Page 107 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

She'd meant it as a joke, a way to lighten the mood, but Ell-rom's expression remained serious. "Would it be reported so soon?"

"Unless your killing thoughts cause visible wounds, the death would look like it was from natural causes, and those don't get reported."

"Can you check just in case there is something? What if my thoughts can kill a bunch of people? Humans are much more fragile than Kra-ell. What killed one Kra-ell guard could kill several humans."

Jasmine blinked, taken aback by the urgency in his tone. It seemed like he had given his death brainwave a lot of thought.

"Of course." She reached for her phone. "If it'll help put your mind at ease, I can check right now."

As she began to scroll through local news sites, Jasmine was torn between contradicting emotions. On the one hand, she was touched by Ell-rom's concern for others and his determination not to cause harm. It was one of the many qualities that had drawn her to him. On the other hand, though, she worried about the toll this fear was taking on him, the way it seemed to be consuming his thoughts.

"Nothing unusual happened recently," she reported after a few moments of searching. "Just the regular news cycle. No mysterious death-ray deaths."

"Good." Ell-rom didn't find her wording amusing, but he looked relieved.

She set her phone aside and took both of his hands in hers. "I know that this power scares you. It's a huge responsibility, and there's still so much we don't understand about it, but you are one of the kindest, most compassionate people I've ever met. Your first instinct is always to protect, to help, and I don't believe for a second that you could accidentally harm innocent people."

"That guard didn't deserve to die for taunting Morelle and me."

"He was planning to expose your sister, which would have resulted in both your deaths. I'm glad that you killed him."

"But what if?—"

Jasmine cut him off. "No what-ifs. You can't let fear rule your life."

A smile tugged at the corners of Ell-rom's mouth. "I like it when you get like that. I find it very attractive."

"Oh, yeah?" She looked at him from under lowered lashes. "You like it when I boss you around?"

He shrugged. "Given what you’ve told me about my Kra-ell heritage, it shouldn't be all that surprising."

77

ELL-ROM

It was a gamble, in case Jasmine did not enjoy being the dominant partner, but Ell-rom was desperate. Perhaps if she took the lead and got more aggressive with him, he would get carried away and bite her before his mind made the connection between biting and blood, between fangs and pain.

According to Jasmine, the venom bite was highly pleasurable, but at the moment of incision it was very painful, and he dreaded the thought of causing that.

She hadn't made a big deal out of it, but he suspected that she had downplayed the unpleasant part and overplayed the euphoric effect of the bite.

The desire to fully bond with her was all-consuming, but he feared that his aversion would kick in again and make him bite the cursed pillow.

It had been the low point of their previous lovemaking, and he still felt shamed by it, even though Jasmine had reassured him that everything had been perfect. She had also climaxed, but hewasn't sure if it was indicative of his skill as a lover or just an automatic response to the joining.

He studied her face, trying to gauge her emotions.

She looked tired, the weight of Annani's expectations evident in the slight slump of her shoulders, but her lips were curled in a seductive smile, and her eyes sparkled with mischief and desire.

"Are you tired?" He reached out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Jasmine leaned into his touch. "A little, but not enough to fall asleep yet." She sounded breathy.

He captured her lips in what he'd intended to be a tender kiss, but she responded with such hunger that his plan was forgotten.

Her arms came up to wrap around his neck, pulling him closer as she deepened the kiss, igniting passion between them. But despite the heat, the almost desperate need, there was also a gentleness, a reverence in the way they touched each other.

There was love.