“I want to join my family,” she cries.
I give her a kind smile. “And where are they?”
She looks me in the eyes. “With the gods.”
“Are you certain?” I ask, my heart breaking for her.
“I’m certain,” she says, her voice dropping to a low growl.
“Whatever you wish, brave girl. Would you like me to do it?” I ask, my eyes skirting to Del as he shifts in his chair, his knuckles white as his fingertips grip the edge of the table, Charlotte pale beside him.
I’d be convinced Del was trying to restrain himself from drinking, but my own rage is written in his eyes—another thing we have in common besides our dislike for Balor.
Surprising, for Nerian’s second.
His expression disappears in a blink when Nerian moves behind Second and into his view.
“Yes, I would like you to do it,” the girl whispers, and my gaze finds hers again.
“What is your name?”
“Christine.”
“It’s my honor to send you to your family, Christine. Know that I will remember you for the rest of my existence.”
She smiles at me through her tears.
Gods.
I slide a hand up my skirt, reaching for my dagger.
“Drink from her,Veya,” Nerian demands excitedly through a crazed sneer.
My gut plummets, fear sliding along my skin. I don’t want to be anywhere near the temptation of bloodlust or breaking the rules I steadfastly live by.
“Do it,” Christine commands bravely, her gaze narrowing at the king before she climbs into my lap, my eyes connecting with hers. “Don’t anger him over me—just drink.”
Her hopeful expression begs me to listen, and I consider the risk I would put my people at if I upset Nerian. Their lives are my responsibility.
And we onlyjustgot here. I can’t waste this opportunity.
My heart tears open as I choose to protect our mission and my people over my morals and the risk of bloodlust.
My fangs release underneath the smile I offer Christine, the last one she’ll ever see, and I dip my mouth to her neck, jamming myself beneath her tender skin.
And then Idrinkfrom her.
Something I haven’t done in a very,verylong time.
Her warm blood coats my throat and seeps into me with a power so delicious I can barely breathe. Her aura, her essence, her humanity calls to the monster within, and I take everything. Euphoria, tantalizing and teasing, skims along my skin. Her life force clings to me, pooling pleasure in the starved alcoves of the vampire nature I ignore.
The donated blood I usually consume pales against the vibrant energy of life flooding me.
My hands leave my skirts, and I grip her, my body alight with pure intoxication.
And then, with tears running down my cheeks and desire coursing through my veins, I do something I’veneverdone.
I drink the life from her.
