“We need to visit your mother; maybe he’s high enough on the power tree to help us prevent the war,” Riven says.
“You need to sweat it out first,” Jestin says, turning to Margorate for confirmation.
“There’s no known case of recovering from the addiction,” she replies. “Most ghouls die from the overdose. It was a major issue centuries ago; their bloodline was almost wiped out because of the root.”
“It will be now,” Riven says, and the others nod.
My head begins to spin, like I’m trapped on a broken merry-go-round.
“I need more. I can’t stop taking it!” I snap. I can’t stop.
“You took too much.” Margorate chastises.
It helps me use my power.
“Will she sweat it out in time?”
Even in my incoherent state, I know the answer. It’s not enough time.
“I don’t think so,” Margorate says quietly.
I tremble, the memory of the hunger crashing into me.
“Karo,” I whisper.
Then it hits, sharp and brutal. The pain tears through me so violently that I forget how to breathe. I am in limbo. They add logs to the fire pit, but the warmth does little to help. Instead of feeling grounded, a greasy sweat runs down my frozen body.
“I should have known,” Aidon murmurs under his breath, wrapping me from behind. “I should have put it together.”
“Why should you?” I ask the first question I can think of, though I sense some big truth is missing, but my brain can’t quite grasp it.
“That’s why you have been different from the moment you stepped out of that ugly cottage.” He strokes my shoulders gently.
“I know you best. It’s my responsibility.” His voice is thick with anger, yet I catch a hint of pride in it.
Another tremor wracks me.
I grab Aidon by the forearms and dig my claws deep into his skin to hold myself through the pain.
He takes it without even flinching and strokes me gently in soothing circles. Even now, he must be weird.
I know how to fight mind intrusion. Maybe I can’t force you to leave, but I know how to hide thoughts if you don’t look for them directly, or how to change your focus. My cousin was a mind reader.I think back to him when the tremor passes, desperate to stop him from blaming himself. Seeing him like this, twists my stomach into a tight knot.
“Seriously? Smart girl,” he says and kisses my head.
Tell me something about yourself, at least now.I rest my head on his chest and absorb his warmth.
“You really fucked your grandpa’s brother?” Aidon asks instead, nudging his lips on my sweaty forehead.
Don’t even get me started. We are not human. Mixing our blood through family won’t make us weaker — only stronger. Those so-called revolutionists influenced by the human cattle, should be put down for spreading misinformation.
“Oh, I don’t know, you would certainly soil genes if you let that scumbag impregnate you.”
Don’t tell me you are jealous? Why is your heart racing like that? Wait. What the… You were supposed to tell me a story about yourself, not distract me!
I told you that I would get you what you need, not what you want. At least until you quit being so self-destructive.
At least tell me why you’ve stopped taking my blood?
