Free Faith Revisited by Madelyn Ford Page B

watching her mother make a fool of herself over her father, a male who had cared about her but who never loved her, Faith had sworn never to make the same mistake. Her self-respect was worth more than that.

    34
    Madelyn Ford

    Chapter Four

    A soft sigh of relief escaped Faith's lips when Bale and the other males had left her alone with Hope. The more Bale had scowled, the more uncomfortable she'd grown. Now, as she tensed under Hope's watchful gaze, Faith almost regretted Bale's exit. Her sister's eyes narrowed, and she winced, wondering what the look on her face had revealed. While Faith could not claim to having ever experienced the “twin phenomenon,” Hope always seemed to have the ability to read her as if she were an open book.
    “Now that your guard is gone”—Hope began with a trace of sarcasm—“why don't you tell me how you are really feeling.”
    While Hope was leaning casually against the wall, there was nothing relaxed about her tone.
    “I told you, I am okay,” she replied, an unintentional defensiveness creeping into her voice.
    Hope pushed away from the wall with a snort and strode toward the bed, but then flopped into the only chair occupying the room. “Really,” she drawled, one perfect blonde eyebrow arched in disbelief.
    Faith could only nod. Hope was suspicious about something, and she wasn't going to give her sister any more ammunition than necessary until she figured out what her twin was angling after.
    Leaning back in her chair, Hope silently studied her a moment. “The doc dude said you could go home in a couple of days. Think you'll be up to it?”
    Glancing away from Hope, Faith replied, “I feel good…strong. I'll probably be ready to hit the road tomorrow.”
    “Must be some blood that guy has,” Hope replied mockingly, “seeing as how it normally takes at least a week to recover…and you suffering from demon poisoning on top of transfiguring.”
    “Must be,” she agreed evasively, continuing to avoid Hope's narrowed gaze.
    The bed dipped under the additional weight as Hope sat on the edge and grasped her twin's chin, forcing their eyes to meet. “What is going on here, Faith?”
    Faith struggled under Hope's probing gaze, feeling her face redden. She didn't know how to explain the unease she felt or what she feared was the cause behind it.
    “I need to get out of here as soon as possible, Hope,” Faith finally admitted softly. “I do not know what will happen if I stay too long. Already there is a strong sense of dependence.”
    “Dependence? That is an odd choice of words.”
    “It's what it feels like. I crave his presence this very minute, and I fear it will only grow worse.”

    The Watchers: Faith Revisited
    35

    “What the hell would have caused such a thing?” Hope asked, horror lining her face as she grasped Faith's hand, squeezing tightly.
    “I suspect the reason for having more than one individual donate blood during a Transfiguration is to prevent this from happening,” Faith said, giving voice to her suspicion.
    “Why wouldn't we have been told of such a thing?”
    Faith shrugged. “I am sure it will pass once I begin feeding from others. But there is something else.” Faith paused, wondering if she could even actually admit to what she had done.
    “I had sex with Bale,” she finally confided.
    Hope's eyes widened in disbelief. “Don't get me wrong. He's hot…like un-fucking-believably hot. But that's just not like you, Faith.”
    “The aftereffects of Transfiguration were like nothing I'd ever heard described. We've been told the blood would resemble a favorite flavor…and it did. The richest mocha latte imaginable.
    But his scent—on his clothes, the sheets—had me desperate. And not just for anyone. It had to be Bale.” Faith glanced down at her hands, embarrassed by what she was going to reveal next. “I practically attacked him,” she added in a whisper.
    “And I'm sure he put up a hell of a fight,” Hope added with a smirk, and