Alternative Life Read online

  Of-ithe-ithree,-iRose-iwas-ithe-ioldest,-iand-ihad-iapparently-ibeen-itraining-iwith-ia-isword-ifrom-ia-ivery-iyoung-iage.-iHer-iuncle,-iSimon's-ibrother,-ihad-iapparently-ibeen-iquite-ithe-iswordsman-iin-ihis-iday,-iand-imade-ia-ipoint-iof-iteaching-iher-ieverything-ihe-iknew-iafter-ishe-ispent-iday-iafter-iday-ibegging-ihim.-iSimon,-ifor-ihis-ipoint,-ispent-ino-ismall-iamount-iof-itime-ibragging-ion-iher-iskills-ito-iJames-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-idinner,-ito-iwhich-ishe-iprotested-iheavily.

  "I've-iseen-i'er-isplit-ia-i'air-iin-itwo-iwith-itha'-iblade-io'-ihers.-iNever-iseen-inothin,-ilike-iit-ibefore-iin-ime-ilife!"-iHe-isaid,-ibeaming-iat-iRose,-iwho-igrimaced-iat-ithe-iattention.

  "Dad,-istop!-iYou're-iembarassing-ime!"-iShe-isaid,-iand-iJames-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-inotice-ithat-ishe-isomehow-imanaged-ito-iget-ieven-iredder-iat-ithe-iopen-ipraise.-i

  ###-iChapter-i14-i--iLearning-iAbout-ithe-iOthers-i(part-i2)

  Madeleine,-ito-iJames's-iimmense-ishock-iand-isurprise,-iwas-iactually-ithe-inext-ioldest-iof-ithe-ithree,-iand-iolder-ithan-iJames-iby-iseveral-iyears.-iBut-iwhen-iJames-iexpressed-ihis-ishock-iat-ithis,-iSimon-ijust-ishook-ihis-ihead-iand-iexplained.

  "It's-i'em-iEmber-iSprites.-i'Ey-idon't-iage-ith'same-iway-iwe-ido,-iwith-ius-igettin'-iall-ibigger-iand-iolder-ilookin'.-i'Ey-ijust-istay-ithe-isame-isize-iand-iappearance-ionce-i'em's-ifully-igrown-iaffer-ifive-ior-isix-iyears.-iBy-iEmber-iSprite-istannards,-ishe'd-iprolly-iolder-i'an-iI-iam!"-iSimon-isaid,-ilaughing.

  James-ilooked-iover-iat-iMadeleine,-iwho-iwas-istill-istaring-iat-ihim-iintently.

  "Does-ishe-inot-ilike-ito-italk?-iShe-ihasn't-isaid-ia-isingle-ithing-isince-iwe-imet."-iJames-isaid.

  "Maddy's-inot-imuch-iof-ia-italker,-iI'm-i'fraid.-iBarely-isays-imore-ithan-ian-i'ello-ior-i'ow-ido-iyou-ido-ito-ipeople-ishe-iknows.-iFor-ith'first-icoupla-iyears,-iI-ithought-ishe-iwas-ia-imute,-ithat-ione."-iSimon-isaid.

  "Don't-itake-iit-ipersonally.-iMaddy's-ithe-itype-iwho-idoesn't-ispeak-iunless-ishe-ithinks-isomething-ineeds-ito-ibe-isaid.-iIt's-ijust-ihow-ishe-iis."-iRose-ichimed-iin.

  "I'm-isure-ionce-ishe-igets-iused-ito-iyou,-ishe-iwon't-ibe-iso-ishy-iaround-iyou,-iright,-iMaddy?"-iEleanor-ijoined-iin,-iturning-ito-ithe-iEmber-iSprite-iand-ismiling.-iMadeleine's-ieyes-iflicked-iback-iand-iforth-ibetween-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem,-ias-iif-isizing-ithem-iup,-iand-ithen-islowly-inodded-iher-ihead.-iJames-ismiled-iat-iher,-ibut-ithe-igirl-ioffered-ino-iresponse,-iand-ionly-icontinued-ito-istare-iat-ihim-iwith-iher-isame-iblank-iexpression.

