Page 2 of Taste of Danger

He swiftly cleared away more of the fallen leaves with his hands, scooping as much away as he could, then moved to the vampire’s side. Using one of his sharp claws, Jax cut his own arm, then held it over the vampire’s mouth as droplets of blood fell onto his lips.

Elvine reached out to hold the vampire’s lips apart, allowing Jax’s blood to trickle into Arion’s mouth before offering her own wrist. “Cut me as well. I want to help feed him too.”

Jax couldn’t take his eyes off Elvine’s flawless olive skin, wondering how anyone could bear to mar such perfection. “If my blood isn’t enough for Arion, then we’ll feed him some of yours.”

“But I want to do my part in healing him, Mr. Nippy Nose,” she argued. “Arion is also my mate, in case you’ve forgotten.” She shook her arm impatiently. “Now cut it or I’ll do it myself.”

Still holding his arm over Arion’s mouth, Jax used his free hand to trace his fingers along Elvine’s silky skin, smiling slightly when goose bumps appeared from his touch. “You’re asking me to harm my own mate, buttercup. I can’t bring myself to do that.”

She huffed in frustration but didn’t pull away. “But why should you be the only one to feed our mate?” She started to stand up, but Jax gently pulled her back down beside him.

“Have you forgotten vampires go crazy over a fae’s smell? We want to feed him, not drain you.” He’d seen the struggle both Jaytee and Damon had gone through with their fairy mates. He never thought he would have to deal with the same challenge.

While Elvine’s fae scent had no effect on him, he had no doubt Arion would have difficulty controlling himself around her. Her natural scent was an entirely different story. Any time she was near, Jax covertly inhaled, taking in her wildflower fragrance. The smell didn’t just go straight to his lungs. It also went straight to his cock.

“But he’s barely alive,” she responded in a more composed voice. “My fae blood is magical, Jax. It could help heal the wounds that ghoul inflicted.” She looked down at Arion with compassion and worry. “Why does he have so many scars?” Her dainty fingers gently traced the scars on his marred skin. “Vampires heal when they drink blood.” She echoed Jax’s thoughts. “How do you scar a vampire this badly?”

“I don’t know, buttercup.” Jax slipped his free hand under Arion’s head and lifted him gently, placing the upper half of his mate’s body on his lap, covering his exposed groin.

When Jax had shifted into his wolf form to search for Arion with Elvine, he had returned to human form naked.

But Jax couldn’t help noticing how Elvine never once glanced at his cock. In fact, she seemed determined to avoid looking at his groin.

“Why can’t he lay on my lap?” Elvine scowled, clearly frustrated. “I’m not trying to be grumpy, but I want to do everything I can for him too.”

Jax was still stunned that he not only had two mates but one of them was Elvine. The fact that she was female didn’t faze him. He’d dated and been intimate with females before. Gender was irrelevant to him.

What shocked him was the fact it had taken two weeks for them to feel the pull between them—an intense attraction unique to mates, an overwhelming urge to be near each other.

Some preternatural felt the pull immediately, while for others it could take hours or a day or two at most. But for Jax and Elvine, it had taken two long weeks.

And then there was the fact that Elvine’s people, the Unseelie, had a law forbidding dark fae from mating outside of their race. It was a ridiculous law, but it also put Elvine in danger. She returned to the fae realm often, afraid her absence would be noticed.

Not only were dark fae forbidden from mating outside their race but they were also forbidden from leaving their realm. Jax hated when Elvine had to return home because he feared for her safety.

Arion stirred on his lap. Then his small, emaciated hands gripped Jax’s arm and pulled it down to his lips, suckling the flesh as he drank the blood.

“I think he’s improving,” Elvine exclaimed with a smile. “He doesn’t look as pale as before.”

Jax gently rubbed his thumb over Arion’s sunken cheek, wondering why his mate was so undernourished. “Don’t vampires go into bloodlust if they’re deprived blood?”

Elvine twisted her kissable lips to one side. “I was wondering the same thing. Why is he so…” She tapped her chin as if she was trying to find the right word. “Skeletal?”

“It seems we have a ton of questions for him when he wakes up.” Jax continued to lightly caress Arion’s cheek. “I can’t understand why he would set up Casimir for a slaughter.”

Arion’s grip on Jax’s arm tightened, as if the vampire was afraid his meal would be snatched away from him. He was drinking so quickly and intensely that Jax started to feel dizzy.

“Let me take over,” Elvine insisted. “You’re going to pass out if you keep feeding him, and we need you awake in case any stray vampires come our way.”

Jax was hesitant to let Elvine feed Arion. Fae blood had a powerful effect on anyone with fangs. But they had no other choice. Arion needed more blood than Jax could provide.

“Fine, but if he tries to drain you, we may have to use drastic measures to get his fangs out of you.” Jax also needed to stop feeding Arion because he was painfully aroused.

Feeding was an intimate act, and he could feel its effects on him. Being naked, there was no way to conceal his erection.

Not that he wanted to conceal his cock, since they were his mates. But Elvine still refused to look at his groin, so trying to conceal his dick would be pointless.

With a firm grip, he forced the vampire to retract his fangs. Arion whimpered, licking the blood on his lips, trying to force Jax’s arm back down to his mouth.

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