Page 30 of Tears of Revenge

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what…” she broke off, mesmerised by the rapid healing of his skin.

“It’s your thirst,” Lysander explained. “It makes you forget your human side. Nothing but blood is important to new creations like you.”

“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” she cried.

“We won’t let that happen,” Varos assured her, handing her another glass of blood.

Now that she was thinking clearly, she hesitated with the glass in her hand.

“Taste it,” Marcus chuckled. “Rest assured no one died for this—it’s donated blood.

Avalon stared into the glass for a moment before bringing it to her lips. Once the first drop touched her tongue, she gulped down the rest of it.

“Told you,” Marcus laughed.

“We know this is a lot to take in. Maybe you’d like to clean up. Then we’ll answer all of your questions,” Varos suggested.

She nodded, though her mind seemed to be wandering again.

Varos was the one to step forward and take her hand, leading her to the attached bathroom. Lysander took his leave, his body weak and hungry. Though he kept a close ear as Varos filled the tub with water, assuring her lovingly every step of the way. Starving, he went to the kitchen and stuffed his mouth with anything he could find. He didn’t care much what it was as long as he could find his energy again. Marcus trailed behind him, watching as he ravished the fridge and pantry.

“How much blood reserves do you still have?”

Marcus shrugged his shoulders. “Not much, but I’ll go out and fill up as soon as she is stable.”

“She’s not going to be stable for months, maybe even years.”

“We’re going to watch over her.”

“You should’ve just let her be.”

“Sure, let the girl be raped, stabbed, and beaten to death.”

“Thousands of people go through that every day.”

“You’re such a fucking asshole.”

“I’m just realistic. What happens if you run out of blood, or she decides she wants a real meal? The more you feed her, the more dangerous she becomes and once she figures out her true strength, she’s going to use it.”

A high-pitched screech, and Marcus was gone. When Lysander stepped into the bathroom, Avalon stared into the mirror with horror. Her face was streaked with blood—her blood. Her tears no longer ran like water. Varos and Marcus stood to either side of her, cleansing her face and attempting to console her.

Shaking his head, he left the room once again. Turning Avalon was the stupidest thing they’d done. It put all of them at risk. They’d been hiding in plain sight for years now but with her having the ability to wipe out half of Houston, that was coming to an end. The moment she figured out what warm flesh under her tongue felt like, she wouldn’t settle for anything less.

With a full plate in his lap, he sat in his favourite armchair that overlooked their garden. Though the house had primarily been bought for the basement, the garden had been the second selling point. Settled in the middle of Houston, it was private and secluded—just like they wanted.

After a while, Varos and Marcus joined him, each holding a “meal” of their own.

“You think it’s wise to leave her alone?”

“What would you like us to do? Take away her right to privacy?”

“Yes! She’s dangerous and since you two idiots thought it was such a good idea to chase after her, she is now your problem.”

“She can hear you,” Varos reminded him.

“And?”

“You’re being rude.”

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