Page 220 of Tempest of Wrath and Vengeance

“No, kitten. I wasn’t worth this at all,” he said, full of sorrow. “But I will do everything in my power to repay you for your sacrifice.”

“Someday you will see what I see, Axel,” she said. “You will see that you are more than a spare heir, more than a bloodline, more than what your father has led you to believe. Someday you will see yourself as I see you.”

He opened his mouth to reply, but the words stalled in his throat as everything inside of him screamed for blood. He knew this feeling well. Knew it was the craving demanding, and this was more intense than it’d ever been. Dark mist swirled around him as the last of his shadows were ripped from his soul. The next sound that came from his mouth was raw agony, a bellow of pain so severe he wished Arius would come for him. All he could smell was blood. All hewantedwas blood. Nothing else mattered.

Until his eyes fell on her.

On the way she was curled into herself, swallowing her own screams of despair.

Tristyn was there, hovering over him and waiting to intervene. He seemed to know not to touch him right now. Axel was certain if he did, he’d snap and someone would end up dead. Him. Tristyn. He didn’t know.

“Kat,” he rasped, reaching for her, but she jerked back from his touch.

His heart shattered at the action. It was worse than everything else he was feeling.

“Give her a minute,” Tristyn tried. “Drink this.”

He extended a bottle of blood, sympathy lining every part of him.

“When will it stop?” Axel demanded.

“When the change is complete.”

“How is it not?” He lifted a hand, his muscles and bones screaming at the movement. Another wave of torture surged through him, his jaw and gums burning. He’d meant to show Tristyn he had nothing left, that his shadows and power were gone. That he was nothing anymore, but instead he was given more anguish, drawing another bellow from his soul.

It mixed with Kat’s cries, a symphony of torment that would haunt him for the rest of his days. But her cries also drew his attention, particularly to her throat. Suddenly, all he could hear was her heartbeat, fast and strong. He could practicallyseeher veins fluttering with warm blood. The power he was craving was right there for the taking.

A bottle was shoved in his face, but that wasn’t what he wanted. One sniff told him it wasn’t as powerful. It wasn’t fresh. It wasn’t fire.

“Fuck,” a male muttered as Axel surged forward for the defenseless Fae in front of him. He could swear his canines lengthened. Perfect. That would make his strike more precise.

His fangs didn’t sink into warm flesh of fire, but it was powerful blood that flooded his mouth.

It still wasn’t what he wanted most, even if it was enough to satiate the need. The power he drank was soothing and mighty, a sense of peace and calming coming over him. But more than that were flashes of images he didn’t recognize.

A female with red-brown hair and violet eyes.

Another female with dark skin that glowed with a silver aura and raven black hair floating around her.

A kiss beneath the moonlight.

Swords clashing.

A panther prowling.

“That’s enough,” Tristyn growled, yanking his arm back. Axel’s fangs tore his flesh, but the male didn’t seem to care. “She needs you.”

Clarity settled over him as he realized what had happened. That Tristyn had intervened, given him his own blood so he didn’t take from Kat.

“I can’t,” Axel rasped. This was all too fresh, too new. He didn’t trust himself yet.

“I won’t go anywhere, but she needs you,” Tristyn repeated, stepping out of the way.

Kat was still curled into herself, her curls matted to her brow. Her entire body trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

“Is it over?” Axel asked. He needed to be sure before he reached for her.

“Yes,” Tristyn said. “The effects will linger a bit longer, but the change itself is complete. And the bond you two shared is…”

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