Page 53 of Cruel Vampire King

That one question was so… vulnerable. It made tears come to my eyes. I nodded. Gratitude swept through me as I pressed my hand into his. It was over. I found a loophole to save Thessa. And with Luken on my side, we would also find a way to save Darcie. I was certain of it. I wanted to bury my face into his chest and seek all the comfort I’d been denied for four years.

My family wasn’t killed because I said no. All the blame I’d laid on myself wasn’t justified at all. It was all because of the pettiness of someone I’d never even met, trying to overthrow the king!

“The celebrations will be held as usual,” Luken declared, his hand big and firm around mine. “In the meantime, you’ll have to excuse me. I have something I need to do.”

He grinned at me, his eyes hot with lust. A thrill washed through me. He was going to drink from me. And then I would give him my virginity. I had no reason to hold back now. Myblood simmered as I let my gaze move down his pleasing form. How would it feel to finally give into what I’d wanted for years now? The memories of the hot spring were vivid in my mind, but the feel of his skin on mine paled in comparison to the coolness of his hand in mine at this very moment.

A smile started to cross my face when movement near Greyson’s body caught my eye. At first, I thought it was the wind blowing his shirt. Then his hand lifted.

“Luken—” I called.

Too late.

Greyson shot upright, yanking the knife out of his eye as he did so. A chill went through me, but even as Luken turned, Greyson’s arm snapped out. The knife flashed through the air.

And hit me dead center in my chest.

Chapter 21

The sky was bright blue. It was too bright. The light hurt my eyes. I didn’t feel any pain, but I knew I would soon. My limbs were going cold and numb. I was about to fall over. I tried to suck in a breath to steady myself, but my throat didn’t seem to work. I couldn’t breathe, only watch as Greyson was piled on by vampires. Darkness welled around the peripherals of my vision; I couldn’t tell if they were tearing him to pieces or not.

Something warm wrapped around me. I gasped as the pain lanced, spreading like a spiderweb from my chest. Even that single breath hurt. My head fell back as my strength deserted me. Everything seemed to spin as the warmth pulled me closer. Darkness crept in, turning the clear sky black.

A fresh point of pain erupted. The feeling was like two thin needles piercing right above my breast. I gasped again, my lungs burning. At the same time, something warm and wet touched my tongue. I licked it, finding the taste coppery with a tang of salt. Blood. I knew that taste. Had tasted it often enough when I was learning how to fight.

The darkening sky started to lighten. The sounds of distance cries grew closer, as though they were rushing at me. I blinked once, finding that my body responded to my commands again. The pain still lingered, but when I glanced down, it wasn’t the knife still wobbling in my chest. It had been taken away. A head of dark hair leaned over me, and I caught a glimpse of golden skin. Warmth slowly started to register. The feel of lips pressed over my skin.

Luken. He was drinking from me. I realized my lips were pursed around something that dripped that salty, coppery liquid into my mouth. One of his fingers was stuck between my lips. Hewas feeding me even as he drank from me. Was he changing me? Turning me into a vampire?

I didn’t have much time to consider. Because he gave a deep pull, and all of a sudden, my body was on fire. My blood had turned to lava as it sloshed through my body. My core tightened, and I could feel my clit enlarging. I arched myself to his touch, wanting more. It wasn’t enough to have his lips on me. I needed everything else.

“Luken,” I ground out, fighting the arousal, though it was more powerful than anything I’d felt before.

His lips left my skin, and he looked up, his amber eyes blazing. And knowing for certain it was him was all it took to tip me over the edge. I reached out and seized his long hair in my hands, dragging him closer. I needed him more than I needed my next breath. In that moment, he was the whole world. Nothing existed outside of the glow of his eyes.

“Luken,” I growled when he resisted my pull. “I want you.”

One of his hands came to my hip, pinning me down. “Give it a minute. Healing isn’t instantaneous.”

“Don’t deny me,” I begged. “I want you. I want you to be inside of me. I want your body pressed to mine. I need you. Now. Don’t make me wait, please.”

Nothing was as important as he was. Nothing more desirable than to have my skin fused to his. I tore open his shirt, buttons popping every which way. Luken laughed and caught my wrists. The smile on his face nearly made me weep. He was so beautiful it was impossible not to stare at him in utter awe. How could he be so magnificent and not a god himself? I wanted to give him my all, the last innocent part of myself. Only that seemed like enough of a tribute, a blood sacrifice for his might.

“Luken,” I breathed out in a prayer. “Please.”

He scooped me into his arms, picking me off the ground. “I told you you’d be begging for it.”

I laughed in delight as he rushed from the colosseum. Giddy elation ran through me as he carried me away from this place and all the pain and bloodshed it contained. There was still a slight ache in my chest, but it was nothing compared to the heat rushing through my body. I curled myself closer to him, cupping his chin in my hand. His scent was divine and I kissed his neck, eager to get a taste of him.

Luken’s arms tightened around me. Wind rushed in my ears. Then he put me down, steadying my feet beneath me. I whimpered, hating to be separated from him.

I pressed myself to my tiptoes and caught his mouth in a kiss. I tasted the blood still on his lips, but I didn’t care. His mouth was so soft and warm, his touch igniting a fire and cooling it all at once. I needed more. My skin was too hot and too tight, and only he could cool the inferno, which was sure to make me burst into flames.

“Wait a moment,” Luken chided.

It occurred to me how ridiculously unfair it was that now he was the one telling me not to get carried away. I gripped his biceps tightly but forced myself to hold still. He’d waited for my yes. I could do the same for him.

“I need to check your injury,” he explained lightly as he carefully lifted my shirt up over my head.

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