Page 158 of Blood Day

Lily tensed beneath my hands. She very clearly did not like that idea.

But it was a lesson we both needed becausethiswas how we deceived in the game, how we made others think we were all about sharing without truly sharing.

You can bite without feeding, I whispered into Lily’s mind.And he very clearly told me to only bite.

It… it feels…

Like cheating?I finished for her, listening as her mind puzzled over that term.Like sharing against your will,I clarified.That’s our bond, sweet flower. We’re tied to each other until it’s broken. Our instincts will be protective in nature. Which is exactly why I reacted to Khalid earlier.

And he was laying another challenge at my feet.

Only, this one wasn’t just for me.

It was for Lily, too.

I caught his gaze again, telling him with my eyes that I more than understood his meaning.If you react, he’ll punish you, Lily. You need to continue pleasuring Emine. He would tell you that his acceptance of what you’re doing is a gift, one you disrespected if you don’t make her come the way he demanded you to.

She didn’t immediately reply, her thoughts caught between trying to discern the strategy in my mind, understanding my words, and remembering what to do with her hand and her tongue.

“Is something wrong?” Khalid pressed.

“No, just deciding where I want to bite your pet,” I said.

“Her wrist will do,” he replied. “Lift your hand for Cedric, Emine.” His lips went back to her ear as he added, “If he makes you come, we’ll know whether or not you’re lying about only desiring my bite.”

A multilayered test, I mused, almost impressed.

Except I didn’t much care for this experiment.

If Lily reacted, Khalid would punish her.

If I reacted, he would punish me.

And if Emine came, he would punish her.

I understand,Lily told me.Bite her. I won’t react.

I drew my thumb along her neck as Emine shakily offered me her hand. “Thank you for the offer, Khalid,” I said, keeping my tone formal and playing my role in this charade.

My grip tightened on Lily’s hair, holding her in place while I wrapped my opposite hand around Emine’s arm.

Rather than stare at her, I looked at Khalid as I lifted his pet’s wrist to my mouth.

Which was how I caught the subtle flare of his nostrils.

A tell that told me he was not pleased by the sight of my mouth so close to his female’s skin.

That little reveal had me sinking my fangs into her delicate flesh, as it allowedmeto testhim.

How does it feel?I wanted to demand.Do you still want to play this game?

I didn’t bother pulling on her vein. I didn’t even swallow the blood rising from my bite.

I merely stared Khalid down and waited.

His jaw ticked.

And Emine groaned, her body convulsing as she fought her orgasm.