Page 98 of Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents

The taste hit him immediately, coppery and thick, and his gag reflex kicked in instantly.

His stomach roiled in protest, but Jasmine's hand was still in his, her touch an anchor in the storm of his body's reaction. With a monumental effort, Ell-rom managed to swallow the bile that had risen in his throat instead of giving in to the urge to vomit.

"Here," Julian's voice cut through the haze of Ell-rom's discomfort.

He opened his eyes to see the doctor holding out a bottle of water. "That was an excellent first try."

Ell-rom had to release Jasmine's hand to open the bottle, immediately missing the comfort of her touch. He filled his mouth with water, swishing it around vigorously in an attempt to wash away the lingering taste of blood. It was only when he went to spit it out that he realized Julian hadn't provided a container for that purpose.

With a moment of clarity, Ell-rom understood the doctor's intention. He had no choice but to swallow the water and, with it, the trace amounts of blood that had been in his mouth. It was clever—a way to force him to consume blood without the psychological barrier of deliberately drinking it.

As he swallowed, Ell-rom was surprised to find that it wasn't as difficult as he had anticipated. The water had diluted the taste significantly, and while he could still detect a faint metallic flavor, it wasn't overwhelming.

"Congratulations," Jasmine said, leaning over to press a soft kiss to his lips. Ell-rom found himself wishing the kiss could last longer, eager to replace the taste of blood with the sweetness of Jasmine's mouth.

"By the way," Julian said. "The Clan Mother and Kian and his wife are coming over to the penthouse this evening, so you'd better get a good rest. Kian said that they would be bringing takeout from the Golden Dragon for everyone."

"Who is everyone?" Jasmine asked.

Julian shrugged. "I assume the other residents of the penthouses. The gods and their mates."

Ell-rom felt a familiar mixture of excitement and anxiety wash over him at the news of his sister's impending visit.

On the one hand, he was always eager to see Annani. On the other hand, her visits always carried a weight of expectation, a reminder of the memories he had lost and the uncertainty of what role he was meant to play in this new world.

It was good that the gods and their mates would be joining them. Having Annani's undivided attention was stressful, and he preferred to share it with others.

Jasmine's presence had been a constant source of strength and comfort throughout his recovery, and just having her beside him made the prospect of facing his formidable sister less daunting.

"Should Ell-rom eat lunch before getting into bed?" Jasmine asked.

"I don't see why not." Julian rose to his feet and collected the blood-stained glass.

Following the physician's example, Jasmine stood as well. "What if he gets sick?"

Julian smiled. "It's a risk worth taking."

She looked at Ell-rom. "Can you stay awake long enough to eat something?"

As he stood, Ell-rom felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. "I'm not sure."

Jasmine was immediately at his side, her arm slipping around his waist to support him. "Do you want me to run up and get the walker?"

He was tempted to say yes, but he had come this far, and he didn't want to finish on a weak note.

"I can make it back."

The way back to the penthouse seemed much longer than usual, each step requiring more effort than Ell-rom wanted to admit, and by the time they reached it, he wanted nothing more than to collapse on the bed.

Jasmine helped him get comfortable, adjusting the pillows and pulling up the blanket. "Do you want to eat in bed? I can bring in a tray."

He shook his head. "I need to sleep. I'll eat when I wake up."

"I'll wake you in time to get ready for Annani and Kian's visit."

"Thank you." He let his eyes drift closed.

Just before sleep claimed him, Ell-rom's mind replayed the events of the day. The exhilaration of walking through the city, the triumph of facing his blood aversion, the comforting presence of Jasmine by his side.