Page 63 of Wounded Soul
A laugh burst out of Jesse.Fuck me, that’s an understatement.“No,” he said. “He won’t be best pleased.”
Ian glanced up at the ceiling before facing Jesse again. “So let me get this straight. If I leave this room, there’s the VLCD who’ll probably shoot me on sight, your coven leader who’ll be mighty pissed off to see me, Peter who probably wants me dead because I’m the only evidence he committed a crime, and on top of that, I might eat people.”
“I think that covers it.”Fuck, Jesse had forgotten about Peter. This was going to be a fucking nightmare. “So, as much as it sucks to stay put for now, do you see why it’s for the best.”
“Yeah.”
Good. That was one thing Jesse didn’t have to worry about for a while.
“Tell me the rest.” Ian’s gaze pierced into his, determined and resolute, and Jesse had to look away. “Tell me what happened and why you changed me into a vampire.”
Jesse swallowed, glad he’d drunk the bag of blood Peter had thrown at him earlier but wishing he’d had more. Being on the edge of hunger amped up all his emotions, and Jesse’s anxiety spiked at having to tell Ian what happened.
What if he hates me after this?
Despite knowing how selfish he was being, now that it had happened, Jesse was over the moon that Ian was alive. That they’d get to spend years together, far longer than a human life would allow. Assuming Ian didn’t want to kill him after Jesse had told him everything.
“When Raph asked Peter to investigate you, he made me give him all the information I had on you. Address, phone number, place I met you.”
Ian scoffed. “So you handed me over on a platter.”
“I’m sorry, I had no choice but to tell him,” Jesse pleaded. “I could’ve been thrown out of the coven if I’d lied or refused.” Ian didn’t know what it would be like for a vampire out on their own, hadn’t heard the horror stories that Jesse had. Granted, most had come from Peter, so maybe a modicum of disbelief was warranted, but others had told him similar things.
It was to be avoided at all costs.
“Carry on, then.”
Jesse glanced down at his hands, focusing on them rather than look at Ian. “I followed Peter as soon as I could get away, but he had about an hour’s head start on me.” Jesse tried not to think he could’ve stopped all this if only he’d got away quicker. “Anyway, he sent me a text with a picture of you on the ground. You looked dead.”
“Was I?” Ian asked, voice quiet.
“No. Close though. Peter had already drained you.”
Ian shuddered but didn’t say anything else, and Jesse fought the urge to reach out and comfort him. He doubted it’d go down well at the moment. “When I got there, he had Michael and Simon take my phone, and yours that you’d dropped, then knock me around a little. Then they left us there.”
“Why didn’t you take me to a hospital?” Ian searched his face; whatever he was looking for, he didn’t seem to find it. “If you were worried about getting caught, you could’ve left me outside or something. At least I’d have had a chance.”
“You had a few minutes at most, I’d never have got you there in time.” Jesse did reach for his hand this time, clutching it tight. “You died in front of me. Your heart stopped, and I thought that was it.”
“So you changed me.”
“No,” Jesse whispered and shook his head. “I’d never do that to someone without their consent.”
Ian’s face scrunched in confusion. “Then what the fuck happened?”
“It was an accident, I never meant...” Jesse stopped, closed his eyes, and tried to calm down. Whether or not Ian hated him was the least of their problems. “My head split open when they threw me into the wall. Some of the blood hadn’t dried, the wound took a while to heal, and as I leant over you, your lips were parted, and a few drops fell into your mouth.”
“And then what happened?” Ian’s voice was little more than a whisper.
“I’m not quite sure.” Jesse remembered the raw need that had gripped him, the possessiveness that swelled up inside him. “I saw the blood stain your lips, and it was as though a switch flipped. All I could think about was turning you, making you mine. So I gave you more of my blood.” Jesse kept his gaze on his lap. “Then I heard voices coming, so I scooped you up and ran. Now here we are.” He looked up and spread his hands out, gesturing to his room.
Ian stared at him, expression hard, and Jesse braced himself for the harsh words that seemed to be coming his way.
“Firstly,” Ian began, “I know we spent a couple of, quite frankly, awesome nights together, and I liked you a lot. But I’m not yours. I want to make that crystal clear from the start.”
“Okay,” Jesse said. “Point noted.” His brain stuck on the past tense Ian had used.Liked you a lot. Not like.
But Ian was on a roll. “I don’t care that it was your blood that turned me, I don’t belong to you or Peter or anybody else in this fucking coven.” His voice rose sharply at the end, and Jesse had never been more grateful for the soundproofing.