  Eleanor-iwas-ithe-iyoungest-iof-ithe-ithree,-iand-iapparently-ithe-iequivalent-iof-ia-ihuman-iteenager.-iShe-idid-ithe-imost-italking-iof-ieveryone-iat-ithe-itable,-iflitting-iexcitedly-ifrom-ione-itopic-ito-ithe-inext-iseemingly-iwithout-iany-isegue-ior-iprovocation.-iShe-iseemed-ito-itake-ian-iespecially-istrong-iinterest-iin-iJames,-iand-ion-imore-ithan-ione-ioccasion-ihe-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-iget-ithe-idistinct-iimpression-ishe-iwas-ieither-ichecking-ihim-iout-ior-isizing-ihim-iup-ifor-idinner.-iThe-ifact-ithat-iit-iwasn't-iclear-iwhich-isimultaneously-iturned-ihim-ion-iand-icreeped-ihim-iout.

  Eleanor-iwas,-ias-iSimon-iwas-iquick-ito-ikeep-idrawing-iattention-ito,-ithe-imost-ieducated-iout-iof-iall-iof-ithem,-ihaving-istudied-ifor-iseveral-iyears-iat-ithe-iColtriss-iMagic-iAcademy-ito-ibe-ia-iwizard.-iSimon-isaid-ithis-iwith-isuch-ipride-iand-irevererance-ithat-iJames-igot-ithe-isense-ithat-ithis-iwas-iprobably-isomething-ihe-ishould-ibe-iimpressed-iby,-idespite-ihaving-ino-icontext-ifor-iit.

  "She's-ith'most-icleverest-iof-ithe-ifour-iof-ius.-iGradua'ed-ithree-iyears-iearly,-i'at-ione.-iCouldn'-ibe-imore-iproud-io'-iher!"-iSimon-ibeamed.-i"'ey-isaid-ishe-iwas-ith'youngest-iwizard-iwhat-igradua'ed-iin-ia-igeneration!"

  "That's-iright!"-iEleanor-isaid,-ismiling-iso-ihard-iher-ieyes-iseemed-ito-idisappear-iin-iher-icheeks.

  "Wow."-iJames-isaid,-ihonestly-iimpressed.-i"Do-iyou-ithink-imaybe-iyou-icould-iteach-ime-ihow-ito-iuse-imy-imagic-ia-ilittle-ibetter?-iI-ihave-ino-iidea-iwhat-iI'm-idoing-iwith-iit."-i

  He-ipaused-ifor-ia-imoment,-iand-ithen-iadded,-i"and-iI'm-ihonestly-iafraid-iI'm-igoing-ito-iaccidentally-iblow-imyself-iup-iif-iI-ikeep-iat-iit-ilike-ithis."

  Eleanor's-ieyes-ilit-iup,-iand-ishe-iclapped-iher-ihands-iexcitedly.-i"Oh,-iI'd-ilove-ito!-iI-ihaven't-igotten-ito-iplay-iwith-ianyone-iwho's-iGifted-iin-iyears!"

  "Gifted?"-iJames-iasked.

  "She-imeans-isomeone-iwho-ihas-ithe-inatural-igift-iof-imagic.-iMost-ipeople-idon't-ihave-ithe-iGift,-iand-ias-ia-iresult-ican't-ilearn-ito-icast-iarcane-ispells."-iRose-isaid.

  "Ah,-ithat-imakes-isense.-iI-ihonestly-ifigured-iin-ia-iworld-iwhere-imagic-iexists,-ianyone-icould-ilearn-ihow-ito-iuse-iit."-iJames-isaid.

  Eleanor-ishook-iher-ihead.-i"Nope.-iIt's-ia-ispecial-ithing-ithat-ionly-iappears-iin-icertain-ipeople.-iIt's-imore-icommon-iin-icertain-iraces,-iand-iless-icommon-iin-iothers.-iElves-itend-ito-ihave-ia-ilot-iof-iGifted-ichildren,-iwhile-iDwarves-itend-ito-ihave-ifar-ifewer.-iHumans-iare-isomewhere-iin-ithe-imiddle."

  "And-iwhere-ido-iFire-iTieflings-ifall-ion-ithat-iscale?"-iJames-iasked.

  "Oh,-iall-iof-ius-iare-iborn-iGifted."-iEleanor-isaid,-iseemingly-isurprised-iby-ithe-iquestion.

  "Really?"-iJames-iasked.-i"Why?"

