Abbot nodded and said , "Perago", and the circle faded away.
Kendra stepped out of the mess that had been Leon and said, "I'm going to take a shower. Is there someone here who can arrange to bury the pieces of Leon so he has a chance to reconstruct himself?" She was almost positive that she’d just killed him, she didn’t think he was strong enough to reconstruct after what she’d done, but she needed to make sure the rules were followed.
Abbot spoke, "I will see to it that someone does so. Go shower and feed. I've already instructed Fawne to bring Eric back to you."
"Thank you."
Chapter Seventeen
When Abbot let Eric into Kendra's room, she was stretched out on her bed, freshly showered but still naked, with her eyes closed. Eric could see the pain on her face, and he was horrified at what had been done to her breast, though Kendra tried to make light of it. "You should see the other guy."
Eric ignored her. "Abbot said that my blood, my life force, would help you heal faster than anything else."
She spoke without opening her eyes. "Yes, he's right. If it weren't a challenge then Abbot could help heal me, but the rules forbid it. So, the attachment I have to you, that we have to each other – that will help. Except I've already fed from you today, so I can't get all that I need from you, it will weaken you too much."
"Then take what you can from me and get the rest from a bag. I can't stand to see you like this. I can see the pain on your face, tell me what to do to help make it go away."
Kendra finally opened her eyes to look at him, and gave him a weak smile. "I should have taught you how to offer yourself to me, but I haven't. I'm sorry, I never wanted it to have to be this way. It’s going to hurt, Eric. My body won’t put out much pain killer for you right now. If you still want to do this then stand beside the bed, lean down, and put your forearm in front of my lips. Yes, so your heart is higher than your arm. Perfect. Eric, this is about you offering and me taking. The numbing agent will be there in small quantities, but not as much as I can usually provide. It’s going to hurt, and there won't be bliss or anything good about it. I need for you to just open yourself up and be my nourishment, love me enough to nourish me through the pain and discomfort of it. Can you do that?"
"Kendra, I love you. If it will make you stop hurting I’ll gladly do it."
Kendra bit into is arm and let the blood fall into her mouth, swallowing it as it came. She could smell Eric's pain, but she could feel him open and giving as well. She used her metaphysical self to breathe in his life force and she felt their auras mix and almost join as one. And she drank. In the end she probably took about fourteen ounces, that combined with what she'd taken from him earlier was the outer limits of what she would want to take from him. She used her tongue to make sure the bite would heal and then closed her eyes and spoke. "Eric, I love you, too. Please drink lots of fluids, that sports drink you like, there is some in my mini fridge. I need you to promise me you'll stay with either me or Abbot during the night hours for the next couple of nights. If you want to stay in here with me you can use my laptop if you need, or you can get Abbot to take you home so you can get yours and bring it back. You'll be safe in a few days, but I don't think you are yet. Abbot will bring you food, too, if you need it. Or he'll get someone else to. I need to sleep, now."
"I can use your laptop, I won't leave you. Just sleep, Kendra. I'm here if you need me."
Epilogue
Six months later no one else had challenged Kendra or in any way expressed the slightest problem with her relationship with Eric. All it had taken was a reminder of how brutal she could be, and no one else felt the need to question her decision.
Norris wrote her a letter in care of Abbot, following protocol even more than was required. He told her he understood the timing was not right for them to work towards a relationship at this time, but that he hoped she might consider it in a few centuries. That freed her up to check out his theater work, and then call him to tell him how happy she was for him. They left things on good terms with each other, and with Norris happy for her that she’d found someone she cared about, though sad for himself that he’d finally found her and the timing wasn’t right for them to make a go of it just yet.
Kendra and Eric had figured out how to make a switch relationship work, which largely involved just not analyzing it too much. Sometimes Kendra took charge and Eric submitted, sometimes Eric took charge and Kendra submitted. Most of the time they were just two people who loved each other very much. It worked for them.