Page 17 of Fated to the Damned

Otherwise, it could take weeks to heal and I can’t keep Jessa and I out here. Already, the accolades must be wondering what delayed me a day. It’s making my position look shaky, and if I don’t show up – or worse, someone finds me injured out here – it will only make my mission harder.

Not to mention I fear what will find us if we stay here too long.

What will find Jessa.

I stare at the pile of drained carcasses, knowing that hunting could be just as dangerous. She can’t keep going out there. But Jessa is right – I need more blood to properly heal.

A lot more.

As much as it pains me, I know what must be done. I meet her steady gaze and give a small nod.

“I won’t heal without it,” I acquiesce.

Jessa extends her wrist once more without hesitation. But still I hesitate, fear and self-loathing rising within me. She does not understand the risk. One misstep, a second of lost control, and I could end this innocent life.

I close my eyes, praying that I will have enough restraint. When I open them, Jessa waits expectantly. With a shuddering breath, I take her slim wrist in my hand. Her pulse flutters against my thumb, but she does not pull away.

Leaning in, my incisors snap down as the mouthwatering scent of her skin fills my scenes. Breathing deeply, I close my eyes.

Please, Akeladama, I beg silently. Don’t let me indulge too much.

10

NIKOLAI

Leaning forward, I scrape my teeth along her wrist, trying to prepare both of us for what’s going to happen. But I’m not ready for the way a soft gasp would escape her.

Or the way my body reacts to it.

My mouth still hovering above her skin, my eyes flick up to see her cheeks tinge pink. “Sorry.” She swallows and watching her throat work does something unexpected to me. “Go on.”

But her fear scents the air. It finally hits me that the last time, this hurt her. She doesn’t know that I won’t allow that. So, I brush my lips over her skin, fighting a groan at how she tastes already, and murmur, “It’s not going to hurt.”

I don’t give her time to respond, mostly because my body can no longer be restrained, before my teeth pierce her thin flesh. Instinctually, she jerks, and my hands clamp around her wrist to keep her in place.

I want to say it’s to keep her from slicing open, but it’s really that I have lost all control of my senses. Her blood floods my mouth, even more exquisite now that I am starving for it. I drink in slow mouthfuls, trying hard to be aware of how much I am draining her.

My numbing agent was already coating my fangs when I bit down. It takes Jessa all of thirty seconds to throw her head back and moan. “Fu-fuck.”

She slowly slides back and I push up onto my knees, curling over her wrist as I force my teeth out. My tongue flicks over the skin, laving over the wound and drinking in every drop.

I’m dying for more, but I look over at Jessa. She’s lying full back on the bed of rock and cool moss, her eyes nearly rolled back in her head. Her body writhes slightly, soft whimpers escaping her as she does so.

It’s enough for me to move over her, brushing her hair back as I inspect her. I thought it wouldn’t cause her pain…but maybe I was wrong. My eyes dart to the hammering pulse along her neck, my nature fighting my mind. But I keep distance between us as I lean over her.

“Jessa?”

“More,” she cries softly, her body arching up off the stone. “It felt good.” She tries to blink open her heavy eyelids and fails. “Why…” Her voice is all dreamy, assuaging my worries that she is in pain. “Why did you stop?”

I hover over Jessa, unsure what to make of her reaction. She writhes gently, cheeks flushed as she begs for more.

"I don't want to take too much," I rasp out, though my fangs ache to pierce her tender flesh again.

"Please," she breathes, tilting her head to bare the graceful column of her throat. "It feels so good..."

I clench my fists against the urge to comply, to send her spiraling deeper into intoxicated bliss. "You've lost blood already. It's not safe."

Jessa makes a small sound of frustration, still lost in a haze of endorphins. "I don't care. I need it. Need you." Her eyes flutter open halfway, glazed with desire.