Page 42 of Vampire's Cupcake
Thano glanced at his chest again since the man tried to make it bigger.The star.It must be why he was acting like a stupid bird.He wanted Thano to see the star.Thano huffed a laugh."You think you can decide if breed will come into town or not?"He took a step closer to the man, anger igniting inside."You're cattle, you can moo all you want, but in the end, you're nothing but walking meat."
The man fumbled to get his gun out of the holster, and Thano pulled the shadows around him and continued his walk to Eli's shop.Idiots.Humans were idiots.
As he neared the shop, he noted the chickens in the crate outside the door.They didn't look as terrible as Romeo's had when he'd acquired them, but they didn't look as healthy as those poor birds looked now either.Maybe Thano should buy them for him.If Romeo had more chickens, he'd have more eggs, and then he could sell them to Eli or trade them with someone else.
The door opened, and an elderly woman stepped out with a basket on her arm.Thano slipped by her unseen and walked into the shop before the door closed.
Eli leaned his elbows on the counter and breathed deeply.There was no one else in the shop, and Thano took a moment to study him.He looked tired.Scared.And worst of all, dejected.
Eli raised his head and looked in Thano's direction with a crease between his brows."Hello?"It wasn't more than a whisper, but it made Thano grin.
"Byrd?"He rounded the counter and almost walked straight into Thano as he looked down the other side of the middle table.
Thano ran a finger over the backside of Eli's hand.He yelped as if burned and almost fell as he jerked back.Thano cupped his elbow to make sure he stayed on his feet and dropped the shadows.
"Fuck, Thano."Eli placed a hand on his chest while Thano still held his elbow."You almost gave me a heart attack."
Thano smiled, his anger ebbing away, and without thinking he caressed Eli's arm with his thumb.Eli looked at him, a look of something Thano couldn't name taking over his eyes.
"Are you okay?"He touched Thano's upper arm with the hand he'd held over his heart, and Thano moved a little closer.Eli's eyes widened and he glanced over his shoulder toward the door before focusing on Thano again.
Thano waited.Had he been Ciar and Eli had been Romeo, they'd touch their mouths to each other's now, but Thano wasn't sure how to do it.
There was a twitch at the corner of Eli's mouth before a smile formed."What are you doing?"He spoke in a whisper.
"Waiting."
"For what?"
"For you to do the mouth thing."
Eli's eyes widened."The mouth thing?"
"Kiss."He stepped closer still, wanting to try it now.Thano slid the hand from Eli's elbow up to his shoulder, then his neck.
Eli blew out a shuddering breath."It's not safe."Then he bent and touched his lips to Thano's.It was weird, but a great sign of trust.Warmth bloomed in his chest.He could bite Eli, but he trusted him not to.
When Eli gently pressed a hand to Thano's back, he stepped close enough for their chests to touch.He had to crane his neck since Eli was a good bit taller than he was, but when Eli moved his hand from his back to cradle his head, he didn't care.
Then Eli wrenched away, eyes wide as he looked out the window."Fuck!"
Thano wasn't sure what had made him stop, but he'd hoped it would last longer."I went to the board."
All color drained from Eli's face."You reported me?"Then he rubbed a hand over his mouth in rough motions."You set me up."He spoke into his hand before gesturing at Thano without looking at him.Thano wasn't sure what was going on.
"They said Byrd isn't allowed to trade things in Last Hope.They said as of today breed aren't welcome."
Eli stilled, no more jerky motions, he was a frozen statue or whatever they were called."What?"
"Are you okay?"Maybe he was sick.Humans did get sick.Was it because he hadn't eaten properly?Thano should've gone home with him instead of going to see Samir last night.
"No!What's going on?"
"I'm not sure.They said breed aren't allowed in Last Hope.It's not sanitary to have animals on the streets.They've fired Conal from the board, and from midday today, breed aren't allowed within town limits."
Eli blinked, then rubbed his eyes, and blinked again."What?"
Thano smiled, almost all anger gone now.
