Blood Trial Supernatural Battle (Vampire Towers #1) - Kelly St. Clare Page 0,97
up my Miang Kham, sprinkling diced shallots, slivers of coconut, kaffir lime, and two strips of chili into a lettuce leaf. I drizzled on the palm sugar and sour tamarind dressing. Wrapping the package up, I wasted no time shoving the whole thing into my mouth. It was called one bite for a reason—even if the person who named it had a bigger than average mouth.
I set myself to the task of chewing. My lips didn’t quite close around the food.
Kyros hadn’t moved to touch his bao sliders—if he didn’t eat them, I would. Food jealousy was a bitch.
“I wondered if you’d fight me about eating too,” he admitted. He rested an elbow on the armrest, jaw propped on his hand.
I continued chewing, cramming the bits that fell out back between my lips. Amazing food was the part of my old life I missed the most—aside from Grandmother.
I swallowed and made up the second lettuce parcel. “I like food. Good food, good health. I don’t like that the current system keeps people without much money poor from health issues due to bad nutrition.”
He dipped his head. “The world has become a business. Those who rule it see poor health as another opportunity for revenue.”
Wrapping my second parcel, I remained mute. Only because I agreed and didn’t wish to.
“I’m surprised to hear you enjoy food,” he said before things became awkward again. “You don’t eat enough.”
“Recent events robbed me of my appetite.”
He picked up a slider. “I see.”
I watched the vampire chew on the human food, unsure what I’d expected.
“How can Vissimo be killed?” I enquired.
Kyros choked, and I smirked.
Win.
He glared when he saw the curve of my lips.
“That is where humans are remarkably accurate,” he replied after sipping at his beer. “Beheading. And any injury to the heart that our healing ability cannot cope with. If we are restrained, fire can kill us over the course of several hours—depending on the power of the burning Vissimo.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant.”
He selected another bao slider after careful study. “It isn’t. So if you decide to kill me, I’d prefer a stake to the heart.”
“I’m not going to kill you,” I answered. “Not that I could. But I don’t want to kill anyone.”
“That’s surprising.” Kyros rested back, putting down the second slider. “You hate me.”
I rested my lettuce parcel on the plate. Did I hate Kyros? If I’d left the tower directly after the thrall, I might still hate him. Since then, we’d interacted too much. I’d seen facets to him that a heartless monster wouldn’t possess. If anything, the fury I had left was because he’d stolen away my loathing before I was ready to give it up.
“I hate that you haven’t once apologised to me for what you did that night. And during the thrall. Amongst other things.”
“Amongst other things?”
“Take it or leave it.” I shoved the second lettuce parcel in my mouth.
“I’m to gather that an apology, now you’ve informed me of the reason for your hate, wouldn’t be accepted?” His green eyes burned.
What was he annoyed about?
“Correct. I have no idea why you would want to.”
Suddenly, the craziness of this whole interaction hit me. “Christ, Kyros. What are we doing here? Why are we having dinner—that isn’t takeout, by the way. And why did you pick me up from the theme park? On that note, why is your brother trying to get to you through me? You’re a fucking vampire trying to take over Bluff City. What the fuck do you want with me?”
Lucky the place was empty; I’d gone from a whisper to a shout.
Groaning, I dropped my head in my hands. “This sucks.” I hiccupped on my snicker. Sucks.
“Has it occurred to you to give in to your attraction for me?” Kyros asked, tapping a finger on the table.
I was startled into a laugh.
“What’s funny?”
That was just such an I’m older than a century thing to say.
I met his meadow-green gaze. “You just want to give in?”
I’d be lying if I pretended my body wasn’t way overdue for some sweaty, intense nooky.
“If it was up to me, you would have been in my bed for the entire thrall.”
I snorted. “Seventy-two hours, huh? What about your game? You just admitted you don’t have much free time.”
Kyros didn’t shift his attention from me. “In our culture, certain occasions warrant time off. Hold your next question, the waitresses are coming back.”