  "Tieflings-iall-ihave-iInfernal-iblood-ifrom-itheir-idemonic-iancestry.-iThat's-iwhat-imakes-ithem-iall-iGifted."-iA-ismall,-ichild-like-ivoice-isaid-ifrom-iacross-ithe-iroom.

  James-ispun-iaround-iand-ilooked-iat-iMadeleine,-istartled.-iThe-igirl's-iface-iwas-istill-imostly-iexpressionless,-ibut-ithe-ifaint-iedge-iof-ia-ismile-iat-ithe-icorner-iof-iher-imouth-igave-iaway-ithe-iindication-ithat-ishe-iwas-iamused-iby-ihis-ireaction.-i

  ###-iChapter-i15-i--iFirst-iNight's-iSleep

  As-ithe-ievening-idrew-ito-ia-iclose,-iSimon-idecided-ito-iturn-iin,-iand-iwalked-iover-ito-ithe-ifar-iend-iof-ithe-iroom,-iwhere-ia-ilarge-ibed-isat.-iWithin-iminutes,-ihe-iwas-isnoring-iso-iloud-ithat-iJames's-ieyes-istarted-ito-iwater.

  "Alright,-iso-iI-isuppose-iyou-iwill-ihave-ito-icome-isleep-iwith-ius-iin-ithe-ibarn-iloft."-iRose-isaid-imatter-iof-ifactly-ias-iher-iand-iEleanor-igot-iup-ifrom-itheir-ichairs.-iJames-inearly-ichoked-ito-ideath-ion-ithe-imouthful-iof-iwater-ihe-iwas-itrying-ito-iswallow-iwhen-ishe-isaid-ithis.-iAfter-ispending-ia-ifew-ilong-imoments-ihacking-iand-icoughing,-ihe-ispoke-iup.

  "Uhm,-iI'm-isorry,-iwhat?"-iHe-isaid.-iHe-icould-ifeel-ithe-iblood-irushing-ito-iseveral-iparts-iof-ihis-ibody,-iincluding-ihis-icheeks.

  "Well,-ido-iyou-iWANT-ito-isleep-iin-ithe-ihouse?-iYou-ilook-ilike-iyou're-imelting-iin-ihere,-iand-iit's-ia-ilot-icooler-iout-ithere.-iI-ifigured-iyou'd-iappreciate-ithe-itemperature-ichange."-iRose-isaid,-iseemingly-ioblivious-ito-ihow-iJames-iinterpreted-iher-ilast-istatement.-iEleanor,-ihowever,-igrinned-idevilishly,-iclearly-iin-ion-iJames's-ithough-iprocess.

  "Oh,-iuh,-iyeah,-ithat-isounds-igreat."-iHe-isaid.-i"Now,-iwhat-ido-iyou-imean-i'sleep-iwith-iyou'?"

  Rose-iseemed-ito-icatch-ihis-idrift,-iand-iimmediately-isignalled-iwith-iher-ibody-ilanguage-iand-ifacial-iexpression-ithat-ino,-ihe-imost-idefinitely-iwas-inot-iabout-ito-iget-iwhat-ihe-iwas-ihoping-ifor.-iEleanor-iflicked-iher-ieyebrows-iflirtatiously-iat-ihim,-iand-ilooked-iat-ihim-iwith-ia-iglance-ithat-imade-ihim-ifeel-ivery-imuch-ilike-ia-iside-iof-imeat.

  "The-ithree-iof-ius-igirls-ikeep-iour-ibeds-iup-iin-ithe-iloft.-iPartly-ibecause-iit's-icooler-iand-imore-icomfortable,-ibut-imostly-ibecause-iDad-isnores-ilike-ia-icongested-idragon.-iYou'd-ijust-itake-ione-iof-iour-ispare-ibedrolls."-iShe-isaid.

  "Oh,-iyeah,-ithat-imakes-isense."-iJames-isaid,-ifeeling-imore-ithan-ia-ilittle-ideflated.

