Page 176 of Fractured Fate

“That’s what she said,” Riley snapped. “Why are you calling?”

“Listen, Charlotte. I really like you.” When she sighed, he rushed to add, “As a friend! As a friend. I was trying to look out for you.”

Riley nudged her arm and when she looked over, she mumbled, “Ask him why.” She darted across the room to grab a notepad and marker.

“Why? Why were you looking out for me?”

“I was trying to protect you from something bad.”

Riley scribbled on the paper and held up the notebook. It said, why did he attack you?

Charlotte made a face. She didn’t think Noah had attacked her. He’d said something, but she couldn’t remember what, not after everything that happened. She distinctly remembered the panic in his voice, though. It didn’t align with someone attacking her.

Riley nudged her again. She’d been silent too long.

“Um. Why did you attack me?”

“What? I didn’t.” He paused and then his voice dropped, insecurity suffusing his tone when he asked, “Did I? Please tell me I didn’t hurt you.”

Why wouldn’t he know? Something seemed off.

Riley glared at the phone. “Dude. Are you playing dumb?”

“No. I—”

“If you’re not going to be honest, she’s hanging up,” Riley said, a fierceness to her voice that Charlotte hadn’t heard before. Riley’s protective behavior made her feel warm inside.

“No! Wait! Please don’t hang up, Charlotte. Let me explain.”

“Get to it then,” Riley snapped.

“Okay. Okay. He gets it.” Charlotte turned slightly, keeping the microphone end of the phone closer to her. She fixed her gaze on Riley. “I want to hear what he has to say.”

Riley huffed, and when she nodded, Charlotte angled back toward her.

“Thank you,” Noah said, exhaling in relief. “I was suffering from sanguis manie. It’s this… condition that—”

“I’ve heard of it.”

“Okay, that makes it easier.” He cleared his throat. “That’s why I wasn’t sure if I hurt you. I was trying so hard to fight against it when I approached you. I wanted to get you out of there before Brent got to you.”

She shared a look with Riley before asking, “I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t know if you hurt me.”

“I don’t respond well to lack of blood. It only takes a few hours and I start experiencing adverse effects.”

“A few hours?” Riley asked. “But aren’t you older?”

“I’m twenty. I know that’s still old enough I should be able to go at least most of the day without issue, but I’ve never handled it well. I know my limits.”

When Charlotte met Riley’s eyes again, she asked, “I don’t think I understand this part.”

“Younger Vasirian struggle more than older ones with lack of blood consumption. Sanguis manie sets in earlier for us.”

“There are cases of older Vasirian—much older than me—who have similar struggles to me. No one really knows why, though,” Noah added.

Riley shook her head. “I didn’t know that.”

“Anyway. I had gone almost twenty-four hours without blood. I was on the edge of madness. I barely remember the events of that night.”