Page 44 of Shut Up and Bite Me

Unlatching my fangs from his neck, I feel trails of blood run down my chin as I sit up and meet his hooded stare.

He raises his fingers, swiping up one line of warm blood from my chin before holding it in front of my mouth. “Suck it clean.”

Yes, fucking, sir.

Taking his finger into my mouth, I savor every drop of his blood, closing my eyes as I slide it out of my mouth, the suction popping upon release.

“Mmm,” he hums, sucking his bottom lip into his mouth.

Leaning forward, I’m desperate to claim his lips with mine.

DING DONG.

The doorbell sounds through the house. Who the fuck is interrupting this right now?

I spring off of Greyson, appearing by the door a second later. I can feel her energy before I even see her—it’s Autumn.

Opening the door, I take a quick breath before warning her, “This better be important, Autumn. I was right in the middle of something.”

She mockingly wipes her chin, smiling. “Yeah, I can definitely see that.”

Pressing my lips together, I try to stop the laugh from breaking free, but I fail. Wiping the remaining blood from my chin, I clean my hand as I ask her, “What are you doing here?”

I sense her worry and hesitation, making me feel the same way, completely on edge from her sudden arrival.

“Spit it out,” I urge her, desperately wishing I could read her mind.

“I think I might have figured it out—the tether between you two.” She takes a shaky breath.

Greyson’s hand slides around my waist, pulling me into his bare chest.

Her stare bounces between Greyson and me. “I can’t believe I didn’t think about it sooner. All of the signs were there…” She trails off before locking her gaze with mine, her eyes wide with disbelief. “This is going to sound crazy…but I think that you guys are the real lifelamia et fatis sanguis.”

“What is that?” Greyson murmurs into my ear, but I don’t even know how to respond because my jaw is on the floor.

It’s impossible, it’s a myth. A vampire legend as old as time itself.Lamia et fatis sanguis.A Latin term loosely translating tovampires and the blood of fate.

Vivian invites Autumn inside, and we make our way to the living room, Lucy jumping up onto my lap and pushing against my hand for pets.

“It’s impossible. Are you sure?” Vivian asks, her voice strained and chock-full of worry.

Raising my hand in the air, wondering why no one has yet to tell me anything, I ask, “Should I be concerned with whatever the hell is going on?”

“No.” Autumn waves the question away with her hand. “Probably not.” She pauses once more, cocking her head to the side. “To be determined.”

“Autumn,” Vivian scolds her. “Do you really think that’s what this is? I mean, the tale oflamia et fatis sanguisis just that, a story. Plucked from the pages ofThe Book of Destiny. Humans even know of the tale, creating movies and art to represent the two fated souls.”

“Not exactly…” Autumn clicks her tongue. “I have a theory I want to test out. To see how deep the connection between you two goes.”

“Like a quiz or…?” I ask, wishing for something simple, and Autumn shakes her head. Of course not. “Why do I get the feeling that I’m not going to like this?” I exhale, dragging my hand down my face.

“Because you probably won’t,” Autumn murmurs before glancing back at Vivian, a faint, humorous smirk dancing on her lips.

I don’t know that I’ve ever seen Vivian so nervous before. It unnerves me that she’s genuinely hesitant.

“How do we test it?” I ask flatly.

“FromThe Book of Destiny, it says that the two souls will recognize each other’s…pain.” Her apologetic stare darts my way, and I grimace

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