Page 21 of Blood Day: Part One

“Do you wish to say something?” I asked, testing her.

She nodded. “Yes.”

Most would consider that response to be a failure—humans weren’t allowed to speak unless directly told to do so. But she was essentially saying she wanted to voice a thought.

And for me, that meant she’d passed.

“Speak freely,” I said, rewarding her boldness.

It was a dangerous response on my part, one that could earn her a death sentence later should she choose to behave this way in front of the wrong vampire or lycan.

Hence the reason I wanted her life to end early, to ensure her beautiful soul wasn’t tarnished too severely by what this world had become.

However, I would enjoy this side of her now and forever cherish the memory of my sweet flower.

At least until time erased her from my thoughts.

“I wanted to say ‘thank you.’?” Her words were soft. “For the meal and the water.”

My jaw ticked. She was thanking me for keeping her alive—the opposite of what I truly desired. And yet the words tasted so sweet on her lips.

I was torn between growling and smiling.

So I said nothing at all.

Because I didn’t trust myself not to strangle her.

Or fuck her against a wall.

Maybe both.

Such a dangerous conflict of interest.

“Good night, Master Cedric,” she whispered, smartly backing away from me and heading toward the door with her gaze on the floor.

She likely sensed my conflict. Perhaps even felt my need to kill her.

That would explain the heightening of her pulse.

However, she left a hint of that arousing fragrance behind, the intoxicating perfume circling me and begging me to chase her.

To hunt her.

To claim her.

She was my chosen prey.

One day I might just give in to this urge to take her. Devour her. Bleed her dry.

But not today.

“Sleep well, Lily,” I whispered after her, aware that she couldn’t actually hear me. “You’re going to need it.”

Because tomorrow I would show her just why she could never become a Vigil.

A lesson in delicacy and strength.

A lesson that she would absolutely fail.