said with a laugh. “Do you not think after all these years I cannot read your face? As soon as Jodis mentioned effects on you, you looked at Alec, and I could see your mind tick over, Cronin. You thought if it could affect you, then it could affect Alec.” Eiji gave a smug smile. “And you can’t bear the thought of it, because you’re fated to him. Not some incubus who would risk Alec’s death for your own pleasure. Cronin, the notion is ludicrous.”
Cronin sighed. “It was merely an errant thought.”
Jodis gave him a sad smile. “Please disregard it.” She looked at him for a long moment. “Cronin, we will find out what this all means. I promise.”
“Which part?” he asked with a sigh. “The part where I’ve suddenly acquired the ability to transfer talents from other vampires? Or the part where I believe Alec has to go into combat against the greatest, most horrific conqueror the world has ever seen?”
Jodis’ eyes softened. “My dearest friend, we will get through this. Though I will say, you are my immediate concern. Genghis Khan, if that is even who we are to face, can wait. This blue moon or the next, Cronin, it doesn’t matter. Your well-being is my priority.”
“And Alec’s purpose in all this mess is mine,” Cronin countered.
“Alec will have no purpose if you are compromised, Cronin,” Jodis said. “If this change in you is not reversible, if there is no improvement now that you’ve stopped drinking his blood, then I don’t know what that will mean. For either of you. Your fate is his as well. If you were to die, then he will follow….” Cronin growled softly and Jodis rephrased her point. “If you are compromised Cronin, then Alec won’t be fighting anyone. We need to get you well first.”
Cronin’s brow furrowed at the thought. He hated putting Alec in jeopardy. He hated the mystery of it all. There were far too many questions and not enough answers. He looked over to Eiji. “Have you found anything in the medical books?”
“For various ways different human blood may affect a vampire?” Eiji clarified. “There’s nothing which relates, in part, to you and Alec’s relationship, and even if there was anything remotely close, there would still be too many variables. Cronin, you’re the only vampire to ever feed repeatedly from the same source for any length of time. And there’s never been a human key before, so it’s a whole new level of unchartered territory. We simply have nothing to gauge this by.”
“Maybe Alec’s doctor appointment will uncover something,” Jodis said.
Cronin nodded distractedly. “Yes. Speaking of which, Alec will be awake soon. I’d best start the coffee machine.”
* * * *
Cronin liked Alec’s father. Kole MacAidan was a good man, so like his son albeit some twenty-odd years older. For the first thirty minutes of their visit, Alec sat with Kole on the sofa, talking of what had happened since their last conversation just a few days ago.
Cronin, on the other hand, sat on the recliner with Sammy the cat, who was purring so loudly both Alec and Kole kept glancing over at them.
Alec told his dad how they’d leapt to England and Bolivia and how the newest development for the key may very well include Genghis Khan.
“Genghis Khan?” Kole repeated. “As in the Genghis Khan?”
Cronin chuckled. “That is exactly what Alec said.”
“We’re not a hundred percent sure yet, Dad,” Alec added. “But what Cronin said makes sense.”
“Jesus Christ,” Kole hissed.
Alec smirked at Cronin before saying, “Well, I’m pretty sure Jesus won’t be there, Dad.”
“Oh har har, Alec. That’s not funny.” Kole shook his head. “And anyway, what’s this doctor’s appointment for? You boys are being safe, right?”
Cronin almost swallowed his tongue, whereas Alec just laughed. “Dad, please. I need to have my blood analyzed. We think it might have something in it that can affect vampires. We’re not sure, but we just
Cronin sighed. “It was merely an errant thought.”
Jodis gave him a sad smile. “Please disregard it.” She looked at him for a long moment. “Cronin, we will find out what this all means. I promise.”
“Which part?” he asked with a sigh. “The part where I’ve suddenly acquired the ability to transfer talents from other vampires? Or the part where I believe Alec has to go into combat against the greatest, most horrific conqueror the world has ever seen?”
Jodis’ eyes softened. “My dearest friend, we will get through this. Though I will say, you are my immediate concern. Genghis Khan, if that is even who we are to face, can wait. This blue moon or the next, Cronin, it doesn’t matter. Your well-being is my priority.”
“And Alec’s purpose in all this mess is mine,” Cronin countered.
“Alec will have no purpose if you are compromised, Cronin,” Jodis said. “If this change in you is not reversible, if there is no improvement now that you’ve stopped drinking his blood, then I don’t know what that will mean. For either of you. Your fate is his as well. If you were to die, then he will follow….” Cronin growled softly and Jodis rephrased her point. “If you are compromised Cronin, then Alec won’t be fighting anyone. We need to get you well first.”
Cronin’s brow furrowed at the thought. He hated putting Alec in jeopardy. He hated the mystery of it all. There were far too many questions and not enough answers. He looked over to Eiji. “Have you found anything in the medical books?”
“For various ways different human blood may affect a vampire?” Eiji clarified. “There’s nothing which relates, in part, to you and Alec’s relationship, and even if there was anything remotely close, there would still be too many variables. Cronin, you’re the only vampire to ever feed repeatedly from the same source for any length of time. And there’s never been a human key before, so it’s a whole new level of unchartered territory. We simply have nothing to gauge this by.”
“Maybe Alec’s doctor appointment will uncover something,” Jodis said.
Cronin nodded distractedly. “Yes. Speaking of which, Alec will be awake soon. I’d best start the coffee machine.”
* * * *
Cronin liked Alec’s father. Kole MacAidan was a good man, so like his son albeit some twenty-odd years older. For the first thirty minutes of their visit, Alec sat with Kole on the sofa, talking of what had happened since their last conversation just a few days ago.
Cronin, on the other hand, sat on the recliner with Sammy the cat, who was purring so loudly both Alec and Kole kept glancing over at them.
Alec told his dad how they’d leapt to England and Bolivia and how the newest development for the key may very well include Genghis Khan.
“Genghis Khan?” Kole repeated. “As in the Genghis Khan?”
Cronin chuckled. “That is exactly what Alec said.”
“We’re not a hundred percent sure yet, Dad,” Alec added. “But what Cronin said makes sense.”
“Jesus Christ,” Kole hissed.
Alec smirked at Cronin before saying, “Well, I’m pretty sure Jesus won’t be there, Dad.”
“Oh har har, Alec. That’s not funny.” Kole shook his head. “And anyway, what’s this doctor’s appointment for? You boys are being safe, right?”
Cronin almost swallowed his tongue, whereas Alec just laughed. “Dad, please. I need to have my blood analyzed. We think it might have something in it that can affect vampires. We’re not sure, but we just
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