafael said.
"I… I truly don't mean harm," Viktor replied.
Rafael felt weak when he realized he believed this vampire, even after everything.
"You should go now." Rafael's voice was colder than he felt. "Thank you for the information," he added when he saw a flicker of hurt in Viktor's eyes.
Viktor straightened, sighed, and walked out of the room.
As he watched him walk away, Rafael wanted to call out, ask him to stay for some damned reason, and it was pathetic. He hated himself for his weakness, for his conflicting feelings.
Things would be easier if he could ignore this pull to Viktor. He could not be mates with a vampire. The world would simply not allow it.
He could be content. He had Julian. It had to be enough.
"Forget about it for now," Julian whispered softly, interrupting his thoughts.
"What?"
"Somehow, I can feel your thoughts churning. You need to rest, heal," Julian replied. "You can deal with the rest later."
"I…" Rafael started to protest. "You're right," he replied at the end.
For now, he was tired of thinking about the problems of tomorrow.
He started to undo the buttons of his shirt. He felt Julian's eyes on him. It made him smile a little.
He shrugged off the shirt and looked at Julian.
Julian looked away immediately, a red hue on his cheeks. And somehow, that made Rafael's troubles melt away into nothing.
He pulled Julian to him, ignoring Julian's little yelp, and pushed them onto the bed.
"No, Rafael, you're wounded," Julian said, though Rafael could hear the smile in his voice.
And surprisingly, Rafael did not feel a sharp searing pain like he had braced himself for. All he felt was dull muted pain, like he had carried the wound for several days already. That was weird — it was healing extraordinarily fast. Well, it served him better, so who was he to complain.
"I'm okay, Julian," Rafael assured. Julian relaxed a little in his arms.
In the quiet of the room, it was only their breaths to be heard.
With Julian in his arms, Rafael felt the tension drain from him, his body relaxing until he was drifting into sleep.
***
Julian heard Rafael's breath even out, and he was happy.
His mate was finally resting, and goddess knew Rafael needed it so much.
He had almost been able to hear Rafael thinking out loud when Viktor had left. Had been able to feel his pain and confusion.
If Rafael was really theirs, why did it have to be so complicated to have him? Because of other people?
Almost all his life Julian had been hated by people for being born something he could not control. Would they hate Rafael for having both an omega and a vampire as mates? Would they shun him as Julian was shunned? Maybe the consequences would be worse…
Why was everything stacked against them?
Rafael turned and muttered something underneath his breath.
Would they hate Rafael, who worked himself so tirelessly with them in mind?
Julian didn't know how, but he wouldn't let that happen. If Rafael wanted Viktor… then he should have him. Others be damned.
Julian had never wanted power before. But now he needed it.
He would get it. Power.
To create a world where they would be together, and no one would dare to oppose.
It seemed impossible, but he would die trying.
***
He really had not meant anything by offering his blood to Rafael. He had genuinely wanted the Alpha to heal. And maybe that was the worst thing about the whole situation.
Or maybe,
It was the fact,
That he had felt reluctant when Rafael had asked him to leave.
It seemed that every moment he spent in their presence — either one of them — the more this strange tug in his heart strengthened.