Page 120 of Worse Fates

My lips part for him and then I kind of…push. Like I’m about to bite down on something, but instead fangs elongate my canines.

“Good boy.” Gently, like I’m made from clouds and Lucero has to keep me together, he brings me to his neck.

This close, I can see his vein pulsing, his smoky-sweet blood so close I can almost taste it. I run my tongue along his throat, tasting salt and his secret scent thickening—just before I sink my fangs in easy as a heated knife through butter, slicing through hot flesh to reach hotter blood.

A whine escapes as I fill my watering mouth, my head spinning.

Above me, Lucero grunts once, but his arms never loosen. My eyes flutter up, and I ask without words if he’s okay. I’ve only done this a few times with him, I hope it doesn’t hurt. I never want to hurt my mate.

“Take what you need,” He tells me, his palm cradling the back of my head to keep me in place. “

Tucking my arms close, I sigh as I melt and lose myself in the slow drop of blood splashing on my tongue. I don’t take much, even if I wanted more I’m not sure how to.

Lucero’s dick is hard against my stomach. Mine stays soft.

That’s okay, though. He doesn’t ask for anything, but I wouldn’t mind if he did. I might not want to make love right now, but I already miss the feeling of being that close to him.

Soon, with the warmth of my soulmate’s lovely blood, I kinda…drift. Not floating away, but sinking deeper into myself on every sigh that leaves me. Until I’m sinking so deep, the edges of my senses become soft and frayed.

I want to stay in Lucero’s lap, my fangs in his neck, forever. But before long, the exhaustion that’s been tugging atme since I woke up wins. I fall asleep knowing I’ll wake up in the perfect bubble of Lucero’s embrace.

Chapter Forty-One - Golden

In the newly redecorated kitchen, I slouch with my legs folded on one of the padded chairs around the rectangular dining table.

Looks like while I was out of commission Ramy fixed the destruction Jace and his assholes friends caused. The fridge is no longer on its side, bleeding out milk like a beached whale. It’s back to murmuring happily in its rightful place. The window is fixed, as if Lucero never threw Rurik out of it.

I’ve asked Ramy a couple times now how he did it, how long it took and if he changed anything. But all questions were ignored, and the glass of blood sitting in front of me pushed closer and closer.

“I got it specially for you, Golden,” Ramy says, his smile freshly baked-bread warm. “Fresh human blood—perfect for a growing boy.”

I try to force out a chuckle from my dry throat, but it comes out like a wheeze.

It smells good, makes my stomach…maybe want something? There’s an urge to drink it, but…

I linger on where Lucero leans against the counter, watching me intensely. My gaze drops to the lean column of his tempting neck.

Wouldn’t it be easier to keep feeding from him?

I shift in my seat, wanting to go to my mate and sink my fangs back where they belong. Where I’ll be safest.

But Lucero’s voice cuts in—low and commanding.“Golden.”

I roll my eyes and resist flipping him off. For about five seconds that is, then do it anyway.

He chuckles, strolling over. “Drink, beautiful.” The chair next to me is pulled out, and he sits, so I’ve got him and Ramy on either side of me. “The whole thing, too.”

“It ain’t like I don’t want it,” I huff, mostly at myself as my knee bounces. “I’m also not trying to be difficult. I’m just not hungry.”

Ramy’s hand lays on my knee, voice kind when he says, “We know, Golden. But your body went through a lot. Right now your…”

“Weak?”

“You are not weak,” Lucero replies sternly. Then cups my cheek and gently tells me, “But it will take some time before you grow into your vampiric powers. Soon your eyesight will improve, you’ll be able to run faster and so much more. Give it time.”

“Can’t I just have normal human powers back?” I lean into his touch. “I got winded walking from the bloody bedroom to the kitchen.”

Lucero flinches, subtle but I notice. I watch him just as closely as he does me, and I know that guilt eats at him. No way I’m letting that grow into distance.