The Accidental Vampire(44)

morning, but had eased the moment she'd consumed the bag of blood. Another bag or

two and they'd probably disappear altogether.

"I—" Elvi paused as Victor suddenly stood and moved out of the room. She stared after

him with surprise, then swung her feet to the floor and cautiously stood up, waving off

the other three men when they reached out to steady her. She was still a bit wobbly,

but suspected it had as much to do with what she'd learned earlier about these men as

any lack of blood.

Elvi and Mabel had discussed her new, extended life, pondering that she might

continue to exist another hundred years or so, but neither of them had considered as

much as seven hundred, one thousand, or even two thousand years. This had been

shattering news. And she wasn't at all sure she'd classify it as good. The idea of living

another hundred years was rather distressing, let alone a thousand or more. Dear God.

Everyone she knew, plus their children, their children's children, and so on, would die

before her and she'd have to witness it, grieving over each new loss, mourning yet

another passing while she stayed there, living in Port Henry, as unchanging as a statue.

Hell, her home and even Port Henry might very well crumble around her and return to

dust before she died. What sort of future was that?

"Here."

The men shifted to make a path for Victor as he returned, carrying a bag of blood.

"Thank you." She accepted the offering.

The moment the cold bag rested in her palm, Elvi felt her teeth shift, allowing her

fangs to slide out.

When she peered at the bag uncertainly, Victor seemed to understand what was

making her hesitate and instructed, "Just pop it firmly to your teeth."

Nodding, Elvi opened her mouth, took a breath, and then popped the bag upward as

Edward had done for her earlier. There was a moment's resistance when the bag met

her teeth, then a popping sound and it continued upward, until it was fully impaled on

her fangs.

"Perfect," Victor praised.

" Si, is very good," Alessandro agreed.

Harper nodded. "A natural."

Edward merely grunted.

An amused snort came out muffled around the bag as Elvi stared at them, unable to

speak. They were acting like she'd just taken her first ride on a two‐wheel bike. All

she'd done is stuck a bag on her teeth. Judging by the concern still visible in their faces,

she supposed they were worried she'd faint on them again. Men tended to hate things

like that. Fainting, crying, and so on seemed to leave them at a loss.

With the four men staring at her as if she might topple over at any moment, the few

minutes it took for the bag to empty seemed unbearably long to her. It was with relief

she removed the bag when it was empty and moved through them, determined to

dispose of it herself and prove she was just fine.

"I brought you two bags," Victor said, following her out of the room and across the

foyer to the dining room.

"Oh, thanks." Elvi reached back for the full bag and popped it to her teeth, then

continued on to the garbage can in the corner of the kitchen to toss the other. The

second was almost empty by then, so she waited there until it too was done and

tossed it as well.

When she turned back to the room, the men were all there, crowded around the stove

and taking the plates and bowls Victor was retrieving from the oven.

"We put the food in to stay warm when you fainted," Victor explained as he took out

the last item.

"Oh." Elvi followed him to the table, and then asked curiously, "Where is DJ?"

"He's at the restaurant with Mabel," Harper said, holding out her chair.

Elvi sat, her eyebrows rising at this news. She was pretty sure Mabel wouldn't have

been happy to have the man with her and couldn't imagine why he was. "Why is he at

the restaurant?"

When Victor hesitated, Edward announced, "As she was leaving, Mabel said she was

going to let you sleep in, but that when you did wake up, we were to tell you not to go

to the restaurant tonight, but to pick one of us to spend the evening getting to know."

" Si." Alessandro nodded. "And then DJ said as he wasn't on the list of suitors, he would

go to the restaurant in your place and help out."

Elvi blushed at the reminder that these men were in search of a mate… and she was

the only single female vamp in town. Clearing her throat, she merely commented, "I

don't imagine Mabel was pleased with DJ's volunteering to take my place."

"Not at all," Victor agreed with amusement, and then gestured to her plate. "Eat."

Nodding, she turned her attention to the food. The toast had grown soggy, but

otherwise it was all very good. They fell into a natural silence as they concentrated on