Page 63 of Forged in Blood

I never used to be this way. Cruel and unyielding. I was a good father once. But that was a long time ago. I am not even sure now whether it is cruelty or sentiment that makes me say “You’re free to bite her.”

Malachi’s intense relief clouds my thoughts for a few seconds before I tune him out and refocus on Xavier. He frowns as though he had no expectation that I would relent. Then he flicks the tip of his tongue over his fangs, and animallike need for Ophelia runs through his veins along with his blood.

I dismiss him with a nod toward the door, and he rushes from the room. If I were a better man, I might feel an ounce of sympathy for Ophelia and what she is about to endure. But the truth is that my worries should be reserved for my boys. She is the one who holds all the power, even if she has no idea of that yet.

Chapter

Thirty-Eight

XAVIER

Axl sits upright in bed, glaring at the doorway like he was expecting me. Ophelia sleeps soundly beside him, and he growls but keeps his voice low. “You can’t fucking have her, Xavier.”

I step into his room and close the door behind me, clicking my tongue against the roof of my mouth. “You think you’re going to stop me?”

“I’ll rip out your fucking throat if you touch her.”

“I’m sure it will be worth it.” Offering him a casual shrug, I step closer and pull off my T-shirt. I frequently recall the taste of her pussy on my fingers, but her blood… My fangs and my cock throb with hunger to take all of her and make her my own. I have felt the high it gives him, and even secondhand, it’s a rush.

He gets out of bed and comes to stand toe to toe with me, his bare chest pressed against mine, his vicious snarl vibrating through us both. “She’s mine.”

I tilt my head and glare at him. “Yeah, well, she’s about to be mine.”

He wraps a hand around my throat. “Do. Not. Fucking. Touch. Her.” He squeezes, and I wrench out of his grip, but he doesn’t budge when I shove him with both hands.

“I’ll do whatever the fuck I want, Axl.”

He bares his fangs and growls like a feral lion guarding its dinner. “Don’t make me hurt you, Xavier.”

I bark out a laugh. “Seriously? You think you’re capable of that, old man?” I push him again, and he lunges for my throat, but I dodge out of his way. He roars with frustration before coming at me again. This time he barrels into me, taking me down to the floor, and my head smacks against the carpet, making me bite my lip and draw blood.

“Axl!” Ophelia calls out, distracting him long enough that I manage to pin him on his back. I drive my knee into his groin and bask in his pained groan.

“Xavier! What the hell are you doing?”

Glancing over my shoulder, I flash her a grin. “Just coming for my prize, Cupcake.”

She blinks. “Your prize?”

Before she can take another breath, I pounce on her and wrap my hand around her slender throat. “Yes, my prize.”

“She’s not yours, asshole.” Axl pushes himself to his feet.

“Pretty sure she’s about to be.” I squeeze Ophelia’s throat harder. Her eyes widen with horror, and my pulse quickens. I’m going to bite her and fuck her, and there’s not a single thing she or Axl can do to stop me. I tip her head back, exposing an expanse of creamy pale skin.

“Xavier!” Axl’s hands are on me, but he knows my grip on her neck is too tight to risk trying to pull me off her.

“Xavier,” she says softly, her jugular vein pulsing beneath my palm.

Her scent invades every cell in my body, and there’s every chance I could rip her throat out with my fangs with the force of the hunger coursing through me. I have never needed or wanted anything more. She’s always smelled sweet, but something’s changed. Maybe when Alexandros rescinded his order not to bite her, my senses became more heightened in her presence.

Holding my gaze, she flutters her eyelashes, her blue eyes sparkling, and I’m done for. I’m vaguely aware of Axl cursing at me as I sink my teeth into her soft skin, but the second I taste her, everything else falls away. Her delicious taste floods my mouth, making my head spin with a heady mix of adrenaline and rapture. Her blood rushes through my veins, becoming a part of me. She becomes a part of me. And damn it all to hell and back, Axl could cut off my head right now and this would still be worth it.

We fall back on the bed, her on her back and me settling my body over hers as I continue to suckle at her vein. Despite my ravenous hunger, I feed way more gently than I ever have before. And although it surprises the fuck out of me, I have no desire to unpack what it means. Especially not when she moans, wrapping her legs around my waist and arching her back as I settle into a more comfortable position between her thighs. The perfect angle to rub my aching cock against her bare pussy.

And although I haven’t taken anywhere near my fill of her, I stop sucking as soon as I feel her blood flow slowing a little. Humans can stand to lose a couple of pints without any long-lasting effects, but she’ll begin to feel lightheaded if I drink much more. And the fact that I care about that, that I put her own needs above my own, also surprises the hell out of me.

I lick the trail of blood trickling down her neck before swirling my tongue over my bite marks to heal them. Next time I do this, I’m going to fuck her while I feed from her. The mere thought has my cock throbbing.

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