Blood Talisman Read Free Page A

peculiar.”
    They laughed together then fell into a contented silence, Tommy’s head resting on
    Andrew’s chest.
     
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    BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 13

Chapter Two
    Later, Tommy made himself a quick snack, then returned to the bedroom, with a glass
    of wine for Andrew and a beer for himself. Andrew took the glass with a murmur of thanks, but it was obvious to Tommy his vampire lover was mulling something over. Something he had not yet mentioned.
    “So, what’s on your mind?” Tommy put his beer aside and rested on one elbow. He
    stroked Andrew’s hair gently, running the silken mane through his fingers.
    Andrew looked at him with surprise, then quickly averted his eyes. “Nothing.”
    Tommy drew in a sharp gasp of mock dismay. “You just lied to me, Andrew Berés.
    Something’s rankling around in that busy brain of yours—there’s never nothing on your
    mind—but this something has you worried. So spill it.”
    Andrew sighed and laid his wineglass on the nightstand. “Have you always been this
    clever, or are you now learning vampire tricks of the trade?”
    “I’ve always been intuitive,” Tommy replied, chuckling. “And having doses of your
    blood doesn’t hurt. So something is worrying you. What is it?” He placed a light kiss on Andrew’s lips. “Come on, tell Daddy…”
    Andrew cupped the back of Tommy’s head and held him in place for a longer kiss.
    “You’re trying to distract me,” Tommy mumbled.
    “Is it working?”
    “Mmm, yes. Wait—no.” He lifted his head and gave his lover a hard look. “Come on,
    Andrew, tell me so I don’t have to start worrying.”
    “I’m afraid that if I do tell you, you will worry unnecessarily, for I haven’t yet decided whether or not to act on the information.”
    “Information?”
    “From the library—about the Talisman.”
    “Oh, fer Saint Peter’s sake…” Tommy let out a loud groan and slumped back on his
    pillow. “That again. I told you a hundred times you don’t have to go looking for some old artefact that some dodo demon mentioned in order to get in your pants. Dakar was an asshole, and a liar. All demons are liars, according to Marcus, ’cept maybe Constantine, and
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    BLOOD TALISMAN J.P. Bowie 14
    as I don’t know him, the jury’s still out as far as I’m concerned. So why on earth would you believe anything that dick Dakar told you?”
    “But…” Andrew took Tommy’s hand in his and kissed it gently. “I found out that
    Ardocan exists—well, at least in legend. It was a city, Tommy. True there is no mention of a Talisman, but I thought if I took the information to Marcus, he might help me, and—”
    “Didn’t Marcus make it very clear that trying to change your immortality would be
    dangerous? Andrew, I don’t want you doing this. I don’t want you putting your life in
    danger for me. Because this is what it’s all about isn’t it? You think I’m upset that I’ll grow old and die long before you.”
    Andrew gave him a look of innocence. “So, you’re not?”
    Tommy sighed loudly and glared at Andrew. “Yes, all right, yes. But that’s part of
    being in love with a vampire. I know that, and I’ve had to accept it, and I know there’s an alternative. Don’t think I haven’t thought about it, talked it over with Roger and Micah and Ron. It’s just not an easy decision, Andrew. My folks, my family back home in Portland. Hell, you and I have talked about this, and if you must know I still wonder why I let you talk me out of it all those months ago. We should have just done it, and damn the consequences.”
    “But I want you to be one hundred per cent sure.” Andrew rolled onto his side and took
    Tommy in his arms. “ Szeretlek, Tommy,” he said, nuzzling Tommy’s neck.
    “Love you too.”
    “And I don’t want anything to change that. Sometimes mortals who are changed, even
    willingly, can be resentful of their makers when they realise what they have