“When what’s done—?” Thalia cut off as Keegan brought his dark wrist to his mouth, cutting into his own flesh. Then he brought his arm to Cassius’s bloodless lips.
Thalia didn’t think Cassius had any strength left in him, but as soon as Keegan pressed his wrist to his mouth, he lunged. Cassius grabbed Keegan’s hand, his sharp canines sinking straight into the tender underside of Keegan’s wrist.
Keegan grunted as Cassius pulled the other Vampyr’s arm closer, his fingers gripping Keegan’s arm like a lifeline. Cassius’s throat worked as he took long pulls from the Vampyr’s veins.
Thalia’s eyes flew to Cassius’s chest. His flesh was knitting back together, muscle snapping back into place, his skin inching slowly closed. Thalia glanced back at the two of them. Cassius’s eyes were closed, his face relaxing, yet his mouth still worked. Keegan’s eyes were closed too, his face just as relaxed as Cassius’s, almost like both of them were experiencing pure bliss.
Her cheeks heated as she realized they were.
Keegan gripped Cassius’s neck, allowing him to drink his blood. Neither of them seemed inclined to slow anytime soon.
Thalia snapped back into focus.Stop us when it’s done.Because, given the way they were both entranced in whatever pleasure they were experiencing from Cassius’s bite, Cassius wouldn’t stop until he’d bled his friend dry.
Thalia focused on Cassius’s chest, the skin slowly sealing itself back together. After another few seconds, nothing but smooth skin stared back at her.
Thalia jerked, shaking Keegan’s arm. “Keegan?”
The golden-eyed Vampyr didn’t move, didn’t so much as open his lids.
“Keegan,” she said more firmly, gripping his bicep and shaking. “Snap out of it. It’s done.”
A low sound came out of Cassius’s throat, one that sent awareness right to her toes. She ignored him, shaking Keegan harder.
“Keegan!” she yelled.
He moaned, but he couldn’t pull himself out of his pleasure-induced trance. His skin had taken on a waxy sheen as Cassius continued to gorge himself.
Thalia looked around the room, heart pounding. She spotted a small knife near a cubby full of herbs. She raced over, fingers gripping the handle before she turned to the Vampyrs.
Keegan swayed slightly, and she didn’t think twice as she cut her palm. She fisted her hand, letting the blood gather between her fingers before it dripped out, plinking onto the cold ground.
Keegan’s head jerked up. He turned, sluggishly looking over his shoulder, his golden gaze hazy. Thalia held up her fist, letting him see the droplets of blood.
His nostrils flared, once, then twice. Then he looked back down at his own arm. That seemed to pull him out of whatever stupor he was in.
Keegan shook his head, then pushed down on Cassius’s now-healed chest. “That’s enough, Cass.” Cassius’s eyes opened slightly, and he let out another low sound in the back of his throat, his fingerstight enough to bruise Keegan’s arm. “You’re healed; let go.” Keegan tried again, pushing harder.
“Cass?” Thalia said.
Cassius stiffened, then slowly looked at her.
Thalia didn’t balk at his gaze, his irises glowing as Keegan’s blood dripped down his throat. She took a step toward him.
“I wouldn’t do that—” Keegan warned, his voice much clearer now.
Thalia ignored him, coming up to Cassius’s side. “Let go,” she said. Cassius’s eyes flared as she brought her uninjured hand to his. She gently pried his fingers off of Keegan’s wrist. “Let go, and I’ll give you something.”
Cassius cocked his head at that. His pupils were so blown out they nearly devoured the rings of his irises.
“Let go, and we can finish what we started the other night.”
Cassius’s throat bobbed, his nostrils flaring, then he released Keegan’s arm. The golden-eyed Vampyr sagged, his shoulders light with relief.
Cassius stared at her, his lips bloodied. Thalia thought he’d lunge at her next, but then he blinked. He took a deep, shuddering breath, squeezing his eyes tight. He lowered his head back down on the table, his eyes still shut as he murmured, “Are you hurt?”
Thalia shook her head, then realized he couldn’t see her. “No.”
“I smell blood.”
