Page 66 of Cryptic Dreams

“Your color is off.” She squeezes the wounds in my arm but I do not feel it, I just watch her honey brown fingers against my alabaster skin. “It’s already in your bloodstream. Shit.”

“Shite, indeed.”

Zephyr cups my cheeks again and for a moment I think she may kiss me, another kiss that I shan’t be able to stop, nor do I want to. “Tell me you love me.”

“I love you. I, Wraith, love you, Zephyr.”

“Tell me this is forever.”

“It is.”

Those golden eyes bounce between my black ones. “Say it, Wraith. Tell me this, you and me, we’re forever.”

“We are forever and a day, my love. Probably a long while after that too.”

“And you want me? Not just because fate made it so, but because you truly want me.”

I nod into her hands then frown. “I wanted you before I recognized the mate bond. The second I saw you studying at the club. Why the questions?”

Zephyr takes a deep breath and holds my face firmly. “Because I’m about to do something I’ve never done and I wanted to be sure it was the right thing. I needed to know that saving you wasn’t going to kill me in the end.”

I don’t bloody understand one bloody thing happening but I nod as though I do then ask, “Saving me? What do you mean by these words?”

“Focus, baby.”

Which is the exact moment I feel the concentrated ultraviolet ray serum and silver combination burning its way to my heart.

Bloody hell.

“It... it isn’t enough—”

Zephyr shakes her head. “I don’t care. Descendant or not, that’s enough to make you really freaking sick and if it manages to get to your heart, you’re done for. I can’t let that happen, not if you really love me.”

“I do,” I reply instantly. “With all that I am, I love you.”

Her smile at that is breathtaking. “Then I’m not going to lose you.” Zephyr lifts her wrist to her mouth, fangs elongating and when they tear into her flesh and the sweet smell of her essence fills my senses, I instantly understand everything she’s saying. “I love you too much to let that happen.”

Then she shoves her wrist in my mouth and seals her words in blood.

19

I Didn’t Know It Could Be Like This

WRAITH

Iwatch from the darkened corner as the closest members of my inner circle file into the office at Plasma.

They are hesitant, leery, but angry and vengeful as well. Jonah’s death has created quite the uproar in our little group and while I can appreciate it, sympathize with them and feel the need for retribution just as strongly, it is not why we are here—not entirely.

My eyes flick to my true purpose, tracking my mate’s movements as she stands in the corner opposite me with her cousins, the three of them having a very hushed conversation that I am desperately trying to drown out.

I’ve gotten the gist of it, though.

Zephyr is relatively pissed at Orion and Aries, angry with them for hiding their involvement with the Purists from her, but despite her severe irritation that is laced with hurt, she understands.

Which is a vast improvement compared to the rollercoaster the two of us have been on the last sixteen hours or so.

After the most erotic feeding of my entire life, one that made it nearly impossible to think clearly or behave appropriately since I had no idea I’d respond so intensely to merely taking from my mate’swristwhile unmated, Zephyr and I talked.