  He-igot-iup-ifrom-ithe-itable-ias-iwell,-iand-ifollowed-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-ioutside.-iThe-inight-iwas-iclear-iand-ithe-imoon-ishone-ibrightly-iacross-ithe-iground.-iWhile-iJames-iknew-iit-iwas-iprobably-isummer-iwarm-ioutside,-icompared-ito-ithe-isweltering-iinterior-iof-ithe-ihouse,-ithe-ioutdoors-ifelt-idownright-ichilly-iby-icomparison,-iespecially-iwith-ihim-ibeing-isoaked-ithrough-iwith-isweat.-iStrangely,-ihe-ifelt-i"cold",-ibut-ihe-ididn't-ifeel-icold.-iHe-icould-itell-ithat-ihe-ishould-ibe-ishivering,-ibut-ihe-ifelt-istrangely-iperfectly-icomfortable-iwith-ithe-ichill,-ias-iif-iit-iwer
en't-iaffecting-ihim-iat-iall.-i

  Oh,-iright.-iHe-iwas-iimmune-ito-iCold.-iConvenient.

  The-itwo-igirls-iled-ihim-iinto-ithe-ibarn-iand-iup-iinto-ithe-iloft-ion-ithe-ifar-iend-ivia-ia-imetal-iladder.-iOnce-iup-itop,-iJames-isaw-ithree-ibedrolls-ilaid-iout-inext-ito-ieach-iother,-ione-iof-iwhich-iwas-ioccupied-iby-ithe-ismall-iform-iof-iMadeleine,-iwho-iseemed-ito-ibe-isleeping,-iher-ibreath-isoft-iand-irhythmic.

  "The-ispare-iroll's-iover-ithere-iin-ithe-icorner.-iThere-ishould-ibe-ia-icouple-ipillows-iwith-iit-ias-iwell."-iRose-isaid,-ipointing-ito-ithe-ifar-icorner.

  "Okay",-iJames-isaid.-iHe-igrabbed-ithe-ithings-ifrom-ithe-icorner,-iand-istarted-ito-iwalk-iback-ito-ithe-iother-iside-iwhen-iEleanor-isaid-i"Hey,-icome-isleep-inext-ito-ime!"-iand-ipatted-ithe-iloft-ifloor-inext-ito-iher-ibedroll.-iShe-ihad-ia-ivery-iintense,-ialmost-iwild-ilook-iin-iher-ieyes,-iand-ian-iimpish-ismile-ion-iher-iface.

  "Oh,-iuh,-iokay.-iSure."-iJames-isaid,-iquietly-igulping-ito-ihimself.-iWas-ishe-igoing-ito-itry-iand-isleep-iwith-ihim?-iShe-iwas-ipart-iof-ihis-iwish-iharem,-iafter-iall.-iHe'd-iseen-ienough-iharem-ianime-ito-iknow-iwhere-ithis-iwas-iprobably-igoing.

  He-ilaid-iout-ithe-ibedroll-inext-ito-ihers,-iand-itook-ioff-ihis-ishoes.-iHis-iclothes,-ihowever,-iwere-istill-ivery-idamp-iwith-isweat,-iand-ihe-ifelt-ia-idistinct-idesire-inot-ito-ilay-idown-iin-iwet-iclothes.-iHe-ithought-ifor-ia-isecond,-iand-iturned-ito-iEleanor.-i"Hey,-iEleanor?"

  He-ialmost-ichoked-iwhen-ihe-isaw-ithat-ishe-iwas-inow-iout-iof-iher-irobes,-iand-iwearing-ia-ithin-ienough-ito-isee-ithrough-iwhite-inight-idress-ithat-ivery-iclearly-ishowed-ihim-ishe-ihad-inothing-ion-iunderneath-iit.

  "Yes?",-iShe-iasked,-iturning-iher-iattention-itowards-ihim-ias-ishe-itied-iher-ihair-iback.

  "Uhm,-iuh,-ido-iyou-iknow-ithe-ispell-ito-idry-iout-isomething-iwet?"-iHe-iasked,-iusing-ievery-ibit-iof-ieffort-iin-ihis-ibody-inot-ito-ilet-ihis-ieyes-iwander-ilower-ithan-iher-iface.

  "Oh,-isure!"-iShe-isaid.-iShe-iwiggled-iher-ifingers,-iand-isaid-ia-isingle-isyllable-iin-iher-imagic-ilanguage,-iand-iinstantly-iJames-ifelt-ihis-iclothes-idry.-iNot-ionly-ithat,-ibut-ithey-inow-ilooked-iand-ifelt-ibrand-inew.

  "Wow.-iUh,-ithanks!"-iHe-isaid.

