Page 43 of Tainted Souls
He looks at me, hauntingly uncertain. “What if I can’t control it? What if I hurt someone?”
“You won’t,” I promise. “I’ll help you every step of the way. We’ll figure this out together.”
After a long moment, he nods. “Okay.”
I signal the nurse, who returns and resumes the blood flow. Max’s reaction to the first hit is visceral. His entire body tenses, his eyes widen, and a soft moan escapes him.
“I feel good,” he finally admits, sounding both surprised and disgusted with himself.
“It gets easier,” I assure him, though I’m not entirely sure that’s true.
By the time the bag empties, Max looks more like himself. His movements are more fluid, his color has improved, and the initial shock gives way to cautious curiosity.
The doctor arrives for a post-feeding examination, explaining that Max must remain under observation for at least twenty-four hours to ensure his transition completes without complications.
“Your family has been informed,” the doctor proceeds, checking his watch. “They will be taking the first possible flight here.”
Max thanks him and he leaves the room.
Familiar voices echo from the hallway when the door opens. Ones that makemetense up rather than Max. It’s not any family member, although that wouldn’t have been much better anyway. Everyone around him treats me with skepticism at best.
“I don’t care what the nurse said,” comes the authoritative voice of Max’s best friend since their first year of law school, Liam Porter. “Visiting hours aren’t over yet.”
His expensive cologne announces his presence before he rounds the corner, flanked by Vivian and Kevin.
“I hear your friends,” I tell Max, squeezing his hand once more. “I’ll give you some time alone with them.”
Before he can respond, I’m already out the door.
I plan to scurry in the opposite direction of the elevators I heard his friends come out from, but they are already in front of me, all wearing platinum bands that they know look good in courtrooms and contracts.
“Seraph,” Liam says stiffly, his face hardening and his blue eyes cold as they sweep over me. “What happened to Maxim?”
I never quite liked his full name. It reminds me too much of their friends. Liam. Kevin. Vivian. Maxim. But it’s exactly why they like it.
“He was attacked,” I say, keeping my voice level. “He’s stable now.”
Vivian steps forward, her perfectly manicured nails drumming an impatient rhythm against her designer handbag. “Stable? We heard he was turned.”
I don’t miss the subtle accusation in her tone.
“Yes,” I admit. “He’s completed transition.”
Kevin shakes his head, muttering something under his breath that sounds like he knew this would happen.
I gesture toward the door. “He’s awake. You can see him.”
They move past me without another word, Liam’s shoulder brushing mine with deliberate force.
Their discomfort is palpable—hearts racing, gulps heavy, and breathing shallow. I can hear it all, and I know Max can too now.
Through the closing door, I catch a glimpse of Max’s face lighting up at the sight of his friends, a reaction I haven’t seen since he woke up.
I linger in the hallway, unable to help myself, listening in on their hushed conversation. His friends have never hidden their wariness of vampires, nor their disapproval of his relationship with me.
“Jesus, Maxim, look at you,” Liam says.
“I know,” Max replies, his voice strained. “It’s… an adjustment.”
