Page 41 of Bitten By Chaos

I should stop, I thought. But when I paused, Merl pressed the blade far enough into Julian’s pale skin to open a lesion, blood soaking into the blade like water in thirsty soil.

We would do anything for each other because we were mates. I remembered Julian explaining that when he turned me. He wasn’t angry with me for making the deal with the queen. He’d understood the need to save him at all costs. It was the same for him. And it was the same drive that pushed him to choose this life all those years ago. Yes, I did want him to let me make my own choices. But I also understood the drive to protect those you loved no matter the consequence.

I forgive you, and I know you forgive me, I promised Julian silently before turning back to my meal. Five minutes later, I was still sucking at what was now an empty and lifeless husk that used to be a fairy. I dropped the body to the floor and stepped away, covered in a combination of his black blood and my own red.

“Beautiful,” Merlin breathed, releasing the shield, but keeping the blade where it was, against the now conscious Julian’s throat.

Our gazes locked, and I knew he understood.

“Let him go now, Merlin,” I said.

“First, I’ll need you to get back in your restraints so I can wake Lydia and have her turn me.”

Julian remained still and calm as always, an amazing feat when I’d railed, fought, and growled my way through the last who knew how many hours. I’d learn that skill somehow even if it took another five hundred years.

“Sure,” I said with a shrug and stepped so that my back was to the wall, lifting my hands above me for the shackles to grab onto. But this time I placed a layer of pink energy between the silver and my skin.

Merlin retreated from Julian, lowering the sword to his side. “Excellent.” He thrust the blade into thin air where it disappeared then approached Lydia.

I nodded at Julian then slipped my hands and legs from the restraints effortlessly before floating to the floor where I landed without a sound. Merl hadn’t thought of everything, it turned out. His hubris was his downfall. He couldn’t fathom the idea that after completely draining fae royalty, I was now the superior magic wielder. The difference between stopping and finishing each drop of blood was incredible. Every spot on his body lit up with its secrets, both weaknesses and strengths. I smiled as I crept closer, predator toward prey, as Lydia’s eyes blinked open.

He didn’t even have a chance to turn around before I’d sunk into his neck, circling him from behind and crushing him against me, breaking right through his breastbone.

The deliciously sweet flavor rolled over my tongue, dessert to my appetizer of Bres as I fed, gulping greedily, unwilling to lose even a dribble.

“Charlotte,” Julian called, his tone sharp yet gentle at the same time. “You will regret it if you don’t stop.”

But he was wrong. He hadn’t seen what this monster had done to my mother. The nightmares he’d created in the other room. He hadn’t been there when Merlin belittled and threatened me with everything from rape to draining me into an animal. No, he couldn’t be allowed to bring this kind of harm to anyone anymore. All he was good for was his blood, and though I risked some sort of withdrawal after, I was going to have my fill and then some for the last time.

Around us, magic shot out like desperate screams, knocking over objects and stirring blasts of both wind and fire. But I only sank in deeper, drawing his lifeforce inside of me until he stilled, and I sank to my knees, still clutching him to me as I called out every last drop from his body with my telekinesis. And when I was done, I dropped what was left of the illustrious Merlin and set a hand on my engorged stomach.

“I’d say I already paid for that in advance.”

Chapter 14

Aftermath

Iwaved away Julian and Lydia’s restraints while still on the ground. Though my entire body buzzed with power, multiple colors swirling over, through, and around me and the room, I couldn’t find the emotional strength to rise yet.

Julian knelt beside me, tucking me under his arm, and I laid my head against his chest as Lydia kicked Merlin’s body out of the way and sat down across from me.

“What time is it?” I asked after a while.

“I’m not certain,” Julian said, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “But I came searching for you around three in the morning, so it must be at least six. Next time, we babysit together.”

I could feel his smile form against my scalp, and I wrapped my arms around his middle.

“All I know is, I saw a scrap of paper on the floor out in front of the lab, and then I woke up here in chains with you all.” Lydia shook her head.

Scanning the room for the tiny piece of paper, I located it on the floor beside Bres’ body. All I had to do was direct the thought, and it went up in a flash of blue flame.

“That won’t be working on anyone else,” I reported. With a sigh, I stood, Julian helping me unnecessarily to my feet where I felt like I could almost float right up to the ceiling with no effort at all. In fact, it took more effort to keep my feet planted on the ground.

“We should get you cleaned up,” Julian said, taking my hand to slip my stolen ring back on my finger where it belonged.

“I’m starting to get used to looking like a monster.” I glanced down at the mess I seemed to be more often than not lately. My dress was torn down the front, revealing my bra that barely covered what it was meant to. And a collection of multiple types of sticky blood, including my own, was drying against my skin.

The side of Lydia’s mouth curled. “I think you look like a badass, doc.”

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