Page 29 of Tears of Revenge

“It’s alright,” he said, trying to calm her.

“Look.” Marcus came to his aid and dripped some of his own blood onto Lysander’s shoulder.

It healed easily, the skin itching and tickling as it fused back together. He grinned and rotated his shoulder, showing her that he was good as new. “All good again.”

Avalon looked down at herself, eyes widening when she realised she was naked. The fact that she was naked and sitting on a man she barely knew likely didn’t help the panicked feeling coursing through her veins.

Varos appeared behind her, slipping a large t-shirt over her head and helping her arms through the holes. Then he helped her to her feet and wrapped a large, lightweight blanket around her shoulders, covering her even more.

With wide eyes, she looked around still confused and seemingly unsure, but when her lips parted no words came out.

“Take a conscious breath and try again.” Varos demonstrated, taking in a deep breath and expelling the air. “Just like that.”

“What…” she started, unable to finish her sentence.

Marcus took her hand and led her to the edge of the bed where he gently urged her onto the mattress. “Troy found you. We didn’t know you were missing until after we came back from our trip. We found you with him in the storage unit.”

Her hands shot up to her chest where moments ago the letters of his name had been carved into her skin. “I… He…”

“Avalon,” Varos hesitantly started. “We have been keeping a secret from you.”

“We are vampires and Varos has turned you into one too,” Marcus spat out the truth much like one would rip off a band aid.

Her eyes flickered between the two vampires, who were standing before her. He stayed in his spot against the doorframe, feeling the blood loss far too much for his liking.

“You were basically dead,” Varos continued with a gentle, patient tone. “I just couldn’t let you go. You were too far gone for our blood alone to heal you. All I could do was turn you and hope you would come back to us.”

“I’m…” Avalon started, seeming to be processing her thoughts.

“A vampire, yes,” Marcus confirmed.

“Your injuries are likely healed already—or will heal soon. The more blood you drink, the more your body will adjust and rebuild itself to what it was before Troy’s assault.”

Her palms rubbed over her chest again, where his name had been moments ago.

“Yes, that too.”

“The burn you’re feeling in your chest and throat is your thirst. Your body will want to feed a lot to reach your full potential,” Marcus explained further while Varos seemed to be at a loss for words.

“Potential?”

“Being a vampire means that you’ll have certain strengths and powers that humans don’t.”

He pushed himself to stand while Varos had found his voice again. “Controlling that thirst will be hard, but we will help you.”

He couldn’t explain why he did what he did next. Perhaps it was to prove a point, or maybe show her how dangerous she truly was. He stood and slashed his own wrist with his claw, blood splattering to the hardwood floor. Avalon’s head snapped towards him at the scent, her eyes flashing that deep red. Then she shot off the bed towards him, embedding her fangs into his wrist without realising what she was doing.

Venom burst through, burning his bloodstream before she relaxed and his high returned.

“Lysander!”

“You’re a dick.” Marcus frowned, but both men were already next to her.

Once again, Marcus grabbed her jaw and ripped her from Lysander’s artery while Varos poured blood down her throat. That time, it only took three glasses before she returned to clear thought.

Avalon shrank into herself upon seeing what she’d done to his wrist.

“Don’t worry,” he chuckled, taking her hands in his. Using one of her fingers, he cut her palm and then held her dripping blood over his own injury. “See? Already healing.”

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