He cupped her face, bringing her closer to him, and then she felt pressure on her neck, followed by two sharp pricks.
Fear gripped her. There was a demon sucking on her neck, drinking her blood. He cradled her head in his hands that could snap her neck easily right now if he wanted to.
She was completely in his power and didn’t know if she liked it. Her sense of fear was quickly replaced, however, because it didn’t hurt. It felt incredible, if she were being honest. Whatever poison or pheromones were contained in a demon’s bite made her entire body thrum and come alive with pleasure. A warm, fuzzy feeling began in her head and descended all the way down to the tips of her toes.
Thoughts of him took over her mind, and her very blood sang. She inhaled his scent, intoxicated by whatever he was doing to her. She trusted him. Shewantedhim. He was good to her and would never harm her.
He licked the wound and held his hand firmly against the side of her neck. He murmured,“Leknar.”A spell. He had healed her with magic. She touched her throat, and she felt the spot he had fed from was crusted over with dried blood.
He encircled her in his arms, and pleasure spiraled in her blood.
“More,” she breathed, to both their surprise. She wanted more of that incredible feeling.
Caspian hesitated.
“More,” she repeated with a sense of urgency.
He stroked her arm gently. The sensation sent tingles down her spine. “I cannot take more,” he said gravely, and she noted with surprise that his canines had lengthened into sharp points.
Twisting in his lap, her lips parted. She leaned in and—
He stood swiftly.
“You want more?” he asked, his face impassive.
She pressed her lips together, too shy to demand he continue. Too shy to say aloud that she craved more of him.
He looked down at her, his lip curling. “Then maybe next time,Elizabeth.”
She could hardly believe this man as he inclined his head to her in a mocking bow. A line of red dribbled down his chin. A drop of red blood fell on the crisp cotton sheets.
He raised a brow in farewell and slipped out the door.
The incredible feeling began to ebb, like leaving a warm sunny day behind and walking into a cold, dark room. Her limbs grew heavy, and the euphoric lightness in her head settled into a dull ache behind her eyes.
Slowly, she began to feel flustered and hurriedly smoothed her skirts.
She had thrown herself at the male. What was wrong with her? Had there been some kind of poison in his bite? When he had bitten her, it made her feel warm and happy all over, like she had drunk far too much wine at dinner.
Elizabeth waited one heartbeat, then two, and flopped on her bed, sighing.
Gods. She hadn’t known the bite of a demon would be likethat.
Elizabeth donned a nightgown and plaited her hair, thinking fondly of how his body had felt pressed against hers. She sighed, smiling, and wondered when he would visit her next.
Moving to her washbasin, she scrubbed at her face and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks were flushed.
She was happy. Happier than she had felt and looked in some time. Grinning, she turned to leave when she caught a bruise in her reflection.
Her neck.
Two holes that had been bored into her skin were now crusted over with dried blood. A purple ring was already forming around where he had bitten her.
Elizabeth felt the wound and grimaced.
She had been his evening wine tonight. He had fed off her like some sick sort of parasite.
The thought revolted her.
