Page 7 of Bitten By Chaos

I waited patiently until he turned and strode back over to me only to kneel and take my hand in his.

“I’ve given you what you asked of me. Now, Charlotte, will you do me the honor of making my dreams come true? Will you marry me?” He slipped a ring on my finger, and I raised it to the light. An enormous princess cut diamond rose above a ring of tiny emerald and ruby baguettes. It was breathtaking.

“Where did you get this?” I asked.

“I bought it about a hundred years ago, shortly after I realized you’d been incarnated again, but I never had the opportunity to use it.” He remained on his knee, patiently awaiting my reaction.

I dropped down to face him and cupped his beautiful face.

“Yes,” I said, peppering him with kisses. “Yes, I will marry you, Julian Carver. Now take off your clothes so I can show you how much I love you.”

Laughing, he rose and scooped me into his arms then tossed me on the navy duvet. He began undoing his sleeve cuffs in an excruciatingly slow dance that I had no patience for. Without a thought, I swiped a hand through the air, and his shirt ripped open, revealing the chiseled abs of his stomach and chest.

We both stopped, smiles falling from our faces as the reality of what I’d just done dawned. I stared at my hands in disbelief. I’d used my telekinesis as easily as a human could breathe.

Julian turned me into a vampire to eliminate my psychic abilities and save me.

Vampires weren’t supposed to retain such powers. My mindbending and TK should have been eliminated with my rebirth.

The evidence was undeniable. Somehow, these capabilities were still active. And that meant both the queen and the demons could still use me to their own ends.

I wasn’t safe after all.

Chapter 3

Just a Taste

Waking in Julian’s arms felt so right, I nearly forgot all the pain and fear that lurked outside the warm nest of blankets surrounding me. The second our eyes met, his features softened into the gentle smile of true happiness I so rarely got a glimpse of. My hand trailed lazily up the center of his chest, fingertips grazing every ridge and dip of honed muscle as I kept my gaze trained on the glowing indigo of his crystalline irises.

When I caressed his face, thumb running along the curve of his full lips, the ring came into view, and I smiled back at the promise that we had a literal eternity together. Then I remembered the multiple threats to that eternity, and I dropped my hand to the mattress, rolled over, and climbed from our nest.

I hadn’t slept more than a few hours, as my new body no longer needed as much rest, and would likely need even less as the years went by. But what if Julian was ripped from me, and those long decades were spent in service to those who’d done it?

My hand fisted, and I punched the wall with a cry, breaking a hole through the thick plaster.

“Shit.” I stared at my hand, not a blemish in sight on my pale skin. “Sorry.”

Julian was already standing in front of me, rubbing my upper arms and surveying me with a worried expression.

“It’s going to be alright, my love. No one will know. I will keep you safe.” He tilted my chin up to look at him.

“Secrets have a way of coming out,” I said. If I were still human, tears would have been running down my face. Instead, I blinked at the dry feeling, and my stomach grumbled loudly.

“Time to feed again,” Julian said, planting a gentle kiss on my lips. “I will find a pledge from the manor and bring them here for you.”

“No, wait.” I grabbed his wrist. “Let’s go together. Show me how others do it, so that if I need to find someone on my own, I can.”

With the slightest pause and a nod of agreement , Julian took my hand in his, the corners of his mouth turning up at the sight of the ring. “Let’s get dressed then, and we will dine together, my love.”

The idea of dining on humans still sent a shiver through me, but I pushed it away as I donned my outfit from the night before at super speed. I really was starving.

“I will order more clothing for you until it is safe to leave the estate,” Julian promised as he led us down the hall and the grand staircase.

It was me that took the lead as the delicious aroma of warm blood called to me from the second floor. One particular scent rose above all the others—stronger and more enticing. I followed my nose toward the source, eyes stinging and fangs poking at my tongue.

“Charlotte—” Julian tugged at my hand, but it was far too late now that I’d scented the delicacy.

“Can’t you smell it?” I hissed, turning on him as my eyes burned. Did that mean they were red?

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