Free Blood Bond (PULSE, Book 5) by Kailin Gow Page B

like they were even related – while they were only brother-and-sister by adoption, she'd always valued the basic similarity in their appearance.
    “And don't worry, Jaegar,” Justin added. “You're still pretty, too. Who knew vampires could get a real tan?”
    “You're the doctor!” Kalina couldn't help feeling a little snappish with worry. What was happening to her body? “You tell us what's going on!”
    “Vampire stuff is beyond my pay grade, sis,” said Justin. “The only thing I can even guess is that maybe it has something to do with Life's Blood. When you ran, you brought out one of the latent abilities that Blood gives you. And now maybe the Blood's starting to take over.”
    “ Take over? ”
    “Well, not take-over take-over. Just...show itself. And you've got enhanced blood – so maybe we don't know what to expect. It's not like Max's blood.”
    “Well, we've kept our abilities. Jaegar still gets all his vamp glamouring powers alongside his beach tan,” Kalina forced the situation into a joke. “And I get to have people back home wondering why I turned white all of a sudden.”
    “But what did you do ?” Justin looked confused. “Why did it happen just now.”
    “Nothing you'd want to know, Justin,” said Kalina quickly.
    “But nothing you'd be worried about either, ah, sir...” Jaegar quickly cut in.
    “I don't want to know about that!” Justin exclaimed. “My kid sister's romantic life is strictly off-limits as a topic of conversation from now on! I don't want to know.”
    “But it could be important,” Kalina sighed. “I don't like talking about it in front of you, but we can't deny my sex life is inextricably linked to the whole Life's Blood thing in the first place. Anyway, we were...holding each other. Maybe that transferred something.”
    “Or maybe it's because we've exchanged blood before,” said Jaegar, “so now when we touch, our connection does all sorts of strange things...”
    “I'm sure that would come in handy for you, my dear brother.” A voice rang out in the cafe. They all turned around in surprise.
    There, standing against the doorframe, was a face they all recognized, a face they had all doubted if they would ever see again.
    Stuart.

 
    Chapter 10
     
     
    K alina gasped. She had not seen Stuart since she had left him for dead, his body sprawled across the floor of the farmhouse in Connecticut during her Yale visit, a stake in his heart. Only a telephone call had told her that he still lived – a call that seemed so surreal. He was going to Mongolia; he was following in the footsteps of Max. But here he was, before her, leaning against the doorway. Real. He was handsomer than ever; his customary rigidity had vanished, and he was even smiling. How different he was, Kalina thought, from the stern, serious boy she had first dated – the chivalrous figure who had caught her when she fainted. And yet she could see the same kindness in his eyes, the same intelligent, keen expression. Memories of her happiness with Stuart – so long ago, now – came flooding back to Kalina. Memories of how Justin had approved – of their sweet simplicity. But that belonged to another time, another place.
    “Stuart!” Kalina cried. But before she could run to him, she was beaten in her attempt by Jaegar, who pushed Kalina aside as he ran to embrace his brother in a great bear hug. Kalina looked up in surprise. Even on those rare occasions when the brothers weren't outright trying to kill each other, she had never seen them display anything like real affection. But Jaegar's arms were wrapped tightly around his brother.
    “Don't you dare die on us again!” Jaegar said.
    “It wasn't my choice, believe me.”
    “But you're back!” Kalina cried.
    “Max did it. She saved me.” Stuart smiled. “I mean, first she staked me, but then she saved me. She managed to resurrect me – just in time. I mean, she didn't do it to be nice or anything. That's not how she rolls. She wanted