Page 88 of Bound By Roses

She shakes her head. “I won’t take away your choice, but it would help us immensely.”

“There’s one more thing,” I say before he can agree. “There’s no telling if this will work. I haven’t changed anyone since the curse was broken, and even then, many didn’t make it. I won’t lose control, so there’s no worry of me tearing you apart, but the change isn’t easy. You’ll get sick. Really sick. The wound will fester. It’s incredibly painful, and you may not survive it.” In all honesty, I’m not even certain I won’t lose control, but I’m trusting myself not to. Just as Abby believes I’m no longer the monster I fear, I need to believe it myself.

“How long?” He must mean how long will the pain last, or the fever. It doesn’t matter since the answer is the same.

“As long as three days. Which would only leave us a day to train you if what you told us is true. And that’s if you can control yourself. This is not a great plan by any means, but it’s the only plan that gives you some degree of freedom.”

He looks back to Abby. There’s fear in his eyes, but also conviction. “I’ll do it.”

She nods. “We’ll have to keep you restrained. It’s for your safety as much as it is ours.”

She’s right. Keeping him still during the fever will prevent him from injuring himself more. He allows her to retie the bindings around his wrists and ankles that keep him confined to the bed. Blood flows from the wound on his side, but that won’t matter for long. I’d never asked Tess for many details, but one thing I’m fairly sure of is that once the fever takes hold, any injuries I’d caused began to heal. I can only assume that will apply to this injury as well.

I guess we’ll find out.

“Try to stay calm,” I tell him as I stand and ready myself for yet another shift. They’re difficult back to back, but since gaining control, it’s gotten easier. “And still. I need to bite you, and the more you move, the more likely I am to do unnecessary damage. Believe me when I say I don’t like this any more than you do and the last thing I want to do is hurt you. I’m… I’m not that monster anymore.” I’m surprised by how easily those words flow off my tongue and even more by the fact that I believe them. As terrified as I am of becoming the thing I hate most, I’m not that monster anymore.

He nods and I shift.

The scent of fear and blood still hangs in the air, but some of the tension has eased. He stiffens as I draw nearer to him, but doesn’t cower away.

Progress.

The thundering of his heart matches my own as I jump up on the bed and stand over him. I see the reflection of myself in those wide eyes and can’t help but wonder how many times I was the last thing a person saw before theirs were closed forever.

‘Ask him if he’s ready.’

Abby does, and the man nods, though it’s too jerky and erratic. He’s terrified, and how can I blame him when I’m equally as fearful? There’s no telling what will happen the moment his blood touches my lips. How many mornings have Iawoken with that taste on my tongue only to puke for hours after the monster finally relinquished its hold? To taste that again—willingly—is almost enough to make me turn tail and flee.

I steady myself and force logic to conquer the fear. I’m not even sure of the best place to bite. I’d never had to think about it, but I run through the memories now.

Ruben was bitten on the leg, and it took three days for his fever to cease.

It was the same with Fern, though she was bitten on her hand.

Tess was much quicker, but I’d gotten her on the shoulder.

I can’t be certain, but it seems the closer the bite is to the heart, the quicker the change and the shorter the suffering. That could very well be a thought just to comfort myself, but it’s all I have.

‘Open his shirt,’I tell Abby, and my mouth salivates all on its own when she does.

Ty’s breathing turns rapid, but I can barely hear it over the slurring of blood coursing through his veins. I hear it as if I were the predator and he my prey.

I flick my gaze back up to those eyes and let myself bear witness to the reflection in them.

My reflection.

And then I bite.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

ABBY

The scream that expels from Ty’s mouth is somehow worse than when Erwyn’s knife carved into his side. He pulls at his bindings with enough force that the ropes bite into his flesh, but I doubt he feels it. I doubt he feels anything other than Quinn’s teeth sinking deep into the skin above his heart.

Quinn doesn’t release, but I know it’s still him. Even though I can’t see the colour of his eyes or the agony sure to be glistening in them, I know he’s in control.

After a too long moment, Quinn lets go and throws himself off the bed and away from the thrashing man. He shifts back into his human form quickly and wipes the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

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