  "Don't-imention-iit!"-iShe-isaid,-iand-iwinked-iat-ihim.

  "You-iboth-iready-ifor-ime-ito-ikill-ithe-ilantern?"-iRose-iasked.

  "Yeah,-iI'm-igood."-iJames-isaid,-ilaying-idown-iinto-ithe-ibedroll.-i

  As-ithe-ilight-iwent-iout-iand-ihe-iwas-ileft-iin-ithe-idarkness,-ihe-ithought-ito-ihimself-i"Goodnight,-inew-iworld."

  ###-iChapter-i16-i--iEleanor's-iSurprise

  A-ifew-ihours-iafter-ilaying-idown,-iJames-iwas-iawoken-iby-ithe-idistinct-ifeeling-iof-isomething-iheavy-icrawling-ion-itop-iof-ihim.-iHis-ieyes-ishot-iopen-iin-ithe-idimly-imoonlit-iroom-ito-isee-ithe-ihorned-iblue-iface-iof-iEleanor-ismiling-iimpishly-idown-iat-ihim.-iShe-iheld-ia-ifinger-iplayfully-ito-iher-ilips,-isignaling-ifor-ihim-ito-ibe-iquiet,-iand-ithen-ileaned-idown-itowards-ihis-iface.

  James-iwinced-iand-iturned-iaway,-ibracing-ifor-ithe-isearing-ihot-iburn-iof-iher-iskin,-ibut-iinstead-ithe-igentle-ibrushing-iof-isoft,-icool-ilips-iagainst-ithe-iside-iof-ihis-ineck,-iand-ishivered-iwith-ipleasure-ias-ishe-imoaned-igently-iin-ihis-iear.

  "Don't-iworry"-ishe-iwhispered.-i"I-icast-ia-ispell-ion-iyou-ibefore-iyou-iwoke-iup.-iI-iwon't-iburn-iyou."

  James-iwent-ito-isay-isomething-iin-iresponse,-ibut-ibefore-ihe-icould-iget-ia-isound-iout-iof-ihis-imouth,-ishe-ilaid-iher-ihand-iover-ihis-imouth-iand-ihushed-ihim-ibefore-igently-inibbling-ion-ihis-iearlobe.-i

  She-ileaned-iback,-isitting-istraddled-iacross-ihim,-iand-iwith-ia-ishrug-iof-ieach-ishoulder-ithe-itop-ihalf-iof-iher-ipaper-ithin-inight-idress-ifell-ioff,-irevealing-ia-iset-iof-ilarge,-iperfectly-ishaped-ibreasts-ilike-itwo-imoonlit-iblue-igrapefruit.-iShe-igrinned-idevilishly-idown-iat-ihim-iwhen-ishe-isaw-ihis-ijaw-idrop-iopen,-iand-ias-iif-ito-iegg-ihim-ion-ifurther,-igently-ishook-iher-ishoulders-iso-ithey-iswayed-iback-iand-iforth-ihypnotically.-iSomething-itold-iJames-ihe-ishouldn't-ibe-istaring-iat-ithem-iwith-ihis-imouth-iopen-ilike-ia-ivirgin-imoron,-ibut-ithe-ipart-iof-ihis-ibrain-ithat-iseemed-ito-ibe-iin-icontrol-iof-ithose-isorts-iof-ithings-ihad-icompletely-ishorted-iout-iby-ithis-ipoint,-iapparently,-ibecause-ihe-icouldn't-iseem-ito-istop-ihimself-ifrom-idoing-iso.

  Eleanor-igrinned-ievilly,-iand-ileaned-idown-iagain,-ipressing-iher-ibody-iagainst-ihis,-iand-inuzzled-iher-iface-iinto-ithe-icrook-iof-ihis-ineck.-iHe-ifelt-ithe-iedge-iof-iher-itongue-itrace-iup-iand-idown-ithe-isoft-iof-ihis-ithroat,-iand-ihe-ishuddered.-iAs-ishe-idid-iso,-ihe-ifelt-ia-iwarm-iwave-iof-ipleasure-iwash-iover-ithe-iarea.-iMoments-ilater,-ihe-ifelt-ia-igentle-inip-iof-iher-iteeth-iagainst-ihis-ithroat,-iand-ifelt-ianother-iwave-iof-ipleasure-irush-ithrough-ihis-ibody.-iHe'd-inever-ibeen-iwith-ia-iwoman-iin-iany-iway-iwhatsoever,-ialthough-iif-ithis-iis-iwhat-ibeing-itouched-iin-ithis-iway-ialways-ifelt-ilike,-ihe'd-inever-iwant-ito-ido-ianything-ielse-iever-iagain.-iGod,-ihe-ithought,-iwishing-ifor-ia-iharem-iwas-ithe-ibest-idecision-ihe-ihad-iever-imade.

