Immediately.
“We do use a truth serum,” Ezekial continues, oblivious to my inner turmoil. “However, it’s a more potent version, due to…” The way his words stop catches my attention.
“Aspecialingredient,” Sai ends for him.
I force myself to look away from Kane. “Special ingredient?” I repeat in a murmur, waiting for an answer neither Ezekial nor Sai seem eager to give.
Sai inhales through his teeth, then casts a not-so-subtle glance to my other side. I frown at the implication—
My darkness reacts quicker than my mind.
I twist towards Julien. “You give them your blood?”
I know how angry I sound, I also know I shouldn’t care, but my darkness? She cares. She’s absolutely furious.
The room flickers into grey as I wait for Julien’s response. But he’s hesitant, and his gaze warily searches my darkening expression.
“Mon désir, it is a small—”
“Don’tmon désirme,” I snarl, low in my throat.
Some other beings have hadhisblood.
My bond’s blood.
Mybond.
My chest tightens. “That’s how you know they’re loyal? Because they’re all over you?!”
“Oh buddy,”Sai murmurs.“You’re in big trouble. Might’ve handled this better if you weren’t running on pigs’ blood.”
Pigs’ blood?
“Jasmine, it isn’t like that—”
“You’re not feeding, yet you’re giving these commandersyourblood?” I cut him off, jaw tight, vision darker.
Julien’s concerned expression fractures as his brow dips. “How do you know I haven’t been feeding?”
Fuck.
I shake my head, my rising anger twining with embarrassment. But I just can’t seem to shake the idea of his blood in someone else’s veins.
My bond’s blood.
Myblood.
Shadows bleed into my gaze as I stare at the man who is mine.
“It’smine.” My words crack through the room, echoing.
Julien says nothing. He just stares as I pant through this envious rage, until a sliver of darkness curls around my ankle, and the cold touch fractures the heat.
Closing my eyes, I take a deep, shaky breath and will my darkness to calm, to draw back.
When the burning rage finally slips into something less potent, I risk a sheepish glance at Julien.
“I’m… That was really... uncalled for,” I mutter apologetically, eyes dropping to the tablet clutched in my lap. “I’m struggling with control. Again. Just…” I exhale slowly. “Logically, it makes sense. I know that. Giving your…” I nod so I don’t have to say the word. “It’s a good strategy. Sorry.”
