Page 64 of The Vampire's Bride

CHAPTER 23

VALARIC

My entire body trembles with need. How do I explain the way her blood calls to me? That I’m on the razor’s edge of my control? My desire and my bloodlust are almost more than I can bear.

Venom floods my mouth as the dark and primal part of me thrashes beneath the surface, demanding to be freed to mark and claim her as my mate. Surrounded by the delicate scent of her arousal and with her body pressed to mine, I’m drowning in need and want so intense I can barely breathe, much less even think straight.

I want her more than I’ve ever wanted anything in all of my cursed existence. I don’t just want her body, I want everything. I want to claim her heart as she has already claimed mine. To worship her with my lips and my tongue.

Mystavis hard and erect, straining against the confines of my clothing as the need to join my body to hers burns through my veins like fire.

“We shouldn’t do this,” I murmur, lowering us to the ground.

It has been three days since I took from her, and my need is too great, overwhelming my senses. I do not trust myself not to lose control. Not when my emotions are a maelstrom within.

Clenching my jaw, I drag my tongue across the back of my fangs, swallowing back the venom that even now fills my mouth as intense desire and bloodlust threaten to obliterate my restraint. I long to claim her entirely. “You should go back inside.”

“Valaric?” Her eyes search mine in confusion. “What’s wrong?”

My eyes travel over the curve of her neck as hunger and need surge through me. My every muscle is tense. This is more than desire, more than the usual pull I feel whenever she’s near. It sears through my entire body like fire, and I know.Gods, I know what this means.

The dark creature has awakened within. I must get to my cell, before it’s too late.

Intense worry ripples across our bond, and I know it is coming from her.

I open my mouth to speak, to say something to reassure her, but the words will not form in my throat. Sharp pain burns under my skin, stretching tight as the bones slowly begin to warp and twist.

The beast lurks beneath the surface, desperate to break free and sink its talon into this world, and claim what it desires most.

Her.

“Valaric?” Her eyes are wide, innocent to the monster standing before her, ready to devour her whole. “Are you all right?”

The dark creature within roars in triumph at the nearness of its prey, clawing at the fragile barrier I’ve built deep within to keep it locked away.

“Please, Juliet,” I beg. “Go.”

She pushes away from me and heads back to the castle. She looks back over her shoulder, hurt and sadness easily read in her features. Through the faint connection of our bond, I sense her embarrassment and shame. She thinks I rejected her, but I cannot go after her.

A violent shudder moves through me as heat spreads across my body, my spine twisting, stretching as bones begin to break and rearrange themselves.

Gods, it hurts.

“Valaric?” Eben’s voice cuts through the haze of pain.

“Eben—” My voice cracks, and I fall to my knees in the dirt, my hands digging into the earth as pain rips through me. “I need to get to my cell.”

He crouches beside me, his hand on my shoulder as I let out a strangled sound, part growl, part plea, my body trembling violently. “You have to knock me out… chain me in my cell.” My voice cracks, thick with fear and pain. “Please, I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Eben hesitates.

The beast within me roars in fury as I try to hold it back. “Knock me out!” I snarl, the last shred of my control slipping, my voice no longer my own.

Eben curses under his throat and then his fist connects with the side of my head.

Darkness rushes in, thick and merciful, as I finally let go and fall away into the void.

CHAPTER 24

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