“What? Why? Are you saying you want to eat me?”The words were out before I could think them through.“Why do you want to mark me?”
“From the moment our paths crossed, I felt a pull towards you, Isla.”His eyes, those intense amber orbs, searched mine as if trying to pierce through to my very soul.“In this place, where I’m confined and stripped of my freedom, you’ve been a beacon. Your fight for freedom against your grandfather, and those who want to control you, mirrors my own. We are the same.
“And I can’t go on without knowing how you taste, without feeling your life force joined with mine…I don’t want to leave Earth with any regrets.”
I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. I wasn’t sure if it was fear or the intensity of our conversation that was making it difficult to breathe.“What does the marking entail?”
He looked down for a moment, contemplating, before meeting my eyes once again.“It’s a bond.”A gentle smile curled at the corners of his mouth, his teeth gleaming white in the filtered light.“A way of showing others that you’re under my protection, and in turn, that I’m bound to you. It can be…intimate, but it doesn’t always have to be.”
A myriad of thoughts raced through my mind. What would people think? Could I keep a mark hidden, especially on my wedding day? And more importantly, what would this mean for our already complicated relationship?
He must have seen the hesitancy in my eyes because he quickly added,“Only if you wish it, Isla.”
I took a deep breath, weighing my options. I could refuse and potentially alienate Ky’rn, who had already proven I could trust him…
Or I could accept, deepening our bond but also complicating our already uncertain future.
“Will it hurt?”Vulnerability bled into my voice.
His fingertips brushed my cheek, the touch gentle and reassuring.“At first,”he admitted as he eased closer, the tip of his nose brushing against mine, an intimate, almost-human gesture that stilled my trembling.“But then, I promise, it will be a sensation unlike any you’ve ever felt before.”
My fingers traced over the rough texture of his shoulder, a contrast to the soft vulnerability in his eyes. This was a decision that would forever change the course of our intertwined destinies.
“All right.”With a gentle nod, I gave him my consent, placing my trust in him.“Mark me.”
His amber eyes never left mine, in their depths a desire and longing that mirrored my own. There was deep hunger there, a primal instinct to claim what he desired, but there was something more too, something tender and profound.
As he leaned closer, our breaths mingled in the small space between us, warm and erratic. I felt the gentle brush of his lips against mine, a feather-light touch that sent a shiver down my spine. It was a silent request, and in that moment, I knew there was no turning back.
As Ky’rn’s lips pressed harder against mine, I was consumed by a sensation unlike any other. His mouth was cooler than mine, with an odd textured roughness that was strangely enticing. It was as if the very waters we floated in flowed between us, making the connection electric, alive.
The world around us faded, and all I could feel was him.
His lips trailed from my mouth, down the line of my jaw, to the vulnerable expanse of my neck. A soft growl rumbled in his chest, sending delightful tremors through my body. Before I could react, one of his hands wrapped around my long hair, twisting it gently but firmly, tilting my head to expose more of my throat. His other hand, strong and unyielding, held my opposite wrist against the cool surface of the tank, effectively immobilizing me.
He pressed his lips hard against my skin.“Don’t struggle, Isla…”His whispered words made my heart race.“I can’t control the hunger I feel for you. It’s primal, it’s deep…I only want a taste…”
I steeled myself, holding my breath as his tongue lapped at the juncture of my shoulder and neck, teasing and tasting, preparing me for what was to come.
Ky’rn’s sharp teeth grazed my neck, a gasp escaped my lips—and then he bit down.
The sensation was indescribable. It wasn’t pain—far from it.
It felt as if a door had been unlocked, a connection so profound that it felt like our souls were intertwining. Warmth spread from the point of contact, a mingling of pleasure and surprise.
The sensation was so erotic that a moan slipped from my lips, unbidden. It was a delicate dance of give and take—him drawing life from me, and in return, flooding me with an incredible feeling. His feeding felt intimate, like he was sharing a piece of himself with me and taking a piece of me in return.
As the world started to blur, Ky’rn pulled away, licking the small wounds to soothe where he’d bitten, a mix of coolness and warmth that sent a jolt through me.
When he finally pulled away, his eyes were filled with a storm of emotions. The weight of what had just occurred settled over us, and for a long moment, we simply floated there, lost in each other. I touched the spot on my neck, still feeling the hum of our shared connection.
“We’re…”I started, searching for the right words.
“Connected,”he finished for me, his voice husky.“Bound.”
CHAPTEREIGHTEEN
KY’RN
