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Rand didn't ansords or thoughts Just feeling He shared relief that they'd survived the night from her emotional scars, the way she would the physical It didn'tor how the rest of hiive Cai blood, wanted to nourish hith Body, ue, but he supposed that was part of the whole package

Cai gave a half laugh, but it had a note of despair to it Randthe pulse "You were still, by the water," hethat ith me"

No acid sarcasm, no attempt to push him or anyone else aith his inappropriate huue of jokes and one-liners Rand wanted him to lay down those weapons, lay down all weapons, and simplybe still With him "You can do that"

Cai's gaze had shuttered, but he hadn't looked away Ain his jaw and his body wastense, but not stone-wall tense More like electric-wire tense, ready to conduct electricity with the right contact

Taking it as the invitation it was, Rand did as he wished He dropped his touch to Cai's side, caressing the hard curve of biceps, the shallow valley between every rib He wasn't emaciated, but there wasn't a spare ounce of soft flesh on hi the bone structure reminded Rand that they were all breakable Maybe the boon ofbroken a certain number of times before the body and soul called it quits Cai didn't have that luxury

"Sit down before you fall down," Cai said gruffly, easing the the tree as their backrest "You're having ument Shut up and drink it"

He'd lifted his wrist, but Rand clasped it, holding it between theaze shifted upward "Someone told me it's better from the throat"

"Did they? Sounds like a way to try and take advantage of you"

"It worked Have you ever watched the olves approach the alpha in a pack, vampire?"

"No They're a jumpy bunch They tend to scatter when they sense me"

"Hh, direct gaze, ears up They just project it"

"Because it's hard tothey're not?" Cai supplied, recalling their earlier conversations Rand tightened his grip on his wrist

"Yeah But if he doesn't want to fight, an alpha approaching another alpha goes through some of the same rituals as the non-alphas in the pack I'll show you sometime When we're both a little less beat all to hell"

"Okay"

Rand smiled a little at the simple response When he brushed his thu score the knuckle "Letwith my head"

"You shouldn't let it Your blood will help I know it" Rand shrugged "And if it doesn't heal all the way, it's a s Dovia back"

"Not a sain, like you did the night you chased that deer"

Rand pressed his lips together, and Cai's hand slid to his nape, drawing him forward "Take it from wherever you want it," the vampire said

He wanted the throat, but thinking it over, Rand settled for the wrist He couldn't say exactly why, except when he bowed his head over the offering and felt Cai stroking his hair, saw his eyes closing in an expression of relief, Rand knew it had been the right choice Their souls were out and exposed, too raw Keeping it quiet, gentle, that as needed

He had to bite with huh skin olf fangs made it quick Cai didn't seem bothered by any pain from it

The blood was nourishing, as potent as ever And a surprising comfort food Lord Brian probably had an explanation for that, related to the bond between vampire and fully marked servant But Rand didn't need to understand the whys right now

He didn't take as h that, when he eased back, Rand felt steadier, the pain of the leg less bothersoood day's sleep would help their respective wounds heal, so he squeezed Cai's arm, a silent reassurance when the vampire watched Rand adjust to sit hip to hip with hi