  Eleanor-imoaned-ias-ishe-icontinued-ito-ipay-iattention-ito-ihis-ineck,-ikissing-iand-igently-isucking-ion-ithe-iarea-ishe-ihad-inibbled.-iJames-ifelt-ihis-iblood-iroaring-iin-ihis-iears,-iand-iafter-ia-iminute-ior-iso-iof-iher-iteasing-ihim-iin-ithis-iway,-ihe-ibegan-ito-ifeel-icompletely-ilightheaded-iand-ialmost-idizzy-iwith-iecstasy.

  As-iif-ion-icue,-iEleanor-isat-iup,-iarching-iher-iback-iand-iwiping-iher-imouth-iwith-ia-isatisfied-ilook-ion-iher-iface.-iIt-imight-ihave-ijust-ibeen-ia-itrick-iof-ithe-ilight,-ibut-iher-ilips-iand-ithe-icorners-iof-iher-imouth-iappeared-idarker-ithan-inormal.-iAnd-ireddish.

  And-ithere-iwas-isomething-idarkish-iand-ireddish-ismeared-iacross-ithe-iback-iof-iher-ihand-iwhere-ishe-iwiped-iher-imouth.

  James-ihad-ia-icreeping-isense-iof-idread-icrawl-ithrough-ihis-ibrain,-iand-ihe-islowly-ireached-ia-ihand-iup-ito-iwhere-ishe-ihad-ibeen-inuzzled-iinto-ihis-ineck.-iHe-ifelt-isomething-ia-ismall-ispot-iof-isomething-iwet,-iand-iwhen-ihe-ipulled-ihis-ifingers-iback,-ithey-iwere-icovered-iin-isomething-idark-iand-ired-iand-isticky.

  He-ipanicked,-iand-itried-ito-ijerk-iupright,-ibut-iEleanor's-ihand-ipushed-ifirmly-iagainst-ihis-ichest-iand-ipressed-ihim-iback-idown-ito-ithe-iground,-iher-imouth-itwisting-iinto-ia-ismirk-ias-ishe-islowly-iand-iseductively-ishook-iher-ihead-ino.-i

  ###-iChapter-i17-i--iEleanor's-iSurprise-i(part-i2)

  James-ilooked-iup-iat-iEleanor-iwith-ia-ilook-iof-ifear-iand-iconfusion,-iand-isome-ipart-iof-ihim-iwanted-ito-iscream-ifor-ihelp-iand-ifight-iher-ioff,-ibut-ihe,-ifor-iwhatever-ireason,-ifound-ihimself-iutterly-ienthralled-iby-iher.-iHe-icouldn't-iseem-ito-ifind-ia-imeans-ito-ispeak,-ibut-ihis-ieyes-iapparently-isaid-ienough,-ibecause-ishe-ileaned-iher-imouth-idown-ito-iher-iear-iand-iwhispered-i"Don't-iworry,-iI'm-inot-igoing-ito-ihurt-iyou.-iI-ijust-iwanted-ia-itaste."

  She-isighed-icontentedly-iin-ihis-iear-iand-iadded-i"Your-iblood-iis-idelicious.-iHeros-iare-ieven-iyummier-ithan-iI-ithought."

  Finding-ihis-iwords-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-iwhispered-iback-i"are-iyou-ia-ivampire?"

  Eleanor-isat-iup-iwith-ia-ijolt,-iand-igave-ihim-ia-ilook-ithat-iimplied-ihe'd-isaid-isomething-isomehow-ioffensive.

  "No!-iI'm-ia-iTiefling!-iBlood-iis-iour-ipreferred-ifood,-isilly!"-iShe-iscoffed-iquietly.

  "Oh,-iwell,-isorry.-iI-idon't-ireally-iknow-ianything-iabout-iTieflings.-iSorry-iif-iI-ioffended-iyou."-iHe-isaid.

