The vines recede, nothing commanding their presence anymore. Shadows extend off her, the tips curling to brush against her cheek as if they’d missed her. Kallie’s eyes lock on the Demicrogen, like she’s seeing it through a new set of eyes.
What I would do to be in her head right now.
My vision begins to blur, and I shake my head, trying to get my eyes to refocus as the pain becomes almost unbearable. Kallie’s eyes flick over to me before training them back on her opponent. Either she didn’t notice, or she did and doesn’t care. Black slithers through her veins, popping out against her olive skin, and I watch in amazement as she settles into the new shell.
Those perfect emeralds, the ones that change colors each time she uses a different part of her power, usually a stunning shade of orange, go completely void, matching with the same blankness as the creature she’s fighting.
As if someone has taken over her body, the shadows race forward, hitting the Demicrogen square in the chest, sending it flying into the bars of the enclosure. She saunters over like she has all the time in the world, her hand absentmindedly reaching for the dagger I’d forgotten was there.
She rips it out with force, blasting the beast with shadow after shadow to keep it confined to the bars. I pinch the bridge of my nose as the pain becomes too much to bear, bracing myself against the closest wall to keep upright.
“You doing alright over there?” Kallie’s voice booms without any effort, sounding deeper, more foreign than it had a minute ago. And by the slight upward tip of her lips, she knows I noticed.
“Never better,” I manage, trying to stay upright. The shadows she wields hold the creature in place. It continues snapping its jaw at her then at the hand she so bravely wraps around its throat. She holds the hilt of the dagger with an iron grip, smiling down at the Demicrogen like she enjoys the pain she’s inflicting.
I wouldn’t be shocked in the least if she was.
She leans in as close as she can, whispering something that I can’t focus closely enough on to hear, before plunging the blade into its chest.
There’s something so raw about the image. The way her magicpulses from her, like it’s been contained for too long, and she needs to let it feast.
The death wasn’t as brutal as I predicted, nor was it as dramatic as I’d hoped. The creature doesn’t make a peep as its fleeing life comes to an end. She rips the dagger out in a single pull, black blood spraying from the wound and dripping off the blade. Kallie wipes the dagger clean on her pant leg before shoving it back into the sheath. When her eyes meet mine, she tilts her head with confusion.
“You’re not yourself,” she states. Glad to know she can still state the obvious.
“I’m not feeling the best.”
“You don’t look the best.” Despite the mind-altering headache, I laugh then press the heel of my palm into my temple at the increase in pressure.
I shake it off—or try to—pushing through the agony as I walk over to where she stands. I know I should be examining the creature—or that dagger she somehow obtained. But instead, I find myself staring into her eyes, watching them slowly fade from onyx and into the comforting shade of jade. This is the closest we’ve been without trying to kill each other in… I don’t know how long. And I can feel that part of me, the one that’s fighting for the upper hand, pushing harder, and it almost brings me to my knees.
Before I can say anything, her brows pull together with worry, and she rests a hand against my arm. “Should we get you to a healer?” Her question is full of sincerity.
But she doesn’t know a healer can’t help me—fix me.
My mind goes completely void of thought, any and all rationality flying right out the window. It’s intoxicating, the way the blood splatter rests across her flesh, dotting her skin with onyx. A carnal urge so strong awakens inside me. I have no choice but to succumb to it and let it consume me completely.“Fuck it.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
Subject 763
Both of my hands reach out, gripping each side of her face, and in an instant, my lips land on hers. She’s apprehensive, hesitating just a moment before leaning into me. Our lips move in tandem, like we’ve done it thousands of times before this. I want more—needmore. My grip doesn’t lessen, only intensifies as I pull her in closer, deepening the kiss.
At first, I think her hands are roaming, finding some place to ground herself, until my chest sears with blistering heat that forces me to step back. “What are you doing?” she asks breathlessly. Any verbal response I could have gets lodged in my throat. Her eyes, her body speak volumes that her lips would never allow to pass.
I peer down at the singed pieces of fabric dangling from my shirt, blisters already forming on my flesh. I smirk, resting my canines on my lower lip, “Now, Princess, you know I love a little pain with my pleasure.” Her mouth pops open in shock.“Careful, I might take that as an invitation.”
Kallie’s eyes grow wide at the insinuation, but she doesn’t have to say anything. I can smell her arousal from here. “Come on, Princess.” I stalk toward her with slow, calculated steps until the distance between us vanishes. “Let me into that beautiful, demented head of yours.”
“Not a chance.” But her tone isn’t convincing. Her lips twitch with words unspoken, trying to fight the pull that’s beckoning her to put her lips back on mine. My shadows reach out, grazing against her cheek, tracing the curve of her jaw, and then caressing down the length of her neck. Shivers blossom in a trail after my touch, showing exactly how much it affects her.
Her eyes bounce between mine and my lips. “We shouldn’t.”
“No, we shouldn’t,” I confirm. “But it will taste so sweet.” The moment she accepts defeat is glorious. Her shoulders slump, an exhale of exhaustion following close behind before she’s on me.
It’s passionate, animalistic, the way she attacks me—not gentle in the slightest. The kiss is full of pure hunger, and I’m prepared to give her a five-course meal. My tongue doesn’t ask for permission, sweeping between the seam of her lips, finally getting the taste of her I’ve been craving. The palms of her hands rest on my arms, giving off a subtle heat—not enough to burn but just the right amount to drive me mad.
Kallie bites my lower lip and pulls—hard. Blood pools instantly, filling my mouth with a mixture of her and copper, coaxing a deep moan from the back of my throat. “I didn’t know we were drawing blood.”
