Aircameinshakyfits as her senses crashed back into her body, the damp chill of the lab’s stone floor seeping into her knees. The stale air felt thick and heavy compared to the cold emptiness of the void, and the harsh flicker of torchlight stung her eyes.
“Rynna?!” Kaelith’s voice wound through the haze, his hands shaking her shoulders. “Rynna!”
She closed her eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the Veilroot clouding her mind. “Yes,” she rasped. “I’m back.”
“Where’d you go? What happened?”
“No time.” Without thinking, she grabbed him by the back of his neck, pulling his head to hers. “Listen.”
In an instant, she pushed the entire conversation she’d just had with Fenn into Kaelith’s mind.
His eyes widened, jaw slack as the weight of it crashed over him. He just sat there, frozen by the sudden flood of knowledge.
“Will…” She hesitated. “Will you do this? For me?”
“Rynna…” He looked at the ceiling as if searching for some hidden truth.
“I know this was supposed to be your second chance.” She wrung her fingers. “A fresh start… And this—” Her voice dropped, eyes darting away “—this will be far worse than anything you’ve ever done to yourself before.”
“Rynna.” His fingers tangled in hers. “How could you think I wouldn’t do this for you? If I could slit my wrists and drain my own life’s blood to bring him back, I would.”
“This could be worse.” Her fists clenched.How can you ask this of him?
“I’ve already lived through the worst.” His lips curled. “I can handle a little bloodlust from another world’s monster.”
She looked up, eyes searching his face for any flash of hesitation, any sign that he might regret this choice down the road. Instead, her breath caught, stolen by the unwavering resolve she found, the complete and utter trust in his eyes.
“I... I don’t deserve you, Kaelith.”
Her lips brushed his, and his face went slack as if she'd slapped him. Shock flickered across his features before he cleared his throat awkwardly, a flush creeping up his neck to his cheeks.
“Of all the ridiculous things to say.” His weight moved from side to side. Then, with a glance at Fenn’s still-slumped form, he added, “We’d better get on with it. Our wolf doesn’t have much time left.”
“Right.” Rynna tucked a strand of Kaelith’s hair behind his ear, offering him one final, silent thank you before pulling Fenn into her lap. His back rested against her as she raised her arm to her mouth, ready to bite.
Shit, we’re really doing this. She’d never shared her blood with anyone before. The idea of passing this hunger, this bloodlust—this darkness—onto someone else was nearly too much to bear. She had safeguarded the infection within herself for so long.But for Fenn, I’d do nearly anything.
Her fangs sliced cleanly into her wrist with a sting immediately followed by a slow trickle of blood. The liquid glimmered faintly under the dim light of the lab, dark and viscous. The taste of iron and something deeper, darker, filled the air as she pressed the wound to Fenn’s lips.Here goes nothing.
At first, nothing happened. Her chest constricted as she looked up at Kaelith. “Am I too late?”
Then, she felt it—Fenn’s tongue against her skin, weak but deliberate, licking at the bite.
“My stars,” she gasped at the touch, her pulse quickening in response.
Fenn’s mouth tightened around her wrist, and he sucked harder, drawing more of her dark blood. And with each pull, a jolt of ecstasy coursed through her, sharp and electric, rippling from the bite down to the pit of her stomach.
“Is this what it’s like when I…” she moaned, her eyes fluttering up to Kaelith.
She remembered the way he bared his throat for her in the past, surrendering beneath her as she rode his hips, every arch of her body met with a hungry thrust.
Kaelith’s eyes sparkled with faint amusement, but then his expression changed as he tilted his head, looking closer at Fenn. “His neck is healing, but his eyes…they’re turning black.”
Fenn’s grip flexed as his lips latched onto her skin with growing urgency. She felt the faint click of metal canines loosening, dropping away a breath before the sharper, living points beneath them pushed free, elongating into real fangs that pricked her skin
“Now, Kae! Bite him now!” she choked, struggling to form the words as her body responded involuntarily, pressing into Fenn, squeezing him closer.
Kaelith moved swiftly, reaching for one of Fenn’s arms, his serpentine fangs extending.
