The rogue left briefly, in which I had time to explore the rest of the apartment. I wondered what it smelt like. What he smelt like.
I looked out the window and saw nothing but an empty street. The sun will come up soon. Jed's words came back to me just then. They were going to Alaska.
He came back just then, and I kicked myself mentally for feeling relieved. He walked cautiously to the end of the bed and sat. He looked at me for a moment and then patted the spot besides him.
I sat down.
"What's your name?" he asked softly, his voice was like a low rumble that chilled my spine.
"Rae" I answered without thinking. Maybe I shouldn't have given it to him so easily. What could he want with my name?
"Rae" he said it slowly, each letter rolling off his tongue in a way that made my name sound less human and more exotic "Like doe?"
I nodded
"For warmth and easy prey"
I frowned "It means grace and beauty"
His smiled sheepishly "Are you sure about that?"
How dare he. I tried not to insult him after he had just saved me for the second time, but he was making it hard.
After a pause "Aren't you going to ask me about my name"
I looked at him like he'd gone mad "Rogues don't get to keep their names"
He snorted "When you're a rogue the council's rules get shoved up-"
he stopped "I'm afraid I'm preaching to the wrong crowd"
"You've done something bad to earn that title" I said slowly "That's no joke. And I don't want to know what it is, but you don't deserve your name, rogue"
I said it softly so he wouldn't kick me out, I still had a lot of questions. He didn't answer me for a long time, and he seemed like he wanted to ask me something, but instead he said "And you don't believe people could change?"
I shrugged. Silence.
"How did you find me again?" I asked
He chose his words carefully "I don't want to freak you out but I think when you fed off me, we created a bond between us. I sort of....felt you. In need of help. Nearly starving to death made me feel like I was starving as well, no matter how much I drank. I eventually put two and two together"
"Bond?" I couldn't mask the horror in my voice "How long does that last?"
He didn't look like he was offended, but then again, reading that face was near to impossible "I don't know I'm not exactly a vampire blood donor"
"Thank you" I forced the words out "For saving me twice. And everything else"
He didn't respond, his gaze never wavering from my face. I, on the other hand, tried to look everywhere but at him.
"If it's not too much to ask" I spoke slowly, I realized I didn't have any pride left to hurt "I want you to point me in the direction of Alaska"
His head tilted slightly so that the light from the rising sun caught on his hair "Why Alaska?"
"I just need to get there"
"For your clan?" he rolled his eyes "I should've expected. Alaska is a long drive from here and your clan has had what? A week head start?"
"7 nights?" I whispered, mortified. They would've already reached Alaska in that time. Maybe they would leave in a few days if they didn't like the situation.
"I forgot you clan vampires don't travel by day" he muttered
"And you do?"
He stared at me "Of course"
I calculated the day and night hours it would probably take to catch up to them. If I did travel by day the chances of catching them before they moved again was huge.
Only one problem. I had never seen the world in daylight before. I wouldn't know where to go or how to be around humans. And asking the rogue to take me would be....stupid. He had no reason to.
"How do you do it?"
He stood and leaned over me. Him leaning towards me made me lean back until I was lying down completely on the bed. I held my breath and the idea that he was going to kiss me popped into my head and it made my heart beat harder.
He released the blanket from underneath the mattress and pulled it over me. I could see down his shirt from my angle, right at his hard well-toned muscles and it took a while for me to force myself to look away.
"Get some rest" he whispered near my ear "There'll be time for that when you wake. The sun's coming up"
I didn't want to sleep. I had so many questions to ask, but the soft bed was already lulling me into sleep. I hadn't slept on a bed in a long time and the comfort of it was incredible.
I stretched out on the bed, a sigh of relief escaping me without my condolence. I grabbed the pillow tighter to me, letting its softness rub against my cheek.
"This is heaven" I mumbled to the pillow
I could feel his smile as he watched me. And then I realized. This was his apartment. He hadn't only saved my life but he was giving me a place to sleep. And it was one heck of a bed.
"This is your bed" I turned around suddenly, sitting up to get a better look at him
The smile on his lips was soft, but I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. This was probably just as energy-draining for him as it was for me. And I had never thought about how much blood I had taken from him that day, and how long it will take to regain it. And I had probably drunk all his blood supply, and overtaken his bed.
And he didn't want anything in return.
"Yes" he answered
"I can't stay here" I sat up completely "It's not fair"
He didn't answer me for a while, instead he studied my face. When he walked to me, his gaze was intense, and his eyes were locked on mine and I couldn't look away.
"Stay" he said softly and his eyes flashed for a second "I want you to stay, okay?"
I felt a warmth spread in me as I nodded, unsure of why I was nodding.
"What about you?" I croaked out
"I have to get to work in a couple of hours" he said softly "I'll just doze off over there"
He nodded to an armchair I hadn't even noticed in the corner. I opened my mouth to protest again, but his eyes silenced me.
"Get some rest" he pushed me back gently, and this time, I didn't protest. I let myself close my eyes and after a few deep breaths, I drifted into sleep, unaware of how tired I actually was.
