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I licked my lips, hesitating to answer.

If their blood tasted like dessert or candy to me, then what did that mean? From the way they all responded, I suspected nothing good. I already found myself in hot water with them. We’d only just gotten to the point where we could live together amicably. Would confessing the truth ruin that?

“She looks scared,” Zeke said.

I glanced away, clutching the hem of my shirt.

“Because it tasted like candy,” Cyn said, standing. He rounded the counter, his booted footsteps heavy on the floor.

Sucking in a sharp breath, I retreated until my back hit the wall.

Zeke stood. “Wait, Cyn, don’t.”

“What are you doing?” Ash stepped forward but stopped when Cyn waved him off.

“Testing something.”

I watched, horrified, as Cyn’s eyes turned black as night. His canines and incisors descended into sharp, gleaming fangs.

My heart galloped in my chest. He hadn’t transformed—no claws or horns—but I didn’t understand why he’d changed this much.

“Don’t bite her,” Ash snapped, coming toward us.

Cyn turned and growled like an animal. “I won’t. Back off.” He turned to me.

My breath hitched when he bit into his wrist, never taking his eyes off me. Blood poured down his arm, dripping onto the floor. He took another step closer, and I swallowed the knot in my throat.

“I want you to do the same thing you did to Ash,” he said, voice smooth and deeper than earlier. His calm tone contrasted the blood coating his lips, chin, and double fangs, making the request feel even more surreal.

“What? N-no.”

He growled, snatching my chin between his thumb and index finger. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because I fucking said so,” he snarled.

I put my hands on his chest and shoved him back, but he barely moved. “I told you, this is my house. You don’t get to boss me around. I don’t want to drink blood.”

“Cyn, stop,” Zeke called.

Cyn threw his head back and bellowed his frustration, making me flinch.

A chill went up my spine when his black eyes met mine.

“I’m not going to fucking hurt you.” He approached me again and sneered. “Will you please drink my blood?”

“For the love of… fine! If it will shut you up. You know, I don’t make a habit of consuming blood. Most humans don’t do this sort of thing.” I leaned against the wall and opened my mouth, waiting. I wouldn’t lick him like Ash. He could drip it into my mouth and be done.

Though, he didn’t need to bite himself. A drop was all we needed.

Cyn stepped into my personal space and lifted his arm, surprising me by pressing his wrist to my open mouth instead of letting it drip onto my tongue.

I gasped the moment his blood hit my tongue, which allowed him to press his wrist snug against my open mouth. His blood tasted sweeter than the aftertaste of Ezra or the remnants of Ash’s blood. Was it because it came straight from his veins?

Cyn’s knees buckled before he righted himself with a firm hand on my hip, pulling me against him. He pressed his wrist harder to my mouth. Why wasn’t he moving away?

Our eyes met. I knew he realized I’d had a taste, but he remained in place.