Page 170 of Dark Fate

A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth as I lean closer, my breath hot against her ear. "And let me remind you, sweetheart—what have I told you about apologizing to me? I'm pretty damn sure I've made myself clear on that front countless times. Your feelings were valid."

She lets out a deep, tantalizing moan when I tug her hair, and my damn cock responds instantly. I know she's been on edge since I left her wanting more the other day. I was planning on punishing her by teasing the fuck out of her again, but now I have a whole new set of ideas—ones that only involve loving her and caring for her—giving her what she needs.

"Are we going to revisit that dazzling little lightning stunt you pulled off—the one you tried to pass off as a one-hit wonder?" she prods.

"Baby, I'm here for you. Right now, the only thing on my mind is making damn sure you feel safe and cared for. Whatever you need, I've got you. We'll get through this other shit later, okay? You're not alone. I'm right by your side every step of the way."

I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my swirling emotions.I know what I'm doing, even if I don't want to admit it to myself. I'm deflecting, plain and simple. This new power that's somehow awakened within me... It scares the ever-loving shit out of me. I don't understand it, I can't control it, and I sure as hell don't want to face what it might mean.

I can feel her body slowly unwinding, the tension seeping out of her as she allows the topic to drift away—at least for the moment. But I know my girl. Dani's not one to let things go easily. Before long, that brilliant scientific mind of hers will be itching to dissect every damn detail, to pick apart what happened and analyze it from every angle.

That's just who she is—a force of nature, relentless in her pursuit of understanding. It's one of the many things I fucking love about her. But for now, I'm content to hold her close, to be the rock she can lean on as she navigates the aftermath of this nightmare.

Dani stands firm, "I just need… I need you, Rhyland, but don't treat me like I'm going to shatter—I won't. I'll manage. But give me a moment here; it's...it's just a mountain of stuff to wrap my head around all at once," she says, her voice a mix of strength and the vulnerability of being swamped with overwhelming truths.

I squeeze her tighter in my strong arms, pulling her closer until there's no space between us. My nose grazes the soft skin of her neck as I inhale her intoxicating scent, letting it wash over me like a soothing balm.

"I've got you, sweetheart. I'm right here," I murmur against her skin, my voice a low rumble. "Whatever you need, whatever it takes to make you feel whole again—it's yours. Take whatever you need from me, baby. I'm all yours, body and soul."

The water continues to pour over us, the sound of our heavy breathing mingling with the rhythmic drumming on the shower tiles. My hands roam over her soaked body, and I can feel her trembling beneath my touch. I can smell her arousal and taste it on my tongue.

Her whisper cuts through the tension, a soft plea with yearning and the desperate wish to escape the torrent swirling in her mind. "Distract me," she breathes out. "Bite me, please. Make it all go away—the pain, the chaos in my head. I need you to take the reins, Rhyland." She tilts her head back, and her eyes search mine, silently begging for the reprieve only I can grant.

I smirk mischievously. Oh, she needs a distraction, does she? Well, lucky for her, distraction happens to be my specialty.

I lean in close, my voice low and playful, "Alright, Angel, you want me to take your mind off all this heavy shit? Consider it done. I've got more than a few tricks to make you forget your name, let alone anything else."

With a firm grip on her hair with one hand, I twist and pinch her nipples just the way she loves it with the other, causing little hisses of pleasure to escape from her. Her ass eagerly grinds against my rock-hard cock.

Tugging her hair more forcefully, I demand, "Come here, baby. I'm fucking famished."

Wasting no time, I sink my teeth into her neck, drawing her sweet, warm blood into my mouth. My eyes roll back in their sockets as the delicious taste overwhelms me. I swear she's gotten sweeter, if that's even possible.

Her body stiffens in surprise, and she sucks in a deep breath. Still, almost instantly, the sensation switches to one of pure ecstasy as my venom courses through her veins, flooding her entire being with a euphoria that only a vampire's bite can provide.

As I continue to pull her blood into my mouth, our moans mingle in the steamy confines of the shower, the sensual sounds echoing off the walls. Her taste is otherworldly, intoxicating me further with each draw. The warmth coursing through me is a welcome relief after the massive drain from summoning that lightning storm earlier.

Her hand snakes its way between our entwined bodies, finding my eager and insistent cock. The sensation of her soft hand against my hot, hard flesh nearly sends me over the edge. Before I can react, my hips instinctively buck, pumping into her tight grip as I continue lapping up her sweet, replenishing blood. The dual sensations are almost too much to bear, and I cling to the edge of my self-control.

Tearing my mouth away from her neck, I growl, "Fuck,Angel. You're pushing me to the brink of my control." With a surge of strength and determination, I spin her and lift her effortlessly—slamming her back against the shower tiles. She releases an involuntary "oomph" at the sudden impact, which quickly morphs into a wanton moan as she wraps her legs around me.

Wasting no time, my mouth is on hers, eagerly claiming her lips and battling with her tongue, exerting my dominance as the primal need to possess her consumes me.

Breathless and hungry for more, I break away from our heated kiss just long enough to utter those three little words, "Fucking beg me."

Danica

78

The whirlwind of events leaves me reeling. In what feels like mere minutes, I’ve watched the door to finding my mother—and freeing countless others—slam shut. Adrian, my bright spark of hope, was ruthlessly taken from this world in a way he never warranted. To top it off, our greatest adversary now knows my deepest secret, meaning the vampire brigade and anyone else with a nose for intrigue will be on my scent, chasing me through all seven realms.

This new stone hasn’t just handed me the universal code for communication; it also cranks up the emotions, feelings, and pain of every magical being around me to eleven. I felt Adrian’s agony, both internally and physically, before he died. It was excruciating—like the stone made me experience every bit of his suffering firsthand.

When Azrael fled, I rushed to Adrian's body, channeling the Atherite Stone’s power to no avail; his silence was deafening. I pleaded with any god that might spare a glance my way, tears and fury spilling out uncontrollably. But as reality set in, all that was left was to turn my seething rebuke to Rhyland.

Now, he throws himself into the battle to help me survive this storm. He's laying out his devotion, love, and remorse-like armor—to shield and keep me standing. Deep down, I recognize the torment within him; he never intended for Adrian to die. It was rage, unbridled and fierce. But here he is, trying to make amends, showing me he’s more than the fury that once overtook him.

The longing for his bite has become more than a desire; it’s a chant that loops endlessly in my mind. I yearn for it, for him, with an intensity that borders on obsession. It's my calming salve, the singular force that can unwind the coiled tension within me like nothing else.

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