  Eleanor-ismiled-iher-iwicked-ismile-iagain.-i"It's-iokay.-iYou-ican-imake-iit-iup-ito-ime-iby-iletting-ime-ihave-isome-imore!"

  "No-iway!-iWhat-iif-iyou-itake-itoo-imuch-iand-ikill-ime?"-iJames-iwhispered-iback,-iapparently-iloud-ienough-ithat-iEleanor-ihad-ito-iclap-iher-ihand-iover-ihis-imouth-iagain.

  "I-iwon't-iever-isurprise-iyou-iwith-iit-iagain.-iI-ipromise-ito-iask-ifirst-inext-itime,-iand-iif-iyou-ifeel-ianything-ibad,-iI-iwill-istop."-iEleanor-ireplied-iquietly,-iand-ithen-iadded-iwith-ia-iwink-i"I-iwill-imake-iit-iup-ito-iyou-iin-iother-iways-itoo,-iif-iyou-iwant-ime-ito."

  James-ifelt-ihimself-iget-iflush-iin-ithe-iface-iagain.-iHe-ireally-ihoped-iEleanor-iwasnt-ifeeling-ihow-iaroused-ihe-iwas-ibetween-iher
-ilegs-ias-ishe-istraddled-ihim.-iHe-ifound-ihis-ieyes-icontinually-idrawn-iback-ito-iher-ibare-ibreasts,-iwhich-ishe-imade-ia-ipoint-iof-ipointing-iout.

  "You-ican-ilook-iat-ithem-iand-itouch-ithem-ias-imuch-ias-iyou-iwant-ibefore-iand-iduring-ime-ieating.-iAnd-iI-ipromise-ito-imake-ievery-isecond-ifeel-iamazing.-iMy-imom-iwas-ia-iSuccubus,-iso-iI'm-ireally-igood-iat-ithat-isort-iof-ithing"-iShe-isaid.-i"And-ibesides,-iblood-itastes-ia-iwhole-ilot-ibetter-iwhen-ithe-iperson-iis-iexcited,-iso-iit's-ia-iwin-ifor-ime-itoo-iif-iI-iget-iyou-isuper-iworked-iup.-iSo,-iwhat-ido-iyou-isay?"

  Eleanor-ilooked-idown-iat-ihim-iwith-ia-ilook-ithat-iurged-ihim-ito-isay-iyes,-iand-ias-iif-ito-imake-ithings-ieven-iharder-ito-irefuse,-ishe-iwas-islowly-iand-ideliberately-iundulating-iher-ihips-ito-igrind-iagainst-ihim.

  "Okay.-iFine."-iJames-isaid-iwith-ia-isigh.-i"But-ionly-iwhen-ino-ione-ielse-iis-iaround,-ionly-iwhen-iI-isay-iso,-iand-iyou-ido-ianything-iI-iwant-ibefore,-iduring,-iand-iafter-iyou-ifeed.-iOh,-iand-iyou-ihave-ito-iteach-ime-imore-imagic-istuff."

  "Deal!"-iEleanor-isaid,-ibeaming.-i"So,-ican-iI-ihave-imore?"

  "What,-iyou-imean-inow?"-iJames-isaid.

  "Yes-inow,-isilly.-iI'm-istill-ihungry!"-iShe-isaid,-igiving-ithe-isame-ihalf-iarousing-ihalf-ifrightening-ilook-ias-ibefore.

  Before-iJames-icould-ireply,-ihowever,-iRose's-ibreath-icaught,-iand-ishe-icoughed-iand-imoaned-ias-ishe-iwoke-iup.-iEleanor-iquickly-iand-iquietly-iclambered-ioff-iof-ihim,-ipulled-iher-idress-iback-ion-iand-islid-ionto-iher-ibed-iroll-iwithout-ia-isound-ia-ifew-iseconds-ibefore-iJames-isaw-iRose-isit-iup,-ibleary-ieyed,-iand-ilook-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment-ibefore-ishe-ilaid-iback-idown.-iWithin-ia-iminute-ishe-iwas-isnoring-iagain,-iand-iEleanor-irolled-ion-iher-iside-iand-imet-ihis-igaze,-iwhich-iwas-ia-imixture-iof-idisappointment-iand-idesire.