Page 37 of Kingly Bitten

Her nose scrunched, but she did as she was told by starting with the steamed vegetables. Then she moved on to the filet and shrimp, her brow creasing more with each bite. “This tastes different.”

“It’s seasoned.”

“With what?”

“Does it matter?”

“I’m trying to discern the intended results of such things.”

“Taste,” I told her. “It’s all abouttaste.”

“And this?” She pointed to the white substance on her plate.

“Mashed potatoes. Very healthy for the soul.”

Her expression told me that she disagreed, but she ate the substance anyway. I had several other dishes, including a variety of desserts, waiting in the kitchen. However, her cheeks looked a bit green by the end of her first plate, so I decided not to push more her way.

Lilith had obsessed over a certain look for humans, which meant providing a strict diet to mortal beings all throughout their lives. Yet Calina wasn’t human at all, so the same shouldn’t have applied to her.

“May I use the bathroom?” she asked.

I nodded and gestured to the en-suite facilities off the side of the bedroom. There was no exit point from there, so I didn’t feel the need to supervise.

She excused herself without a word.

I took the opportunity to clean up the table and the kitchen, putting the leftovers in the fridge to be enjoyed later. Calina hadn’t returned by the time I finished, making me pause to listen for her.

Silence.

Frowning, I went to the bathroom and found her on the floor in a ball of misery.

Fuck.

She’d clearly relinquished most of the contents of her stomach, but that hadn’t quelled her pain.

“You’re not used to decadence,” I said softly, sighing. “I thought you would be able to handle it with your immortal genetics, but it appears I was very wrong.”

Apologizing wouldn’t help the situation. She needed comfort, and I’d promised her that so long as she cooperated, and thus far, she seemed accommodating in terms of giving me information.

I moved to the walk-in shower to ignite the warm sprays from above. “A little water therapy will help,” I told her.

She responded by curling tighter into a ball and mumbled a response that sounded a lot like,Leave me alone. Poor Calina appeared fragile and small on the floor, my feisty genius disappearing behind a mortal shell that could so easily shatter beneath my touch.

That just wouldn’t do.

I evaluated her and our surroundings, then stripped down to my boxer shorts.

She peeked up at me, her cheeks ghostly pale.

“Hmm,” I hummed, crouching before her. “Here.” I bit my wrist and held it to her lips. “Drink.”

Her nose scrunched, similar to how she’d reacted to dinner.

“That was an order, Doctor,” I added, my tone holding a hint of demand. “I don’t offer my blood to just anyone. And it would be unwise to refuse me.”

I knew the last thing she probably wanted to do was swallow, but my blood would cure her nausea quickly and efficiently. Then I could bathe the stench off her and take her to bed. Not to fuck, but to sleep. I’d been awake for nearly two damn days, and I wasn’t in the mood to stay up for a round of hot Costa Rican sunshine.

Her lips parted, and I took that as a sign to press my wrist to her mouth. She stroked my skin with her tongue and paused as she found the idents my teeth had made.