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T he medium-sized woman , with short, straight, black hair cut in a severe angle towards the woman’s fine jawline and kind eyes, who appeared no more than late twenties, sat before Michaela on the table with remnants of brunch littered all around with her arm hanging low.

Juli. Michaela barely recalled Amaros telling her the Prime’s name and that Juli had supplied her with clothes before Michaela was trying to get her fangs into her.

Amaros said the position allowed the blood to flow unhindered through the veins as Michaela drank.

And drank she did. Michaela cupped one hand underneath the woman’s wrist and the other around Juli’s forearm, keeping her wrist fused to her mouth. She kept her fangs sunk into Juli’s lush veins, consuming the warm, metallic-sweet rivers of blood.

It was a wonder to Michaela how much she loved blood.

Food was a necessity as a human, and in her life, there hadn’t been much that she found to eat that made her desire to put the next bite into her mouth.

Even in the lab, the food quality was better than what she saw on the street and got in food kitchens, but it wasn’t anything she’d use the term delicious on.

But blood was decadent. I could joyfully consume it for the rest of my life.

And you will.

Amaros’s voice in her mind drew her gaze to where he leaned against the wall by one of the stained-glass windows, watching her feed.

His intense eyes always watched her, as if she were the only thing in his world.

It overwhelmed her and made her nervous. She’d never been anyone’s anything—just everyone's burden until they didn’t have to deal with her anymore.

But with Amaros, he made her feel like she mattered.

And she wanted to matter, not just to someone but to him.

As she continued to drink, enraptured as the flesh-warmed blood cascaded down her throat like water—rivulets and rivulets of Juli’s luscious life source.

When it ended its journey and splashed into the pool in her stomach, deepening with every pull of her mouth, Michaela felt the sparks and tingles spread warmth through her body and saturated every cell.

It was that warmth that became heat, that turned into need.

Lust.

That desire drew her toward something more decadent and crave-worthy than blood—Amaros.

As her gaze followed the lines of the white pinstripes in his tan apparel and travelled along his sleek, well-put-together form, dressed in another tailored suit—jacket, tie, shirt, slacks—she tried to unravel the mystery of him.

She wanted to unravel him, muss him, see him unrestrained, and force him to show her his need.

The salty taste of Juli’s soft skin along her tongue and the light floral notes of lavender, roses, violets, dandelions, and the pungent, earthy scent of soil surrounding the woman made feeding from her pleasant.

Michaela didn’t know how she identified the scents because she could not recall a flower she’d ever seen outside of a book.

Nothing grew in the Dispatch District, not flowers and especially not hope.

Juli let out a soft moan and exhaled in a long sigh.

Concerned, she glanced up at the other woman and saw a paleness to her peachy complexion, and a grayish-dark mark had begun to circle her green eyes. However, they remained glazed and bright, as if Juli experienced a joy in submitting to her. Her.

Michaela felt the tension in the Prime woman’s body and understood that the act of feeding wasn’t only erotic for the Vampire but for the human source as well.

Have I drunk too much? Am I expected to satisfy her since I put her in this state?

No .

Crossing her legs to tamp down the ache between her thighs, Michaela returned her gaze to Amaros.

Juli is Prime, a slight excess of blood loss will not kill her, she will recover quickly.

Typically, it is common for Vampires to engage in sex during or after a feeding—as you well know, it’s sensual in its act.

But blood mates do not fuck others, unless both mates are willing to invite in outsiders to their bed .

Oh.

Is that something you’d like, Michaela? Do you desire Juli? Or maybe even Sherman?

Michaela did not have to glance toward the tall, stocky man with skin the color of African nights to answer Amaros. No .

Amaros was all she wanted. And gracious did she want him. Her thighs were sleek with her arousal, to an almost embarrassing level.

He held her gaze. Have you had enough, little angel?

Little angel. The way his deep, cultured voice called her those two words always sent a frisson of heat down her spine and right to her clit.

And now that she felt so open to him, vulnerable after she confessed the horrors of the lab to him and all the Vampire leaders, she needed to know he still wanted her. Desired her.

She glanced up at Juli, even if she hadn’t drunk enough to satiate herself, which Michaela was beginning to wonder if her belly was a bottomless pit. Or was it because she had three little ones she also needed to feed? Juli began to sway on the table, evident she’d lost quite a bit of blood.

