Page 61 of A Bond with the Dark

Holy fuck.

“I’m down for that anytime,” I say, tracing my fingernails down his biceps, teasing little goosebumps out of his skin.

“Good,” he says as his breathing levels out. He softly strokes the side of my face. “I believe you have me falling for you, Lasayah Thorne.”

His soft lips brush mine.

Butterflies rush to my stomach as the sensuous kiss spills his secrets, receiving my confessions. At the same time, the stars and moons become our priests to bear witness.

An epic love is stirring.

19

VAMPIRES OF VEGAS

DOM

Laying here next to Sayah, listening to her breath come and go from her lungs, the peacefulness of her sleep tangles with emotions that are warring inside me.

Sex with her was absolutely mind-boggling—never in my life have I ever climaxed that hard with someone. It was as though my soul departed my body, entered a new realm, and dined on the blood of angels.

Even though I cannot read her thoughts, I canfeelthem. It’s part of my power, feeling a person’s intentions. Occasionally, I can see a person’s thoughts if they let me. But people are often so guarded that it’s hard to do, and they can feel the intrusion.

Feeling her chest rise and fall under my arm, a little snore escapes her mouth and makes me smile. I love how imperfectly perfect she is. Every curve, every line of her, every wrinkle, and every scar. I trace the freckles on her back, her skin velvet under my touch. Goosebumps rise as I memorize her every bend, following the curve of her spine to the gorgeous mountain of her hip, beautifully decorated with trapped lightning beneath her skin.

My thoughts spiral out of my head and mingle with her lightning, eating up all other rational thoughts that bound around in my head.

Without rousing her awake, I roll onto my other side away from her and use my speed to rush me to the door. Quietly sliding the patio doors open, I slither through them and up to the balcony.

I draw an intense breath of air and let it sink to the bottom of my lungs before releasing it, trying to capture my spiraling thoughts.

I like this girl.

This witch.

This woman.

I am definitely falling for her.

These past few weeks, I’ve watched her come into power as flawless and seamless as I’ve ever seen. I’ve been around witches my whole life, and never have I seen power as strong as hers not only come to rest at home in her but is brimming, almost exploding out of her, just waiting to be unleashed. I don’t know if it was the spell Tallyn spun on her, the bracelet I gave her, or her own magick igniting—maybe it’s all three—but it has been fascinating to watch.

During our time together, I’ve helped her hone her magick by going through spells my mom had sent us. Sayah’s taken every spell and bonded with it, letting them enchant her bones and make a home under her skin. Each one except fire. The other three were like watching a reunion of old friends, pieces and parts of her returning home to lay and rest until they all may be ignited one day. Fire has been the only that has so far evaded her.

Her determination is contagious. Granted, her power is volatile and unpredictable, but how she leans into her struggles and uses them to improve herself is awe-inspiring. Instead of giving up on something hard to grasp, she sits in the uncomfortable and wallows in the way it bends her. Once she learns how the power works and interlocks within her, she grasps it. Then she grows with it, not letting it overpower or define her, nor does she let it abandon her.

My eyes chase the lights of the city, tracking down to the shimmering fountain, dancing to a song I cannot hear, but this mist of memory from earlier today visits me.

Earlier, I walked down to that fountain stealthily in the shade of the buildings and met with Jesse. He’s a tall, scrawny fellow with amber eyes and flaxen hair. He was mingling in Vegas’s shadows with four or five other vamps.

He walked me to an entrance where the underground tunnels lurk, the intricate tunnel system below the city of Vegas that’s a sanctuary for the unhoused and provides a community for less desirable souls of Sin City. A below-ground cardboard suburb, the fort-like structures were all lined up against the cement walls of the town, reminiscent of a different version of Vegas in another realm.

Perfect for vampires.

Jesse and his crew introduced me to more vampires and a section of the cardboard city where the donors dwelled. The only problem with that was all of the donors were drug addicts, and that means when you feed from them, you’re also feeding on laced blood. Some vampires like that sort of thing since it produces the same euphoria that comes with killing someone, but because I’m an addict, I cannot risk that. I declined the opportunity to feed.

That, and they charged money, and I had no cash on me at the time.

They congregated in a makeshift lounge area, ripped and stained couches and chaise lounges strewn about haphazardly, candles of every color burning for the light. The vampires I was with paid a few to get their fill; a skinny blonde girl with pock-marks all over her offered her neck and let the rotund vampire feed.

---