Page 69 of My Summer Girl

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one with them, but I believe it...” They pause, their cheeks darkening a smidgen. “...appears on their cocks.”

A cackle escapes me as I imagine Raevar suddenly having marks on his cock. He’d definitely wonder if he somehow did something wrong. I clutch my mouth, trying to muffle the giggles that seem to only grow as Raevar’s face fills me with joy.

Their eyes dilate and their skin seems to be a bit paler than when they arrived. “Are you... hungry?” I ask, noting their pallor.

They forcefully nod, as if they don’t want to show their weakness but know it’s inevitable at the same time. “I haven’t fed since our bond.”

“Oh, wow,” I murmur, worry lacing my tone. There’s a newfound fear crawling its way through me, knowing they’re hungry. “Can I help?”

Their eyes darken as they swallow. Their jaw ticks, the little muscle on the side beating rapidly. “I don’t drink directly from people.”

“You just said—”

“Except Dulce,” they quickly respond, fidgeting with the rings on their fingers.

“You can drink from me,” I say, offering my wrist. “I don’t let those in my kingdom starve or die, Vex. It’s not in me to allow such a thing.”

Their eyes narrow, but the clench of their jaw isn’t lost on me. Starvation has to be one of the worst ways to go.

“Dulce may not like it,” they argue, but it’s futile. They’ve already taken several steps toward me.

“Would she want you to die?” I question, wondering if their mate would be so cruel.

As if thinking of her reaction, they shake their head immediately. “She’d hate me for it.”

“Then take what you need and we’ll explain to her what has happened.”

With a swift nod, they frown, before bringing my wrist to their mouth anyway. It only pinches for a moment as their incisors slice into me.

The sensations that hit my mind have me gasping. There’s so much intention there. Everything they’re concerned about floods through me. Fear, lust, worry, anger, and a bit of curiosity.

As soon as it starts, it’s over and they’re licking my wound. No wonder they don’t feed from anyone. It’s very intimate, even for me. Their tether to blood is similar to mine through Solera. Almost a joining that’s shared between the giver and receiver.

“Wow,” I mutter, at a loss for what to say. They lick their lips, their face not as pale as it was before. I note their unease and touch their shoulder. “I’m glad to be able to offer you sustenance.”

Their eyes darken, causing my heart rate to pick up. “Don’t be scared, precious. I won’t hurt you.”

“I’m not scared,” I argue, but note a wave of apprehension in me. “My body just acknowledges you’re a predator.” They smirk at that, showing their two incisors.

“Your body is smart,” they compliment. Uncharacteristically from what they’ve offered thus far. They bring my now sealed wrist to their mouth, leaving a slow but chaste kiss to the veins there.

Before I have a chance to respond, a mourning dove flies through the atrium and toward me. Once its little beak hits my forehead, it communicates Raevar’s intentions.

I’m so sorry.

Why did he relay that? Itchiness overtakes my skin, and the need to distract myself overwhelms me. Without saying a word, I head outside, knowing I’ve been neglecting my duties for Solera too much as of late.

Between being worried about Raevar and slacking on preparations for the solstice, I’ve now been given three simple words that only worry me more.

Is he leaving me?

Did he get hurt?

My mind travels to every possible scenario where the words I’m so sorry would be necessary to send me.

“Verano.” Vex’s posh accent infiltrates my ears. It’s gentle, cumbersome in the reality of things. “You’re rushing to nowhere.”

“I’m working,” I hesitantly fib, wondering if them taking my blood forms some type of power over my ability to lie. Grabbing my axe, I also take my brace so I don’t overexert my shoulder. Some fire modules are my last grab, so I can start a fire and burn away my stress.

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