Free Invincible (A Centennial City Novel) by Fionn Jameson Page B

“An hour, give or take a few minutes.”
    That probably explained why the lights still weren’t on. Ah well, all the better for my recovery. “That’s pretty usual. Still, better to ask than be sorry.”
    He leaned in closer, almost too close for comfort. I could smell blood on him. Whose blood?
    Automatically, my hand flew up to my neck and he let out a short laugh.
    “Fear not,” he said quietly. “Your blood is safe from me. Reiko found a willing…donor.”
    But I could not answer him until I brushed my hand over every square inch. No puncture marks. Good. Very good. I let out a breath I hadn’t known I’d been holding. “Habit. I told Reiko I didn’t want to give you blood.”
    “Quite understandable.”
    Honesty prodded me to add, “Although, I did agree to giving you blood when you woke up.”
    I never noticed the single dimple digging deep into his left cheek. “I don’t think I could have forgiven myself if I’d taken your blood while you were unconscious.”
    “How very…polite of you.”
    Again, that flash of a dimple. Why hadn’t I noticed it before? “Thank you.” He paused and the smile faded away into something more serious. “I knew you were a formidable warrior. But I’ll be honest. Against a vampire assassin? Vampires who have trained for centuries and perfected their art? I must admit, I didn’t have a great deal in confidence.” He sighed. “Then again, I didn’t expect to be targeted so soon.”
    I didn’t know what to say. “He wasn’t that good, actually.”
    He gave me a level stare. “Be that as it may, there was something about the way you held your weapon. The way you moved. Even for me, the assassin was almost too fast to trace. But you’re human, not vampire. How is it you managed to meet his every blow? How did you kill him? And why did you faint afterwards?”
    Hearing my time of weakness labeled as “a faint” made me wince. “It’s…” I took a deep breath. Only two people were aware of my precognition. Everyone else was dead. “I suppose you can call it an ability.”
    An eyebrow quirked. “So that’s what the rumor was. I paid dearly to learn there was a special fighting ability that was unique to you and only you.”
    Reiko came in then, carefully balancing a plastic jug of water and a glass on a small wooden tray. I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the moisture condensing on the outside of the jug.
    “It’s precog,” I said.
    His brow went even higher and I reached out for the cup of water Reiko held out to me. “Precognition?”
    I couldn’t remember the last time water had tasted so good. Sweet, cold, refreshing…I didn’t stop drinking until I drained the glass.
    Taking an explosive breath, I held out the cup and watched Reiko pour me another glassful. “Yes. I can read movements a couple of seconds before they are executed. It’s the only way I can fight vampires and walk away alive.”
    Reiko’s eyes never left me, a petulant tilt to her crimson lips. “I wish I saw you fight. I do so enjoy watching battles.”
    “Maybe next time,” I said and drained the glass again, this time slower.
    Jason rubbed at his jawline. “How interesting. Well, this does change things.”
    “Does it?”
    Reiko lifted the jug but I shook my head. I was starting to get brain freeze and I was already in enough pain as it was.
    He didn’t answer, only smiled and got up in one fluid, graceful movement. I wished I had half the mobility he did. “I think you and I will make an excellent team, Ran.”
    I locked gazes with him, didn’t flinch when the corneas turned black, turned his eyes into a sea of impenetrable darkness. “For the time being.”
    He took a step back and I could breathe better. “For the time being.”
    This close, it was easier to appreciate the beauty in his simple and clean features. I might be apathetic to him, but I’m certainly not blind. A lock of dark hair fell over his eyes and he shoved it back impatiently. “What’s