Page 13 of Beyond the Veil (Endangered Fae #4)

Every nerve screamed at Finn to do just that, but the need to protect Diego was far stronger.

Rage blossomed around his heart as he whirled on the men with a savage roar.

If he startled them enough, he might buy them time for an escape.

Whatever terrible thing this weapon was doing, he had to get Diego clear of it, had to get him away from here.

He pulled hard on the flows, preparing to increase his mass. Talons grew from his feet and hands, wings sprouted from his back as he flung himself into the shift to dragon. With one sweep of his mighty tail, he would—

Agony shrieked through him as something heavy and burning cold landed over him.

Finn struggled wildly, trying to find some way to break free, but the iron net simply tangled around him further.

Stuck mid-shift, unable to move a drop of magic, Finn snarled at his attackers, some of whom appeared frightened, but none ran away.

He heard the word demon as several of them pulled out heavy truncheons and proceeded to beat him senseless while he lay trapped beneath the web of iron. Through the terrible pain, his last thought was more irritated than frightened. You’d think I would get this rescue thing right, just once.

Theo woke in a haze of pain and hunger. The knives stabbing into his head made it harder to think. The sharpness of the blood need frightened him. This shouldn’t happen. I fed before we left the island. I should have a week at least.

Worse still, they hadn’t locked him away. Someone sat beside him, clutching his hand. Steady thrum of pulse beating against his skin. Scent of hot blood near, so very near…

“Go,” he managed to whisper, though his throat felt raw and a growl started in his chest. Through the rising, pounding hunger, he latched on to the person’s scent. Limpet . “Run. Please.”

“Why would I do that? You just woke up.” Limpet’s hissing whisper grated on his frayed nerves. “Humans are shouting downstairs. I think it’s safer here with you. They left and came back, and now there’s all this ye—”

“Limpet!” Theo slitted his eyes open, grateful for the drawn curtains and dim lamplight. He wrenched his hand from Limpet’s, gritting his teeth against the growing need. “Leave the room. Close the door. Or you’ll be dinner.”

The selkie’s black eyes grew huge as he knocked the chair over in his attempt to back away.

Theo expected him to flee. Any sensible person would have.

He knew how he looked—eyes red and half-mad, fangs extended, hands shaking with need.

Like a crazed junkie, that’s how. He just needed a few minutes alone to pull himself together.

But Limpet stopped, still within reach, and shook the hair back from his eyes with a lift of his chin that screamed forced bravado. “You’ve fed from other fae. The humans told me. I could…could help you.”

“I’m not in control,” Theo grated out as he curled into a ball and buried his face in the pillow. Your scent is making me crazy. Comemierda , selkie.

“You are.” Limpet’s soft tenor shook and cracked, but he took a step closer. “You haven’t attacked me.”

Theo snarled in frustration. “Go get Kurt. Carajo , you’re an idiot. You think I’m a monster. Why are you still here?”

“You’re…” Limpet swallowed hard and Theo fought not to think about his Adam’s apple sliding up and down his long, beautiful throat. “You’re not a monster. You’re Theo.”

He heard all the yelling downstairs. Something had gone wrong.

He had to find out, but he couldn’t leave the room, not like this.

Kurt had said he would volunteer in an emergency, but feeding from human males was hard, in too many ways.

If it wasn’t a violent feeding, the sexual charge lacing it made the process horribly uncomfortable.

Sure, if he had someone who loved him, like his friend Jasper did, feeding would have been easy, even wonderful.

As a nonhuman, Limpet was actually the better choice.

“Sit,” Theo growled. “Don’t move from there.” He waited until Limpet settled on the edge of the chair as if it were made of eggshells. “Wrist.”

“Don’t you need a throat to feed from? How will you—”

“Shh. Safer this way.”

“Safer if I only offer my wrist or safer if I’m quiet? Will this hurt? How much do you take? Will I bleed all over the floor?”

“Shut up. Please. Just shut up.”

Limpet clamped his lips shut and held out his left arm, which shook as badly as Theo’s hands. Great. Nothing like fear to make the predator reactions worse.

With exaggerated care, Theo turned on his side and slid his hand under Limpet’s forearm.

Warmth seeped into his fingers, the accelerated thump of a living pulse driving spikes of need through him.

He shivered, resting his forehead on his arm and breathing in little sips.

None of the clichéd things he wanted to say— Trust me.

I won’t hurt you. Just relax —made it past his clenched teeth.

He didn’t think he could get any more words out through the scarlet drumbeat in his head.

There was a whimper. He wasn’t sure if it was his or Limpet’s. Then Limpet moved in closer and stroked his hair. “It’s all right. I’m not a fragile human. Let me help you.”

Sea, salt, blood, musk—this close, Limpet’s scent escalated from maddening to a full-cry assault.

Theo dug the fingers of his free hand into the mattress, fighting hard with his bestial side.

If he lost his grip, even for an instant, he would become a raving, mindless hunter.

Everyone in the building would be at risk. Limpet was wrong. He was a monster.

Forcing himself to move with excruciating deliberation, as if he had to draw each movement anew cell-animation style, he hovered over Limpet’s wrist, squeezing his eyes shut as he leaned down to lick over the vein.

Now the selkie did whimper, but instead of tensing and trying to pull away, the muscles in his forearm relaxed under Theo’s grip.

The angle was awkward. Most of his fae feeders preferred to hold him when he fed.

Those huge warrior types seemed to have an overwhelming urge to comfort him while he took blood from them .

“Go on,” Limpet whispered, soft and soothing rather than his usual sotto voce hiss. “I’m here.”

No more slow motion. The bite had to be quick and clean.

Theo opened his mouth, positioned his fangs carefully and bit down.

The sensation of teeth piercing skin went straight to his groin.

That didn’t often happen with a fae feeding.

He shifted to hide his growing erection.

Damn it, where are the rest of my clothes?

Concentrate. Pull the fangs gently so flesh won’t tear.

Clamp on tight and suck hard. If he ever did have a lover again, at least he would have the suction part down.

Above him, Limpet drew in a shuddering breath.

He squirmed around, slid off the chair to kneel beside the bed, then laid his head on Theo’s shoulder.

Such a strange thing to do, so trusting, almost tender, the oddness of it helped him stay present and sane.

After a few good pulls, enough to ease the pain the sun had caused and before the fae-blood buzz slid over into a disabling high, Theo let go, licking at the little punctures to help close them.

It was hardly necessary with the fae , they healed so quickly, but it always felt more polite.

Still draped over him, Limpet asked, “Better?”

Now Theo had to fight the urge to wrap his arms around Limpet. He sat up instead with a hand over his lap. “Yes. I have to get downstairs now.”

A little fae drunk, he had to steady himself on the nightstand when he tugged on his pants.

It wasn’t too bad, though. He wasn’t falling over and giggling as he did after a sidhe feeding.

The yelling had died down to an occasional angry, shouted sentence now, which could be good or bad.

Theo yanked on a T-shirt and left his boots and gear, more anxious by the second to know what was happening.

He yanked the door open and was about to rush out when something urged him to glance back. Limpet stood in the middle of the room, eyes just as huge as they had been before, shifting from one foot to the other.

“You better come too.” When Limpet didn’t budge, Theo grabbed his hand and tugged him along. “You’ll probably explode if you have to wait alone.”

The unhappy, anxious look persisted and Theo could have smacked himself.

“Ah, thank you. For helping me. You…thank you.”

He must have been a touch more drunk than he thought since Limpet’s smile made his chest feel tight and strange.