Page 54 of Promised in Blood

No. You did not. Why do you not want me to bite her?My tone is harsh and demanding. All the fight leaves her, and if I were a better man, I might feel a moment’s guilt at forcing her to confront whatever truth she is so intent on hiding. But I am not, and I do not.

Because you’re mine!

I stagger back a step with her still in my arms, my ears ringing and my cock aching from her words. The possession and strength in her voice have every cell in my body driven mad by the desire to show her who she belongs to.

I snarl.I am yours?

Yes!Another hot tear drips onto the side of my face, right beneath my ear. I picture myself carrying her out of the room and straight to my bed. Laying her down on it with my teeth still embedded in her throat whilst I unzip my pants and take out my aching cock. She must feel what I am imagining because a series of whimpers leak from her mouth and the thick scent of her arousal fills my nose. I cannot see straight with the strength of the yearning that courses through me. Right here in front of Axl and Malachi, whose eyes I can feel boring into my skin as they watch me with her. But given what we just learned, now is not the time for this, regardless of how the ravenous need to be inside her is driving me half crazy.

Mine!She says the word again, and it makes my blood scream in my ears.

I want to sink inside her tight, wet heat until the screaming stops. Until soul-affirming relief rushes over me, flooding every cell of my body.Yes, I am yours, Ophelia.

She wrenches her lips away. “Mine.” She whispers the word aloud like a prayer.

I press my forehead to hers and unwrap her legs from my waist so she is once more standing on her own two feet. My heart beats an erratic rhythm in my chest, its intensity mirroring hers as she stares at me with those huge trusting blue eyes. “Always yours.”

Axl presses his chest against her back and pulls her hair aside before nuzzling her neck. “We’re all yours, princess.”

Malachi hums his agreement as he flanks our right side, wrapping one arm around Axl’s neck and resting his lips on Ophelia’s bare arm.

“Are you guys having a party without me?” Xavier’s deep voice fills the room, and it makes Ophelia smile.

“Just showing our girl who she belongs to,” Malachi says. “So get over here.”

Xavier obliges, coming to stand on our left and resting his lips on top of Ophelia’s head. I wrap an arm around Malachi and rest it on Axl’s shoulder as I rest my free hand on the back of Xavier’s neck. It is a possessive gesture and reveals much more of myself than I usually would with him, and whilst he softens at my touch, his focus remains on the beautiful creature in the center of our circle.

“Ophelia.” Her head snaps up, and she stares into my eyes. “It is vital for our survival that we feed on others, little one. As delightfully addictive as you are, you alone cannot sustain four hungry vampires.” She opens her mouth to speak, but I silence her with a warning look. “Sometimes it is necessary to bite people for many reasons, such as erasing their memory, but it does not in any way lessen what we have. So you will curb this jealous streak you are developing.” I tuck a lock of pink hair behind her ear. “Before I am forced to curb it for you. Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes sir.” Those words on her lips never fail to invoke a reaction in my groin area.

Sweet demons, give me strength. “Stop that!”

She sighs and presses her cheek to my chest. “Four hot, hungry vampires, and a girl still can’t get an orgasm around here.” She makes a feeble attempt at laughter, but her sadness is overwhelming. We all understand her need for something to lighten the somber mood. This day is only going to become more difficult for her.

Xavier swats her ass, making her yelp. “You should be careful getting four horny vampires riled up, Cupcake, or you might find yourself tied to a bed for the rest of the week.”

Axl hums his agreement. “Being edged because you’re not allowed to come.”

Malachi chuckles. “Aw, my poor, sweet girl.”

I inhale the scent of her, and I am unable to stop the images of her tied up and at our mercy from pervading my thoughts. “Perhaps we will tie our little troublemaker up later. First we must pay a visit to Silver Vale and speak with the young witch.”

The boys voice their approval.

“Her name is Cadence,” Ophelia says with a huff that has her warm breath penetrating my thin shirt.

“Whatever her name, we need to go speak with her.” Not to mention find out as much as I can about what happened and figure out why someone tried to frame me for her roommate’s death. Tearing out the hearts of witches was my calling card. Albeit, it has been a long time since I have left it.

“Shall we come too?” Malachi asks.

My eyes dart between the three of them. They are trustworthy, loyal boys, and I have not been the sire any of them deserve, though my reasons for turning each of them were very different.

Perhaps we should all pay a visit to Silver Vale. The time for secrecy is coming to an end.

Ophelia runsto her friend as soon as we enter the parlor room of Silver Vale. Pale-pink and gold holiday decorations cover every available surface, and I had to duck to miss hitting my head on the mistletoe hanging from the doorway.

Enora, Osiris, and the young witch have been awaiting our arrival. At my request, Enora has permitted the boys to enter the house.

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