Something sparked in her, and Michaela inherently knew it was her job to care for this human. Drinking more than she should, even if Juli would eventually be okay, was wrong and selfish. It would make Michaela no better than the scientists.

Yes. I’ve had enough .

Remember to retract your fangs with your last sip, so you do not release your venom into her bloodstream. It’s dangerous, even to a Prime, Amaros coaxed her gently.

Michaela followed his instructions carefully.

Lick her wound so that it seals, now .

Slowly, Michaela dragged her tongue over the two perfect puncture marks in the woman’s wrist. She watched in amazement as the skin drew tight and seemed to stitch itself closed before her eyes.

Fascinating .

“Sherman, assist Juli. Ensure she eats and rests, and you can attend to her needs.”

“As you command, Sire.” After a curt nod at Amaros, Sherman was beside Juli instantly, then wrapped his thick arm around her waist and helped her down from the table.

Juli’s knees buckled.

Michaela felt terrible for a moment, and was concerned she had gone too far.

“Mistress, it was my honor to serve you. Please call for me in any way I can assist you.” Juli bowed before Michaela, holding her position for a long time, even as she wavered and leaned into Sherman for support.

Nervous, and unsure how to respond or what she should do in the face of such devotion, Michaela moved on instinct. Rising to her feet, she leaned down, cupped Juli’s chin, and urged the woman, shorter than her by a foot, to lift her head and meet her gaze.

“Thank you, Juli. You have pleased me this day with your service. It will not be forgotten.” Michaela lowered her hand, stepped back, and offered a sharp nod to dismiss the woman.

With the glow of happiness returning color to Juli’s features, the Prime stumbled out of the room with Sherman offering support and whispering words of comfort.

The room was silent as she and Amaros were the only two left.

Michaela felt a little nervous being alone with him after hearing how the scientist had forced the babies inside of her. She slipped a hand over her belly, and felt a firmness though there wasn’t even a bump yet. But she knew they were there, well and growing because of their constant heartbeats.

Did Amaros see her as less than a woman and no longer desirable to him? He’d kept his distance from her since she’d divulged the truth, and only touched her to restrain her from tearing open the young servant's veins in her hunger. Then he’d retreated to the other side of the room.

Yes, he’d kept her in sight. However, it was more to ensure she didn’t go rabid on Juli in her bloodlust.

He’d used the term blood mates before, but they were not blood mates, or any actual type of mates because Amaros repeatedly refused to seal the deal—join them as one.

And right now, with fresh blood pumping through her veins and her clit throbbing in time with every heartbeat, she wanted Amaros to claim her.

Michaela .

She glanced in his direction, afraid of what she would see in his face. Fearful that he would order her back to their gorgeous room that felt like a gilded cage because she couldn’t be trusted outside of it.

Well, she was outside of it now and refused to return under the same guarded living and one-sided pleasure.

She observed him now, and the damn, stoic man hadn’t moved.

A low growl broke from her lips. “How can you be so damn calm...controlled... you ?”

Amaros didn’t smile, didn’t flinch at her accusation. “What is it you want, little angel? Tell me and I will do everything within my power to give it to you.”

A part of her knew he referred to the men and women who used her in the lab in unspeakable ways. But she could care less about them right now. Her focus was on one thing, one person: Amaros.

“You.” She took a step, making her way across the room to him. “I want your lips and your hands all over me. You inside of me.”

One slow step after another, she went to him.

Then in an instant, a swirl of black smoke surrounded her and Amaros was there. His hard chest pressing into her aching breasts as he pulled her closer still with a hand on her hip. “Be careful what you ask for, little angel.”

“I know what I’m asking for, Amaros. You,” she told him again.

His free hand cupped her face and his lips found her mouth. He licked along the seam tickling the sensitive skin of her mouth.

When she parted her lips for him, he drew back and continued his expedition of the outside of her mouth.

She hissed as he nipped the side of her bottom lip, his fang piercing her flesh.

He collected the tiny drop of blood that beaded at the cut before she felt the light, itchy sensation of her body’s quick healing.

Amaros did it again to the other side.