~Chapter Nine~
~Zahavi~
When I woke up the next morning, my head was pounding, almost like I had a headache. It wasn't exactly common, but feasible, now that I had Ashley's blood in my system. My body was changing rapidly and without pause and I was starting to really feel it. Ashley was still asleep beside me, face covered by straight midnight hair. I didn't want to disturb him, so I quietly got out of bed, heading straight for the bathroom. I really needed a hot shower. My mind was racing and I needed to calm it.
Stripping down, I turned on the hot water and stepped into the shower. I let the water run over my head, soaking my hair. I washed my light locks, and then scrubbed my body clean. As I rinsed the shampoo out, I noticed the tail-end of my Bonding tattoo, curling around my neck. After that, I just leaned against the shower wall. I could clearly feel all the subtle and not-so-subtle changes my body and soul were going through. My body was stronger and faster, I knew that without having to test it. As for any added powers I might have, I would just have to wait and see. My senses were sharper, as well. Over all… I felt new and improved, really. Ashley was to thank for it all. I'd never be able to thank him properly. But maybe, I'd find a way.
Drying off and wrapping a towel around my waist, I headed back into my room. Ashley was awake now.
"'Morning", he said, yawning cutely.
"Good morning, Ash." That's when I noticed the Bonding tattoo. I didn't exactly bother to look at the rest of it in the bathroom, but now I knew exactly how it would look on my based on how it looked on Ashley. It started where I bit him. Bold red lines reached up to him hairline and curled around his neck in intricate twists and knots. The rest of the tattoo disappeared under his hair.
"Why are you staring?" My gaze flickered to his face, then back to the tattoo.
"Your Bonding tattoo has shown up. It's… beautiful." It really was. It fit him very well.
"Really? Why do I feel so under-informed?" He smiled and rolled his eyes.
"I forgot about it too, you know!"
"Where is it?"
"Your neck." Going to him, I lead him to the mirror hanging over my dresser. I couldn't help but run my fingers over it, not missing the way Ashley shivered at my touch. He gasped at the sight.
"Oh, wow, I can't even feel it!" He pulled up his hair so he could see the rest of it. He took a good look at mine. "Why is yours black?"
"It's because your blood is black. If you were a normal human, it would just be dark red, since my blood is lighter than human blood." He nodded. Before I could say anything else, his hand was pressed flat against the side of my neck, over the tattoo. His fingers traced the twists and curves.
"Well, it's official now, huh. I'm stuck here."
"You're not. You can go home any time you like now, but we can't go too long without seeing each other." I turned to my closet. "Are you going to watch me get dressed?" Ashley rolled his eyes.
"No. We can talk later." He slipped his boots back on and left. I sighed, slipping on a pair of boxers, dark jeans and a black v-neck. I didn't bother with shoes; I wasn't going anywhere.
Sitting in the chair in front of my fire place, I watched the fading embers glow. Through the Bond, I could feel Ashley's anger, sadness, and confusion. I tried to avoid reading his mind for fear of what I would hear. I was starting to regret biting him. None of this would have happened if I weren't so revenge-driven. But I had to get rid of Cian. He had to go. I wasn't about to let him live knowing he killed my father and little sister without any reason. I wasn't going to let him destroy my people any more than he already had. I knew I was probably doing this for all the wrong reasons, but I couldn't back out now. I was in far too deep for that.