Page 134 of Bonds of Starfall

The table cut into her stomach as he pulled her close. There was a shattering sound, but neither of them pulled away.

His lips moved over hers with practice, like she was a bad habit he knew intimately well, picking her up again after centuries.

The sharp tip of a fang cut into her bottom lip, pricking the tip of her tongue. He sucked her tongue into his mouth and soothed the ache, drinking her blood at the same time.

It was angry, full of resentment. Rin tried to give as good as she got, but Valkar took control with ease, owning her, possessing her. She never even had a chance.

Her head grew light with the need to breathe.

Valkar was the first to break away from the dangerous, blood-soaked enchantment that gripped them both.

When he pulled away, there was blood on his teeth.

Her lips were swollen, tingling, wet with their saliva and red with her blood.

Valkar exhaled deeply, the sound close to a groan. "If you knew how long I’ve wanted to do that to you."

Rin reached up to touch her lips. Her fingertips were red.

She’d never been consumed like that before.

Reeling, speechless, she was still leaning over the table. The glass of blood was shattered on the tabletop. Her ragged breaths filled the room.

As if nothing had even happened—as if her Soulbond hadn’t devoured her whole and left her empty and starving—the vampire sat back and reached into his pocket, pulling out his phone. He shoved it into her face. She blinked furiously, sitting back, heart racing as the screen came into focus.

A map, with a red pin dropped over a place she knew well.

Soft blue eyes, the flash of a scythe, and roaring Rogues.

"Nova Zone 21," Rin said, breathless.

"You know it?"

"I’ve been there. A safer Nova Zone on the outskirts of Solar City. It’s used for Hunter training—most of the Rogues there are lowlevels." But that wasn’t true. There had been midlevels there… Her mind struggled to keep up.

"That’s where the drop is. Two days." Valkar crossed his arms, bloodied fangs flashing as he scowled. "Don’t fucking think I’m telling you so you can try to escape."

"Then why?"

"Because you and I are going together."

Rin’sknuckles were white as she gripped the steering wheel. In the passenger seat, Cyrus was quiet, uncharacteristically so.

The lonely streets flashed by. It was surreal to be headed back to Solar City so soon—after everything. What felt like a year had barely been a week.

She glimpsed darkness in the rearview mirror and looked away, queasy.

Tailing their car, Rhyden Valkar.

The vampire’s motorcycle engine tore through the night, even with the car’s windows closed. He wove through the cracked pavement, recklessly exposed in unregulated territory.

She was being reckless, too, at the moment.

Rin led the vampire right back to Solar City, after all.

Cyrus didn’t hidehis concern. As Vesperin pulled the key out of the ignition, the silence was loud. Night had fallen over the empty Academy parking lot.

Valkar’s motorcycle cut off. He leaned down, tapping the window on the driver’s side, without removing his helmet.