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been concerned if I didn t get to see you with my own eyes. Tian, go
and bring the healer. He s in the green room.
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Why do you have a healer if vampires never get sick?
Sasha shrugged. We can be poisoned and there are many who
have human feeders that occasionally need help. Our healer was a
doctor when he was human.
Tian left the room only to reappear a few minutes later with a
friendly looking brown-haired man with caramel eyes.
Got a little cold, do you? The friendly man asked, I m Dr.
Samuel Chance. The doctor turned to Sasha with a frown. Why is he
still getting sick if you re bonded?
Randall has only been my boy for a few days. He s also diabetic.
Ah, the doctor said. He set a black bag on the floor next to the
couch.
I have the flu, Randall said, looking at the bag with interest.
There s not much you can do about that.
I ll be the doctor here, Dr. Chance said.
Randall is training to be a doctor, Sasha said with pride.
Hmm. What kind of doctor?
Emergency Medicine. At my school they have a really cool
clinical rotation. Next month I get to ride in an ambulance and take a
helicopter ride for a shift.
Sasha paled. Those helicopters aren t safe. I forbid it.
Since Randy had planned for years to go on that helicopter ride, he
wasn t going to get into an argument about it. He was going on the ride,
anyway.
The doctor rushed to intercede. Take these pills with a glass of
water and two drops of Sasha s blood. They are my own concoction
and will speed up your healing.
Ew.
You ll find most things will heal better with a little of your
lover s blood.
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Sounds unsanitary.
The doctor smiled. Welcome to the world of the vampires. He
left the room before Randall could comment.
Randall was surprised when Sasha took his hands and squeezed
them sympathetically, though it wasn t as surprising as the fact that the
vampire had held him for the past fifteen minutes only to calm him
down.
Of course it could be he just wanted Randy calm before biting on
his jugular, but he wanted to give Sasha the benefit of the doubt.
I m sorry I m not very good company tonight.
That s all right. Sasha snuggled Randall back against his chest,
crooning nonsense words. It took Randall a moment to realize Sasha
was singing to him in Russian.
What s that song? Randy asked. Sasha had a beautiful baritone.
It s a lullaby my mother used to sing to me. Sasha said, stroking
his head.
It s beautiful.
Sasha pricked his finger and dripped some blood into the glass of
water Tian provided. Drink this and take your pills.
Randall complied, trying not to think about the blood mixed in the
water. Luckily, with the dilution of the water, he didn t really taste it.
Good. Now relax, my sweet. Let me finish my song.
Snuggling up to his vampire, Randall fell asleep.
When Randy awoke he was lying in a dark room, in an unfamiliar
bed with Sasha beside him. Despite rumors, his vampire lover didn t
feel dead. Sasha was warm and breathing, if not still, beside him.
Glancing at his watch, Randy saw it was seven-thirty in the morning.
Shit, he was going to be late for class.
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Blood Signs Amber Kell
Carefully extricating himself from his vampire lover, Randy slid
off of the bed.
Where do you think you re going? Sasha s deep voice purred in
the darkness.
I ve gotta get to class.
Have the limo take you, Sasha said before turning over and lying
in the space Randall just vacated. You re always so warm.
Randy laughed as he put on his socks and shoes. He didn t talk
because he didn t want to wake Sasha if he had fallen back to sleep. He
felt surprisingly good; the aches and pains from before had vanished
and he wasn t the least bit congested.
Amazing.
He found his wallet, keys and phone sitting on the table beside the
bed. With all his things in hand, Randall walked out of the room, right
into Liam.
The vampire gave him a smirk. Going somewhere?
I m running late for class. Professor Ardman is going to nail my
ass to the wall. He hates it when student are tardy, and he makes a point
of telling you in front of everyone else.
Liam wrapped a friendly arm around Randy s shoulders. Come
on, kid. I ll get you to class.
Randall didn t bother arguing. It never did any good around
vampires. They just did what they wanted, anyway. Besides, he was
pretty certain Liam was under orders to take him to school and he
didn t want to get the friendly vamp into trouble.
Moments later, they were back in a limo that was beginning to feel
like a second home, except this time Liam was in the back with Randall
and someone else was driving.
If you lived with Sasha you could be taken to school by limo
every day, Liam said.
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Blood Signs Amber Kell
You make it sound like a selling point, Randall said with a smile.
I prefer to just roll out of bed and head to my class still half asleep. It
works for me.
Hmmm. Liam s eyes lit with laughter. I can see the appeal,
myself, but Sasha is going to get impatient eventually and want you
where he can watch over you all the time.
Randy tilted his head as he looked at Liam. Do all vampires get
possessive over their food?
You aren t just food, Randall, Liam said. For once all
amusement was gone from his face. You are Sasha s moyo solnyshko.
To be a vampire s sun is to be his everything. You feed his soul as well
as his body. It also gives you the power to destroy him. It is a great
responsibility, my friend; don t ruin it because you don t understand.
Eventually, others will start to hunt you because they will know, to
capture you, is to control Sasha.
Keep an eye out for other vampires. Don t go anywhere with a
vampire you don t know. Only trust me, Tian and Sasha. It is like when
you were a child. Don t get into a car with any strangers even if they
say that Sasha has sent them to retrieve you. Sasha will only send me,
or Tian. Anyone else could be there to take you. We have a saying in
the vampire culture. To take the sun is to take the life. If anyone gets
their hands on you, they will have Sasha s life.
I ll be careful, Liam, Randall said, patting the vampire on the
knee. I ll even look both ways before I cross the street.
Liam laughed. You do that.
As they pulled up in front of the building his class was in, Randall
hopped out and was surprised when Liam followed.
I can take it from here, Randall said with amusement. I ve been
walking myself to class all semester.
Liam shrugged. I am just curious.
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Blood Signs Amber Kell
Doesn t the sunlight bother you?
Liam shrugged. I m old enough that I can stand it pretty much
before noon. After that, I get a little smoky.
Shaking his head, Randy entered the building and headed to his
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