Page 54 of Taste of Fate

His eyes snapped back into focus with a quick lick of his lips. “No, not right now.”

“Okay.” I forced a smile, wondering why his no felt like a rejection. “Okay then, I’ll just let you rest?—”

“Tavi.” My name was a plea from his lips, punctuated by the light squeeze of his hand around my knee. “Will you stay?” I’d never seen him look so raw, so vulnerable, as he did in that moment. “Please.”

My pulse kicked up, and this time it had nothing to do with missing a pint or so of blood. I was all nerves and elated disbelief, my whole body thrumming like a hummingbird’s wings as he pulled the covers down and scooted to make space for me.

It was like that moment I first arrived at the clan’s compound, that feeling of disconnect from my body, watching myself go through the motions. But there was no fear sharpening my senses, just awe and a sense of wonderment at the closeness he was allowing me.

I nestled into his side, gingerly resting my head on his chest as his arm draped around me. The raised texture of his scars, of the vow he made to me, scraped against my cheek. The rest of him was smooth, like warm marble.

Cyan’s mouth brushed my hairline, lips moving as if whispering something. Before I could react, his whole body relaxed into the peacefulness of deep sleep.

Chapter 20

Cyan

Tavi’s heartbeat was the first thing I sensed as I woke up. The rhythmic thumping was steady and grounding, rousing me like the caress from a soft hand. Never before had I been pulled from sleep so gently.

We were in the same position we started in, her head on my chest, my arm running down her back, hand resting in the dip of her waist. Her hair spilled over my shoulder and the pillow. It partially covered her face, so I used my free hand to push it back.

She looked so sweet in her sleep. There was a sharp vigilance about her when awake. I liked that she was hawk-eyed and always aware of her surroundings. It had been especially clear the other night when she introduced me to the other humans. She was protective of her friend Amy, fiercely so. It was evident in her posture and how she always kept one eye on the surrounding humans.

This soft, sleepy Tavi had to be a side of her that hardly anyone knew. It suited her in a way I didn’t expect. All the muscles in her pretty face relaxed. Her eyelashes were a medium brown color, slightly lighter than her hair. I felt privileged to be one of the few who saw her like this.

I blew out a soft scoff at that thought. Privileged? More like undeserving. This was me, after all.

But I found myself unable to care anymore. I was too weak, too selfish to do the right thing. Getting injured on patrol was all it took to shred my flimsy resolve, the so-called integrity I’d tried to convince myself I had. It was laughable that I even tried.

Her blood had tasted so fucking good, like utter heaven. And I’d never slept so deeply or well until she crawled into bed next to me.

I wanted to have Tavi. To keep and claim her, even if I ended up breaking her in the end. That was just the piece of shit I was.

She stirred in sleep, her cheek brushing against my chest and a soft breath blowing across my skin. The gentle signs of life sharpened my awareness, and my hunger awoke.

My fangs extended with a dull ache and they pulsed in my mouth. I didn’t need to look at myself to know that my injuries were gone without a single trace of a scar. Her blood had healed me, but now I needed it to feed me.

The sound of her heart beats echoed in my empty stomach. I shouldn’t take from her, not so soon after I’d just fed. But she was here, warm and soft with her skin on mine.

And she was my blood mate. All other blood was quite literally ruined for me. Nothing would sate me but her taste.

My fingers circled where they rested on her waist, then I slowly began to drag them up her back. Tavi stirred again, letting out a gentle sigh.

“Tavi.” I brushed my lips against her forehead.

“Hm?” She wasn’t fully awake yet, but started to move and stretch. I got harder every time she moved and touched me.

I continued to rub her back until her eyes opened. She gazed at me sleepily, blinking a few times.

“Good morning.” I couldn’t help but smile down at her. She was so fucking adorable. “Isn’t that what humans say when they first wake up?”

“Mm, is it morning?” She rubbed her eyes, and fuck, her sleepy mumbling voice was doing thing to me.

“We slept almost all night, so I think so.”

All at once, Tavi seemed alarmed. Her vision sharpened as she pressed herself up. “Is this okay? I’m sorry, Cy. I didn’t mean to stay the whole night.”

“Get back here.” I tugged one of her arms until she flopped down next to me. “It’s more than okay. I want you here.”

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