Page 7 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

And the deer blood from weeks ago has definitely worn off, not that animal blood ever really curbs the hunger for long, but it works in a pinch.

Damn it.

I make a mental note of how long it’s been since I’ve had sex—six months? A year? Has it truly been that long? At least now I know my limit because tonight is definitely it. My head is spinning with desire, both his and mine, though his is bittersweet and battling where I’m practically gushing with need.

“You paid for this dance,” I say, my voice slightly breathless as I run my fingers over both his arms still stretched out on the back of the bench. “You don’t have to keep your hands to yourself.”

Surprise flickers in his golden eyes, and I do my best to keep my face even. Usually, no touching on the buyer’s end is Aruk’s rule, and with good reason, but I can handle myself if this male decides to cross any lines. I’m not sensing anything menacing from him, not like I did with the mortal who attacked Lera.

And I’m certain this male isn’t mortal at all. I can feel power radiating from him even though I’m not sure what kind it is. AllI’m really picking up on is this strange disappointment that hewantsme as much as he does.

“So I can do this?” he asks, dragging his right hand up my neck, his thumb teasing the line of my jaw.

I sigh at the touch, still moving my body against his to the music.

“Yes,” I say, gripping his other hand and moving it to my hip. Goddess, it’s massive there. He cups it in a dominant way that practically melts me.

Maybe he’ll be kind and relieve me of this pain, of this need. Just once, and I’ll be sustained for another year.

“And this?” he asks, his rough voice sending ripples of pleasure down my spine as he inches his face closer to my neck. He pushes some of my hair away from my face, exposing my neck, and Goddess help me, I let him. I’m completely enthralled by this male, and I only have myself to blame for waiting so long between partners. I know better. The lust I drink while dancing is like taking a power nap every night when what I truly need is a full night’s sleep.

His lips barely graze the skin on my neck, just beneath my jaw, as his thumb rubs over a spot behind my ear. He tilts my head, his mouth poised above my pulse. I’m humming, almost purring as he holds me there.

“Is this how you do it?” he asks. “Is this how you strike?” He goes still beneath me, his grip on my hip and neck intensifying to the point of pain. “Succubus?”

Icy panic douses all my pent-up desire. I glare at him, eyes falling to the necklace hidden beneath his shirt, and I jerk the fabric down.

My fangs punch down at the sight of the spinning gold star hanging above his heart.

“Drifter,” I hiss, shoving against his chest to dislodge myself from his grip. I propel myself off the bench, making it to the other side of the room?—

He slams into me from behind, his bulging arms encircling me. I jerk against him, and my heart speeds up in the wrong damn way, galloping down a treacherous path I know all too well.

Not now.

Not fucking now.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he growls into my ear, his grip tightening the more I struggle.

I try to breathe, try to will my heart to stop malfunctioning, but it’s like trying to swim against an ocean current.

“How?” I hiss, my breaths short and heavy the faster my heart beats.

Slow, slow, slow.I beg my racing heart to calm, but it doesn’t listen, and my goddessdamn medicine is buried in my corset beneath the drifter’s arms.

“Doesn’t matter,” he growls. “If you stop struggling, it’ll make this less painful.”

“I’ve never minded a little pain,” I spit back, stomping on his boot with the sharp tip of my spiked shoe.

He grunts, releasing me enough that I stumble forward toward the door. If I can just get far enough to take my meds, he won’t know what fucking hit him. I throw open the door, looking over my shoulder to gauge his speed?—

“Still want me to sing for you?” The velvety voice and taste of autumn spice fills my space as new arms grip me, shoving me back into the room.

“You.” Shock ripples through me. “You’re with him.” It’s not a question, not as they both herd me into the corner.

I can’t catch my breath as my heart pumps, stops, and pumps again at twice the speed. My chest aches and my fingers tingle asI lose circulation. I reach into my corset, trying to rip open the secret pocket sewn in there, trying to grab the vial I need to stop this?—

“Ah, ah.” Autumn Spice grabs my hand, stopping me as he gently but firmly hauls me to him. He looks over at his friend. “You were in here long enough,” he says, smirking. “And you said it would be easy for you to resist her.”

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