Page 41 of Little Wing (Shades of Fairhaven #1)

“ L uca—you cannot do this!” I screeched, slapping my hands against the thick barn doors. No, he could not do this—he could not just leave me.

“This will teach you, whore,” Luca spat. I could hear chains rattling against the surface of the door. “I let you off your leash, and now I find out you’ve been fucking some human. You’re a fucking monster—it’s time I cage you like one.”

I listened for the sounds of my brother’s footsteps that would assure me that I was not going to be left alone, that this was all a jest. I had done everything he wanted me to.

I only went out in the evenings, I wore my makeup, and I avoided large crowds.

I also never consumed human blood. We strictly consumed animal blood to avoid detection as well as trying to retain some form of humanity.

Though perhaps what Luca hated most was that I found comfort in Wesley, who loved me for who I was.

True, he did not know of our vampirism, but he did not fear me.

He did not question my chilled skin, my ruby eyes, or my strange curfew.

We treasured each stolen moment. But now…

Luca discovered my secret pleasure. Now… I had no way out.

Days passed, or perhaps it was weeks? Time’s only indicator was the level of thirst that I felt, which worsened with each passing hour. Luca left me with no sustenance and no matter how hard I banged on the thick doors, no one ever answered.

As much as I did not want to think it, I began to consider the possibility that my own brother, who took my life the first time, was going to erase me completely.

When the thirst began to make my throat burn, I hissed softly while resting my head on the hay.

What I would not give for a single drop of blood to quench the pain I was feeling.

Each hour made my heart ache and brain cry out for feed.

I wanted to bury my fangs and overgrown claws in my prey and suck the life force out of it. I wanted to bathe in its blood and—

The door of the barn rattled, stirring me from my fantasy.

“L-luca?” I asked, crawling off the hay pile toward the door. “B-b-brother.”

“Lotus? Are you in there?”

Oh gods…

“Lotus, the barn is locked—hold on! I’ll get something to break it. Please hang on!”

My nostrils flared at the surge of heat I detected just beyond the barn doors.

I recognized the scent immediately. Cedar, spearmint, and the unmistakable aroma of warm flowing blood.

Wesley was beyond those doors and each huff and groan that I heard left my vision feeling hazy.

I was losing sight of myself, losing myself to the creature that begged for the crimson fluid.

I longed to suck it, slurp it, bathe in it.

“No,” I rasped. “No, Wesley… you must leave!”

“Hang on, Lotus!”

Could he not hear me? I touched my lips and helped myself up to my feet. My body ached to reach the doors, but I could feel my control slipping.

“No, Wesley… please… plea se you must go,” I pleaded, feeling tears spilling from my eyes.

But as much as I begged, it did not stop the doors from flying open, revealing the man from the other side.

His amber hair was slicked back, and the sleeves of his riding shirt were rolled up over his forearms. He looked panicked and relieved all at once as his eyes darted to me.

“Oh, Lotus,” he cried out, rushing to pull me into his arms.

I trembled as I held my breath, trying as hard as I could to suppress the intoxicating aroma of his blood. The relief and safety that I used to feel in his arms was replaced with hunger that overpowered everything.

Wesley pulled away to look me over. With the way his eyes grew wide, I knew my makeup was all but gone and my true form was on display for him.

“Who did this to you? I need to get you to a healer. You look ill, my love.”

“M-My… my love,” I whimpered, touching him, feeling his pulse pounding like a beautiful song beneath his skin. It sang to me, called for me. “You are my greatest love, Wesley.”

“Of course, Lotus. Of course. Now, come on. You need medical attention.” As he moved to pull me after him, I did not budge. And when he turned, I pulled him back into me.

My ears buzzed with nothing else but the rhythm of his heart pounding in my head. I could not escape it. With tears in my eyes, I squeezed his wrist tighter.

“I am so sorry, my love.”

Wesley looked down at his wrist long enough to make the fatal mistake of revealing his neck to me.

In one swift movement, I yanked his head to the side and plunged my fangs into his neck, piercing the artery that sprayed his delicious life into my mouth.

My eyes lit up with a hunger that amplified at the first taste of human blood, of his blood.

There was immediate terror as he fought to throw me off him, but I sank my fangs deeper into him, gulping down mouthfuls of him. Despite the tears that smeared the blood on my face, I could not stop.

“I am so sorry," I whimpered against his skin, and he soon felt chilled beneath my touch. When I looked him in the eyes, they were lifeless. The joyful spark I fell in love with—gone.

“I am so sorry.” It was all I could repeat.

I clutched him against me as he could no longer hold himself up.

And as gently as I could, I lowered the lifeless body to the ground.

Despite how heartbroken I was, I resumed my feast, savoring every drop that he gifted me.

His stolen life would not be in vain. With blood-stained lips, I planted my mouth against his, hoping for even a hint of residual warmth.

My last bit of the man I loved so completely.

When I finally pulled away, I noticed the black scuffed boots standing beyond my fallen lover. I did not need to incline my gaze to know that Luca stood before me. I could sense his presence. My blood called out to his, like a tether, forever linked. Like a prisoner linked to its master.

“Clean this up,” he demanded, nudging Wesley’s limp arm toward me. “We leave tomorrow.”