Page 50 of Hallowed Games

The only thought in my mind now was what I was made for: running my tongue over this beautiful man. For licking him, and tasting him, and making him gasp, for opening myself to him and letting him fill me whenever he wanted. He was a god, and I wanted to serve him.

Touching him, tasting him was the only way out of this jagged loneliness.

If he was death itself, I craved oblivion.

CHAPTER 23

I ached for him, nipples pebbling beneath my shirt. He hovered over me, keeping a few inches between us, but I wanted him on top of me, inside me. I wanted to drag my fingernails down his naked back. I wanted to spread my thighs open and offer myself to him.

With my free hand, I reached under his cloak and ran my fingers over his muscled abs, then stroked over his lower back. Guided by my hand, his hips moved lower, pressing against me. I bent my legs, bringing up my thighs around him. I rolled my hips up into him. There was far too much fabric between us—my wet clothes, his shirt.

When he took his wrist from me, I caught my breath. I licked the sweetness off my lips, craving more. I reached up to cup his cheeks. More.

His eyes were pure black as he lowered his head next to my throat. “You liked it, didn’t you?” he whispered, his breath warming my skin. “Vampire blood makes some people feel desire.”

But it wasn’t just desire. My body was vibrating with euphoria, and I wanted to rip his clothes off.

Cupping his cheeks, I brought his face down to mine. I pressed my lips against his, kissing him. A low growl vibrated from his chest, but his kiss was gentle. His lips slanted over mine, then slowly opened. He was tasting me, his tongue twining with mine. A wild need burned in me. It had been so long since I’d kissed anyone…

He tasted faintly of spiced wine.

He slid his hand into my hair, pulling my head back a little as he kissed me, taking control. As his tongue fought against mine, my body hummed with desire.

Under my doublet, his hand roamed higher. His fingertips brushed beneath the fullness of my breast.

With a frustrated groan, he pulled away from the kiss. “No. I can’t.” His voice was husky now, almost tortured. “Elowen, I can’t. You’re healed now. And this is just the effect of the blood.”

He removed his hand from under my clothes, and I longed for his touch again.

Breathing shallowly, I tried to understand what had just happened. I was still gripping the fabric of his shirt.

“Let’s get out of here,” he whispered.

“Why are you breaking the rules to save me? You’re the Raven Lord.”

His jaw clenched tightly, and one of his hands gripped my waist almost possessively. A little bit of blue returned to the shadows in his eyes. “I know what you did for your friends. You were willing to give your life to save them. There aren’t many people who would do that. So, for you, I’m willing to bend the rules a little. But I need to get you out of here quickly. I’m going to carry you as close to the gate as I can.”

My chest heaved as I caught my breath. “I can walk now. I can run, even. I feel amazing. Maelor, I feel like a god.”

“You still can’t run as fast as I can, Elowen.”

I hated how much I loved the way it sounded when he said my name.

“I’m going to get you as close as possible to one of the gates. At the other end, the Luminari will be waiting for you. If I had to guess, you’re the last left alive. The rest have been eaten by now. And once you’re outside those gates, you’re finished. The first trial is over.”

I smiled at him. “Is this your penance for being on the side of these monsters?”

Ignoring my question, he added, “The Luminari can’t know that I helped you. Once I get you near the gate, I’m going to disappear. You’ll have to run as fast as you possibly can. Everyone will be waiting for you there. The Pater, Sion, and all the survivors.” His eyes searched mine.

I nodded. “Are you trying to redeem yourself by saving me?”

“Maybe.” His gaze descended to my lips, and he brushed his thumb over my lower lip almost absentmindedly. His eyelashes looked long and dark against his pale skin. “You mustn’t tell anyone what I am, or I’ll be killed. Horrifically. And I still have much to do while I’m here.” He met my gaze again. “Let’s get you out of here.”

He swept me up in his powerful grasp, his cloak billowing around me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding on tightly. Maelor took off like a bolt of lightning through the labyrinth, seeming to glide through the air, like he was practically flying.

I’d never heard of a vampire, but he and Sion seemed almost like gods to me. I had a million questions for him, but I wasn’t sure he would answer any of them. In Merthyn, we all knew that trusting someone was a risk not worth taking.

His movements started to slow. In the distance, torches flickered like little stars on the other side of open arches. My heart fluttered with joy. The torches meant freedom. They meant another chance to get back to Leo.

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