Page 80 of Tears of Revenge

When she finally stepped back from the canvas, it was much darker than she’d anticipated. And it made her feel even worse. She fell onto the bed and simply stared at it, trying to imagine what she could do with it.

Then she heard a heartbeat approaching her room. “Come in,” she said, Lysander’s hand still raised to knock.

“I was sent to offer a distraction. Marcus will be back with our guest very soon and thought it might be best if I keep you occupied. They thought it was best to transport him while it’s dark.”

“Just like when the delivery guy came.”

“Yes.” He stepped into the room and sat next to her, taking in the picture she’d just painted. “Is that how you feel?”

“Somewhat.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

She paused to make sense of her thoughts, long enough for Lysander to offer her a hand. Their fingers weaved together, and the moment she laid their hands in her lap the words flowed right out of her. “I’m scared to see him again. I’m not afraid of him—I’m afraid of myself. I might go full-on killer and rip him apart. He’d deserve that. Or I’ll fall apart, at the reminder of everything he’s done to me. The only thing I know for sure is that he’ll bring up all those memories I’ve worked so hard to banish.”

“We won’t let you do anything that you don’t want. And if you do fall apart, we are here to catch you.”

She rested against his shoulder and clasped his hand in both of hers. “Knowing that comforts me, but it doesn’t make it any less scary. I don’t want to remember what he has done, don’t want to feel every injury he’s ever given me, yet I know I will.”

Lysander hooked a finger under her chin, tilting her gaze to his. With a lazy grin, he brushed his thumb over her lips before slipping it into her mouth. “I could offer you something to take your mind off it for now…” Her fangs were already interested, which was what Lysander wanted. He pierced his thumb, rubbing his blood onto her tongue. “I could satisfy your thirst, so it won’t be the driving force once he gets here.”

Her brain had no say in the matter. She threw her leg over his lap, sucking on his thumb and wrenching his head to the side. Lysander fell onto the mattress with a grunt. She could see the blood pulsing beneath his skin. Mind clouding with the rush of his blood, she spat his thumb out and dipped her head into the crook of his neck. She moaned, blood flowing into her mouth effortlessly.

“You’re doing so well, Avalon. So, patient with me.” Lysander’s throat vibrated beneath her palm, his hands roaming across her back and hair.

She basked in his caresses, and let his blood naturally flow into her mouth. Feeding on him was the only time her throat didn’t hurt. Even the donated blood wasn’t as good as his. She didn’t want to rush it, needing the feeling of satisfaction to last as long as humanly—or un-humanly possible.

Lysander groaned again. “Fuck—don’t stop, little dove. I’m yours. Forever.”

Her hands snaked around his neck, fingers twisting into his hair. He was high. She knew the antidote made him say those things, but that didn’t make them any less meaningful. She let her body mould to his. She gave him all her weight, wanting to feel him everywhere. His hold on her tightened, keeping her close. Slowly, he rotated them, laying her against the mattress and blanketing her with this body. The movement made blood shoot into her mouth, and she eagerly swallowed it all.

His head dipped next to hers as he shifted them into a more comfortable position. “Holding you feels so good. Calling you ours is priceless.”

She shuddered at how easily the word ours rolled off his lips. Not once had the three of them fought over her. She’d always belonged to them—all of them. Even as human, she’d captured a few of Lysander’s hidden smiles. He just hadn’t been ready to share himself yet.

“We will never let anything happen to you. Never will you find yourself in a position where you hate yourself for your own actions.”

She rewarded him with gentle tugs to his hair. Her heels dug into the small of his back, needing him as close to her as possible.

“You have us wrapped around your pretty little finger,” he slurred with a dreamy chuckle.

She eased up, taking three more swallows before licking his skin and closing the bite.

“You didn’t have to stop.” Lysander tried to move, but she held him down, still surprised that she had the strength to do so. “Ah, cuddles it is,” he murmured, nuzzling into her neck.

“You know what I enjoy most being with you?”

“What might that be?”

“How easy it feels. I don’t have to watch what I say or do. Don’t have to guard my feelings or hide who I am.”

“We do enjoy seeing all of you and hope that if you feel the need, you can talk to us.”

“You never make me feel bad about wanting alone time with any of you—even if you do get jealous.”

“I have to say, it surprises me that it comes so naturally. I never saw it coming, was never prepared to fall for you, yet here I am. I just love seeing you happy, even if it’s not with me in the moment. I think it helps to know that you will return to me.”

She could only agree with a hum as she soaked up his words and his body’s heat, her mind still fuzzy from the feed. She loved how warm he felt. One hand was still buried in his hair, the other stroking along his lower back.

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