Page 21 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

The scent of blood immediately flooded Axel’s senses. It became his entire world. All he could think about. All he could smell. He could taste it, and it wasn’t until the pain of his arm became too extreme that he was pulled from that bloodlust.

It was only then that he realized he was on his knees, with sweat on his brow and his entire body shaking with want and need and pain. The three feelings were so intertwined, he couldn’t differentiate them. They may as well be the same thing at this point. But Mansel was there too, a hand on his shoulder holding him back. Julius watched him with sadistic delight as he toyed with a strand of Bree’s hair while she continued to drink deeply from the Fae.

“You are both traitors,” he gritted out, holding Julius’s stare.

His voice was smooth and beguiling as he said, “We are simply realists.”

“How long have you been in her bed while sucking my father’s cock, Julius?” Axel sneered before hissing as another wave of pain wracked his body.

“Now, now,” Bree chided, leaning back from the Fae. “We don’t need any of that.” She stood, her heels clicking when she made her way over to Axel. With her thumb, she wiped at the blood lingering on the corner of her mouth. Bending down, she swiped that blood along his lips as she whispered into his ear, “Just a taste, Axel darling.”

He shook his head, but it was useless. He would have lapped blood off the floor at this rate. There was no resisting it on his lips. His tongue darted out, and he groaned at the taste.

“Good boy,” she crooned, patting his cheek as he licked his lips again, searching for any bit of it he may have missed.

It was everything he’d imagined and more, only this was earthy instead of the fiery taste he wanted. His shadows stirredas his eyes locked on the Fae who still stood by Bree’s vacated chair. He would certainly do until he could find what he truly wanted. He could give him back enough of his power so he could heal and find her.

“Yes, youcouldhave more,” Bree agreed as though he’d spoken his thoughts aloud.

Maybe he had. He didn’t know. All he knew was there was a Fae mere feet from him that had everything he needed to fix all of this.

“We have some things to discuss first,” Bree continued, waving a hand in dismissal.

The Fae took one step, and the growl that ripped from Axel had the male pausing. It also had more pain ripping through him as Julius used his magic to keep him on his knees before Bree. The only sound then was his ragged breathing as the Fae left the room, leaving him once again empty and on the edge of insanity from this craving.

“What do you want from me?” Axel asked.

She couldn’t want the fire Fae. His father wanted her, but Bree would have no use for her outside of feeding off her. But that Fae washis.

“Come and eat, Axel darling,” she replied, gripping his good arm and helping him to his feet and then to his chair. Once he was seated again, a plate of food was placed before him. Steak. Potatoes. Bread. Roasted vegetables. A glass of liquor.

He wanted none of it.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he forced himself to focus on Bree, but her red dress was the color of blood itself, which only made him think of the Fae that was supposed to be his. Amber eyes. Ample curves. Power. A pulse he’d felt beneath his thumb.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

A faint clunking sound drew his attention back to his place setting where a goblet had been placed beside the liquor glass. A clear goblet with red liquid.

He wasted no time, drinking down the blood in two gulps. It wasn’t enough—not even close—but it was enough to let him collect his thoughts and focus on what was happening before him. Not that he had any idea what was actually going on.

With a shuddering breath, he picked up his fork. The band on his wrist was loud as it scraped against the tabletop, but he scooped up a bite of mashed potatoes, ignoring how it tasted like ash on his tongue. He needed this sustenance as much as he needed the blood.

No, he didn’tneedthe blood.

He just needed these bands off. Then he could recover his power wells naturally. More blood would only serve to drive him closer to an edge he didn’t want to go over because…

He actually couldn’t remember why he didn’t want to go over that edge; he just knew it was something heshouldn’twant.

Clearing his throat, he brought another bite of food to his mouth before focusing on Bree. The Night Child was watching him with a gleam of amusement in her eyes. She was eating another strawberry, clearly waiting for him to initiate the conversation now.

“I want to speak to you alone,” Axel said, stabbing at tender carrots.

“Leave us,” Bree said without taking her eyes off him.

He didn’t break her stare either as the sound of chairs scraping and footfalls leaving filled the air. It wasn’t until the doors to the room had shut that he said, “I’m a little offended here, Bree. I thought we were on good terms.”

Her amusement grew as she took a bite of her fruit. “You have done well these last years, Axel. I will give you that.”

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