Page 192 of Storm of Secrets and Sorrow

“I never gave you the choice.”

“You did,” she countered. “I know I could sleep on the sofa if I wished. You are not forcing me to be in your bed.”

“I guess.”

“I’ve been meaning to apologize, by the way,” she went on.

“Whatever for?” Axel asked, rolling onto his side and propping his head on his fist as he looked down at her. Her eyes almost appeared to glow like smoldering embers in the dark of the room.

“I kept offering you my blood. I didn’t realize that…”

“I was addicted to it?” he finished for her. “That’s probably something I’d wish to change too.”

“I think that part is the same in other realms.”

“And it just led to another problem in the end.”

“What do you mean?”

“What are the Night Children? Legacy who couldn’t control themselves so Arius cursed them to be controlled by their bloodlust. It was yet another balance that had to be corrected,” Axel explained.

“And you are…?”

“Yeah, kitten,” he sighed. “I am. Every week I wonder if I’ll make it to my rations. Every week I wonder if this is the week I’m going to cross the line and never come back.”

“I don’t understand,” she said, and even in the dark Axel could see her trying to work it all out. It didn’t make sense unlesshe was being careless to begin with. Unless he’d been abusing Fae since his power first appeared. She had no idea his father often forced him to drain his power, then denied him blood to the point of madness.

He reached over, running his knuckles along her cheek. “It is not something you need to be burdened with. You only need to know I’m not good for you, Kat. You’re not safe with me.”

“I disagree,” she said.

“That’s not logical,” he replied with a small smirk.

“You know where I’m not safe?” she said, ignoring his attempt at trying to lighten the mood. “Out there. Without you. Because out there, Axel? Out there Iamforced into beds. Out there I do not have someone to make sure that I am getting enough food, or that I have clean clothing. I do not have someone who will help me in the shower and not expect me on my knees afterwards.”

“I can do all those things and still not be safe for you, Katya,” he replied gently. “What will you do when I lose control and take from you?”

She let out a frustrated noise, and then she was suddenly sitting up. Her hands landed on his chest, and she pushed him onto his back, slinging a leg over so she was straddling him. He was in so much shock, his hands went to her hips instinctively.

“You’ve had nearly two months to lose control,” she said. “Never once have I thought you were even close.”

“I would have in those archives, Katya,” he said, begging her to understand.

“What happens?” she demanded, and this time, it wasn’t smoldering embers in her eyes. There were flames because she was angry, and Axel didn’t know why. “What happens if you turn? If you take too much and trigger this curse? What happens toyou?”

“I would be banished to the Underground just like the other Night Children,” he answered. “Sometimes I think that’s my father’s plan in the end.”

“And I would go with you.”

“You wouldn’t, Kat. My father would never let you go to the Underground.”

“I know you feel this, Axel. We don’t understand it, but I know you feel it,” she answered, leaning down. Ebony ringlets slid over her shoulders, and her cropped sleep shirt slid up. Axel’s hands followed, fingers finding soft flesh.

“This is a terrible idea, Katya,” he breathed. “If I lost control, I could kill you.”

She shook her head. “You wouldn’t.”

“Kat—”

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