Every answer Torija gave was curt and cold. What had happened since last night? Daisy had managed to connect with Torija and finally get through all that armour she had built around herself, and now this?

“Why are you awake?” Torija asked.

“Your hunger woke me, but look—my bite mark’s gone.”

Torija looked at it but then said in a monotone, “Because I fed on you. Now that the bond is complete, it heals each time.” This was so much different from the emotion she’d experienced last night. Torija continued, “At least you don’t look like you’re shackled to me.”

She then took a big glug of whisky.

“What’s wrong? Something’s changed.”

“Nothing’s changed,” Torija said.

Daisy walked over to the armchair and knelt down beside it. “It has. Last night we were so close emotionally, and you let go some of your past.”

“I’m fine. All I care about is getting to see the Reaper tomorrow and ending this blood bond.”

Daisy couldn’t help but feel those words like a dagger to her guts. The goal was always to break the bond, but things had changed. Torija had come back to the surface, and she was winning at saving Torija’s soul. More than that, Daisy was falling for her. She felt every pain that had been inflicted on Torija and wanted to soothe them, but now it seemed like Torija didn’t want her.

“You look pale. I thought you’d feel better after last night.”

“It takes more than one feed to get back to full power. Plus, this isn’t helping.” Torija flexed her forearm, and not only was the green in her veins still there, it had spread.

“I thought that would be gone, too, after feeding on my blood,” Daisy said.

“Apparently not.”

Daisy was confused. She thought she was doing the right thing and helping to save Torija, but not only did she seem to be failing at that emotionally, but physically, too. Her blood wasn’t healing the green poison in Torija’s veins.

“Hopefully the Reaper can explain about that tomorrow.”

Daisy stood and said, “Well, at least come and feed. That’s one thing that can make you stronger.”

“No, not now.”

“But you’re hungry. That’s what woke me up,” Daisy said.

“Just leave it till tomorrow—now go to bed.”

“Fine,” Daisy shouted. “Starve yourself.” She got into bed and turned away from Torija. “You don’t care, so I won’t care.”

* * *

The next day they travelled to see the Reaper in silence, and their journey was uncomfortable, to say the least. Daisy was angry at her, but she was trying to break this bond for Daisy’s sake, not hers. “Why are you giving me the cold shoulder?”