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Subduedguitar notes drift through the house, beckoning me closer to the source of the sound in the great room.

Adrianappears in the doorway to the kitchen with a plate full of food. “Hey!”

Irun for it.

Myheart leaps in my chest at the sight of him on the couch, like it’s diving straight off a hundred-foot cliff into jagged rocks below.

Zakhardly glances over at his shoulder until he sees me running toward him.

Hequickly sets his guitar aside. “Babe, n—”

Thesilence permeating the house is eerie whenIjumpZak, wrapping my arms around his neck asIstraddle his lap on the couch and hold him close.

He’sas stiff as a corpse beneath me.Hedoesn’t even breathe.

“Steph, that’s not a good idea,”Adrianmurmurs.

“Ilove you,”Iwhisper.Mymouth rests onZak’sshoulder as my eyes close, relishing the familiar heat emanating from his body.Idon’t realize how hard my entire body has tensed until a tear shakes out of me. “Ilove you so much.”

Momentsfeel like hours—long, torturous hours that last an eternity in the grand scheme of things becauseI’mnot supposed to be here, not supposed to be anywhere nearZakor his taste buds that have a particular affinity for the blood coursing through my veins.

Itall comes to a screeching halt whenZak’sarms slip around my waist and pull me closer.

Adrian’sfrantic scramble stops when he realizesZakhasn’t taken a bite out of me—his twin holds me close, unbreathing, unmoving in a firm embrace.

Ikiss his neck softly, savoring the taste of him on my lips beforeIlose it. “Nothingwill change how muchIlove you,Z.”

Hemoves, hand caressing my cheek and beard scratching my chin as his lips meet mine.Apeculiar spark flares in the center of my chest and surges through my body, crackling beneath the surface.

Thisis allIwant.Inthis moment, allIwant isZak’sstrong arms around me, the reassurance of his love still burning for me sealed with a kiss.

Hischest expands with a full breath, and he pulls away. “Getout.”

Tearssting my eyes—his have gone blood red, dark and starving.

“Don’trun,” he whispers in a voice that traces an icy finger of fear down my spine. “Don’trun orI’llfucking eat you.”

Thewhite-hot flame in my gullet turns to an iceberg plummeting into freezing, murky depths asIslowly climb offZakand the couch.

Mycalves hit the coffee table.Ilurch forward, dangerously close toZak.Myeyes snap shut with a grimace and a whimper, terrified to take a peek.

“Stephani, come to me,”Adriancalls out softly, but firmly.

Itake a breath, and that’s whenIhear it: the low, faint rumble of a growl coming fromZak.

Shit, shit, shit.

Quickly, smoothly,Istep away fromZak, not trusting to turn my back untilIhave at least a solid wood door between us.

Ibump into something and jump.

“Getout!”

Nervesblaze beneath my skin, screaming for me to run even thoughZakwarned me not to.Adrianslips an arm around my waist and shoves me out of the house.Thedoor slams behind us.

“Whatthe fuck are you doing?”Adrianshouts. “Areyou trying to get yourself killed?”

Frustratedtears spring up in my eyes. “Wecan make it work,”Iyell. “Maybecommunion isn’t doing it like we thought.Hecan learn to control it, andIcan help him.”