Page 45 of Desired for Her Blood

“Then…” Ember glances toward the collapsed entrance. “We need to work on moving those rocks. I’ll try to use my magic...”

I shake my head. “While I do believe your magic has the potential to be very powerful, none of us understands how to develop your powers. As such, any experimentation in that area could easily bring down the entire cave, burying us all.”

Worrying her lower lip with her teeth, she nods, and I detect what looks like a hint of relief in her eyes, but I am not skilled at reading the emotions of others.

“If we can’t get out, and no one rescues us…” she says slowly. “How long can we survive?”

I straighten my back, unsure how to answer. “Do you want the plain truth?”

She nods.

“The three of us who are vampires, we can survive on your blood and on each others.”

“Each others?” Axe makes a face, relaying disgust.

“Yes. Vampires, on occasion, feed from each other as well as humans.”

“No shit.” Axe leans forward. “I’ve never had a drop of vampire blood.”

“That is not possible,” I respond to his ridiculous assertion. “Otherwise, you could not have become a vampire.”

“Okay. You’re right.” Narrowing his eyes, he shakes his head. “That bitch who trapped us in here. She did force feed me her blood.” He shudders. “But since her. Nothing.”

“That is most interesting.” I study him, detecting no deception and unable to theorize any motive for him to lie. “And yet you seem to be quite strong for a baby vampire. Perhaps, due to your hybrid nature, your needs are different.”

“Baby?” Axe grunts.

“Vampire blood makes you guys stronger?” Ember asks.

I nod. “Feeding on other vampires is how we develop strength, and how we improve our abilities to heal. Plus many vampires find feeding on others pleasurable, particularly when combined with fornication.” Memories stir inside me. Ones I’d like to forget.

Ember’s cheeks darken with the rushing flush of her blood. “And I can survive drinking from you guys,” she says. “Vampire blood makes me feel super energized. Among other things.” Her blood-flushed cheeks are endearing, not to mention alluring, and my stiff member throbs. Perhaps Icanrisk entering her if the others are around to keep her safe from me…

But I swallow to force down my lust. I must find a gentle way to burst the bubble of hope with which she has surrounded herself. “Humans cannot survive on vampire blood. Humans require food.”

I turn my attention to Axel. “How much meat do we have on hand?”

“Not enough.” Shaking his head, he looks down.

Ember turns away, blinking rapidly. “So, I’m going to starve to death.”

I clear my throat, wishing I could lie to her, but she deserves the truth. “That is why escape is imperative. And once you perish, we too will fall into deep comas, without a source of human blood.”

Shaking her head quickly, she turns toward me. “No. That’s just crazy. Even if you refuse to leave me here, you three will save yourselves once I’m dead.” Her words come with unexpected strength.

Ryker shoots out of the pool and walks toward us, dripping water. “There’s got to be another way.”

“What way?” Axe asks, shaking his head. “Ember’s small, but even so, I’d guess we have maybe six months worth of food for her. And Zuben says she can’t live on vampire blood.”

I brush a speck of ash off my slacks. “Not only can she notsurviveon vampire blood, given too much, she’d go insane.”

“Insane?” Ryker sweeps his hair to the side, spraying us with droplets of water, and then plops down onto the fur next to Ember. “How the fuck would you know that?”

I look down. “Because I have seen it.”

“You’d better fucking explain.” Apparently, Ryker came out of the water full of hostility. I liked him better when he appeared to be anxious.

I clear my throat. “I would prefer not to.”