I sulked in bed and tried to read my book but my thoughts were too loud to ignore. I was about to take a bath to hopefully clear my thoughts, when a very angry Peter stormed into my room without even knocking.
“You have some nerve!” he spat, surprising the hell out of me.
“Wha... what?”
“Severin is in pain because of you, and here you are lying about feeling none of it. Do you have no shame? Do you not know how vampire bonds work? Or do you simply not care that he is chained up in the basement and sweating from pain?!”
Pain? Chains?
“What?” I asked again, my voice sounding disbelieving.
“You told Severin to stay away from you. Hisfated. For a whole week! We cannot live without our fated once we have tasted their blood. How he is still alive is a mystery. But I figured you should know he is weakened and I cannot save him.”
I flew out of the bed. “He’s dying?!” I knew so little about how their bonds worked, I could admit that much, but for him to die?
Peter just glared, his arms crossed over his muscular chest. “Yes.”
“Take me to him, please,” I added the last part to hopefully endear myself to the vampire again. He’d been so kind to me. Not that I didn’t understand his anger. I would hate me, too. But I simply hadn’t known. Even Claire had told me I was doing the right thing when I’d texted her the whole mess. Now, I was sure my unease had been because of Severin. I barely knew him, and he’d claimed I was his fated. I still found it hard to believe, but so much pointed in favor of Severin being right. I just needed to see the truth for myself now.
Peter wasted no time replying. He simply picked me up and ran at full vampire speed down to the basement. A basement I had no idea existed until now. And there, in chains that were bolted to the brick walls, stood Severin. He was shirtless and drenched in sweat, his eyes closed and teeth gritted in pain. I almost faltered as I stumbled closer to him. Was this to keep him away from me? Was his body in such high need for my company that he had to be restrained? I had done this to him. For how long had he been in pain? I preferred not to know.
“Severin?” I asked, close enough to touch him now. His eyes snapped open, the irises black. He sagged with relief when he saw it was me. “What can I do? Please, let me help.Please.”
Peter came over then, removing the chains from Severin and as soon as the chains were gone from his wrists, Severin attacked.
I was pulled into his arms, the musty smell of the basement now a distant memory as Severin’s scent overpowered it, a mix of his delicious self and sweat. It only took a second before his teeth buried into my neck and he began to feed. The same pleasure rushed through my system, but this time it was much more potent.
Severin growled while feeding, sounding feral. It was fucking hot. It shouldn’t have been, but it so was. I felt horrible for letting him suffer, but it was hard to focus on my guilt while my body hummed with pleasure.
He kept feeding and I had a tiny fear of fainting again, especially when I felt my blood trail down my neck from the messy feeding.Fuck, maybe he was too out of it to stop himself? Could he even kill me if I was his fated? What if I truly wasn’t and killing me was how he found out?
Severin whimpered, then retracted his fangs and licked my neck to close the wound with his saliva. “You feared me,” he said, his voice hoarse and so damn broken.
“I feared fainting,” I lied. I would not cause him any more anguish. I had done enough already.
“But not me?” His now blue eyes searched mine, likely looking for deceit.
I shook my head, not daring to hide my eyes from him. “No, Severin. Never you.”
After a few seconds of intense eye contact, he smiled. He looked about ready to pass out, but still he held me like he was afraid I would leave him again. I didn’t dare move, though. I would need to know everything about vampire bonds. Was I still afraid my potion had caused this? For sure. But I also couldn’t bear causing Severin pain. I could only hope he wouldn’t kill me if by Tuesday the fake bond had dissipated.
Peter had left us after releasing Severin, either knowing I would be safe alone with Severin, or not caring if I died. I tried not to let that thought bother me.
Severin grabbed my chin, forcing my attention back on him. His hair was slick against his forehead and neck, the blonde hair now a darker shade, his mouth all reddened from my blood. He looked dangerous. There had to be something wrong with me, because he looked like the scariest part of the vampire he was, and I was hard for him. Nothing had ever left me more wanting than seeing the ferallook in Severin’s eyes as his mouth and chin were smeared with my blood.
Fuck. I was in so much trouble.
“Bathe with me, my heart,” he said, waiting for my response. His voice was less rough now that he’d fed, but still a tad growly. I nodded. How was I supposed to deny him anything? I was one weak witch, willing to offer my body and blood to the vampire in front of me. And I dared beg the fates for this to be real. For me to be his actual fated. I would figure out how to save Astrea if I couldn’t work as a feeder anymore, which I wouldn’t be able to if this fated thing was true. But I also couldn’t ask Severin for his money. That simply wouldn’t be fair to him.
Letting Severin tug me along with him, I knew my money troubles would have to wait. I took too long for him, or at least I figured that was the reason why he carried me bridal style and sped through the castle at vampire speed. I was gently put down in a dark bathroom. The tiles were the darkest green, with green marble flooring. I had no idea green marble even existed, but it looked like it did.
There was a huge tub in the corner, it was one of those jetted ones that was in a triangle shape like I had in my room. Headrests were in place so you could lie back comfortably and along the walls therewere unlit candles. It could be a romantic spot at nighttime. I hoped to still be here to experience it one day. For now, I would enjoy myself and pretend, andhope, to be Severin’s fated.
I turned around and finally let myself enjoy the sight of his bare chest, the light blonde hairs that dusted his pecs, and the way they trailed down to his belly button. He wasn’t overly hairy, but I figured it had to be genes and not the age he was turned.
He caught my stare and tilted my chin with his right hand, meeting my gaze. “I want to shower first and then bathe. I wish for you to join me in the bath, if you want.”
I nodded again, stepping back so I could breathe before undressing. It was like my mind was in a haze of lust and need. I felt oddly safe in his presence, and not once did I feel self-conscious about getting naked, which I normally did in front of others. Not because I was embarrassed over my looks, but simply because of the vulnerability of the situation.
