Beloved Forever by Kit Tunstall Page B

right body parts or caused us to bleed out. A guaranteed way is severing the spinal column. Remove or destroy the heart. I mean, really destroy it. Remove a stake, and the heart can regenerate. Cut it out or blow up the organ, and there’s nothing our bodies can do in time to save ourselves.”
    She lifted a brow. “It sounds fabulous,” she said mockingly. “What’s the catch?”
    “We require blood to live. It’s as simple as that. We have to consume several liters every couple of nights. There must always be at least four liters in an adult vampire at all times. Fresh is best, but preserved blood will sustain us, leaving us free to only hunt once or twice a week.”
    She lifted a brow. “That doesn’t make sense. I remember learning in biology that blood cells can live for weeks or even years, depending on which type they are. You should only have to eat once every few months.”
    Nicholas shrugged. “What I’ve learned has been gleaned from a small group of researchers with a stake in learning the origins of vampirism.” He winked. “Forgive the pun. I’m an investor, not a researcher. I don’t have all the answers, but I do know the blood we consume lives only forty-eight hours or so in our bloodstream before its absorbed. The physical changes to our cells that gives us increased strength, faster regeneration, and mental powers speeds up our metabolism and causes our bodies to process the blood at a rapid rate. Apparently, borrowed blood isn’t as durable either. It doesn’t have the same characteristics as the blood your body used to produce.”
    She struggled to understand his words, wishing she had opted for advanced biology courses to fill her core science requirements at Huxley J.C. “What about blood types? I’m O-positive, so can I only consume O-positive?”
    Nicholas shook his head. “No. It doesn’t matter what type you ingest. It has something to do with cellular mutation during the change. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask one of the researchers. Personally, I don’t care to know every facet of how the process works. I’m satisfied with knowing I must feed.”
    Her brow furrowed. “How can you do it? Doesn’t it bother you to kill people to stay alive?”
    Nicholas met her eyes. “Feeding is a fact of life for me, beloved. You’ll adjust in time.”
    She shook her head. “I won’t do it. It’s murder.”
    “Survival isn’t murder. We’re hunters, and we need them to live.” He shrugged. “We happen to have the advantage when it comes to pursuing humans. After your first few feedings, you’ll cease to worry about such things. It’ll become second nature. “
    Emily shuddered. “I’d rather die.”
    “That isn’t an option.” Nicholas slammed his hand against the table, causing the glasses and decanter to rattle. “I won’t lose you again.”
    She bowed her head to hide the tears threatening to stream down her face. “Why are you doing this to me? Why couldn’t you just let me go?”
    He sighed, and his anger seemed to fade. “I tried, though I doubt you believe that. I wanted to be free of this obsessive love I have for you.” His mouth twisted, and his brow furrowed. “It must be a trait common to vampires. We can’t seem to let go of the past.”
    He lowered his glass to the table and stared at his plate, where his food remained untouched. “You own my soul, but I thought I could go on without you. If not for the gypsy woman who tried bargaining for her life with information about you, I probably never would have seen you again. That may have been for the best, but I can’t alter my decision now.”
    She swallowed heavily. “You killed the woman who led you to Erukán?”
    Nicholas nodded. “She was convenient, and I needed blood. When she told me of you, I had to find out if it was true.” His face twisted with pain. “When I found you, only to have you stolen from me once more, I knew I had to find you again. I owed it to you for not