Týr halted a few feet from them and cut Dagan an unreadable look. “Yeah.Sure.”
At Dagan’s obdurate expression, she looked him dead in the eye. “You need female blood, it’s vital for you. If you won’t do this, then we can’t be together. I won’t stand by and watch you put your health—yourlife—on the line because ofme.”
“You aren’t leaving,” he said, his tone cold.Resolute.
Hers turned flat. Determined. “The castle, no. You,yes.”
Her words were harsh, but it was a risk she had to take. More, she understood if this failed, Dagan would need a donor, but not Kaerys. Never that witch again. She’d find someone who wouldn’t expect him to pay in carnal pleasures. Yet, the very thought made her stomachhurt.
She held out her wristagain.
“I can hold out for a while,” he muttered wearily as if she were the difficultone.
“Yeah?” She lowered her hand, trailing her fingers down his ripped, lickable abs. His tummy muscles flexed, and his breathing deepened as she lightly traced the edges of the dressing she’d taped over his injury. Yes, she affected him the same way he did her. But her threats weren’t working. This was probably the only way totalksense into his stubbornhead.
She whacked him on the wound.Hard.
“Fuck.” Dagan staggered back, his eyes scaldingher.
“Oh, did that hurt? I wonder why that is?” She arched a brow at his scowling features, daring him to comment. But bile rushed to her throat at hurtinghim.
He didn’t say a word, his hand on his wound. Obviously, he knew what she wasabout.
Damn stubbornimmortal.
She said airily, “Maybe I should join the Guardians, hunt demoniis and other evil out there. Heck, I’m probably stronger anyway. Dagan can stay home and helpHedori—”
A terrifying snarl, like an animal finally snapping erupted. Shae had no idea what had hit her. One minute, she’d been taunting him; and the next, she was slammed into a wall, the air whooshing out of her flattened lungs. His hand wrapped around her hair, yanking her head back and baring herthroat.
“Whoa, man!” Týr’s alarmed voice cut between them. “Easy there with yourgirl!”
“Back the fuck off.” His eyes a burning predator yellow edged with red focused solely on her. He dragged his warm tongue over her pulse, then his mouth fastened on her. Shae tensed. A sudden sharp pinch, and his fangs sank into her neck, then his tongue coaxed her blood to the surface as he sucked on her vein, each pull of her blood a delicioussensation.
Oh, dear God.Warmth filled her. Impossible desire took hold, spreading through her in a tremendouswave…
* * *
Dagan shiftedhis grip on her hair, tightening his hold on her body as he swallowed. His mind focused solely on the thick, warm nectar sliding down his throat… She was so damn delicious, he couldn’t feed fast enough—more—he wanted more. He sucked harder on her vein, another deep pull, and his starving psycheshuddered.
A gasp cut through his feeding haze. Nails digging into his biceps—no! Dammit—no!
He leaped away, his heart hurtling in his chest as if it were attached to a defibrillator. His back hit the window, his terrified gaze pinned onShae.
A hand on her throat, she watched him warily. “It’s okay, I’m okay. You didn’t hurtme.”
He shook his head to clear the miasma. His body too tense, he prowled the length of the windowed wall and rolled his shoulders. No, he hadn’t hurt her…didn’t get caught up in bloodlust. But he felt odd…as if poised on the edge of a mountain, his skin all that held him together. His fangs throbbed in need, he wanted more so fucking bad. He scentedblood.
“Dagan? What’swrong?”
At the fear in her husky voice, his head snapped to her. She was still bleeding. Týr hurried to her side and laid his hand on herthroat.
“You okay, man?” Týr asked, watching himintently.
Frowning, Dagan scratched the gauze taped to his side. He tore off the dressings and stared. The hellfire lesion from few days ago had knitted together. All that remained was a pink scab, and even the new injury was just a fadingmark.
“You’re healing so fast?” Týr’s eyes widened. “Injuries from hellfire bolts take at least a day or so to mend when aided with Lila’spotions.”
Dagan snagged a dagger from the wall and sliced his palm. Blood welled, and just as fast, the wound closed. More, the lethargy that had held him in its grip for days had dissipated. He felt…revived. Stronger. His sight sharper, his smell heightened once more. Shae’s delicious fruity-spice fragrance crowded his senses, along with the tempting scent of her arousal. His own body tightened inresponse.
