Page 105 of Reign of the Beast

“Right back at you.” He was my first vampire too. He wasn’t like the rest, though. There was something… special about him.

As he went to Ryker and stroked his hair, whispering comforting words in his ear, it hit me.

It was his compassion.

It was so blatant whenever he was around Ryker. His capacity to love was what set him apart from the rest of his kind.

His eyes flicked to Mia.

She was crooking her finger at him, signaling that it was his turn to do his part of the ritual.

With a kiss to Ryker’s forehead, he pulled away and asked me, “Will you?”

I lifted my chin and as Lucian went to Mia, I sat with Ryker, easing him against my chest, stroking him reassuringly as he murmured peacefully, out of it and wracked with weakness.

Lucian climbed onto the bed and gathered Mia into his arms so that she straddled his lap.

“Your turn,” she said with a lazy smile.

“My turn,” Lucian rumbled, as he thrust inside her.

She bucked and he held still to give her time to adjust.

She was shuddering all over, way over sensitized from the little game we’d played.

But she was all too ready to rise to the occasion and, in the next moment, she rose up on Lucian, digging her nails into his scalp, then slamming back down onto his cock, as she rode him like a woman possessed.

He smiled at her reaction and held her through it, allowing her to take control. Warmth lit his eyes and he kissed her all over reverently, getting lost in his bond to her, just like Ryker had with his magic. He was making love to her, rolling his hips sensually as she took him deep, losing herself to it.

“Ready, beauty?” he breathed against her breasts.

She fisted her hands in his hair, slowing her thrusts, as she gasped, “Yes.”

In the next moment, Lucian snarled, his features contorting, his eyes flaming, as he vamped out. His talons dropped and he loosened his grip on her so as not to hurt her with them.

He brought his wrist to his glistening fangs and tore into it. “Drink,” he urged, offering it to her.

She dipped her head and her tongue darted out tentatively tasting his blood.

It did something to her and then she was grabbing his wrist and feeding in a frenzy.

He threw his head back and savored it.

I winced.

Sure, I’d come a long way when it came to him. But actually witnessing this was a lot to take. A low growl rumbled from me and I saw Lucian register it. He eased Mia off his wrist.

My growl deepened when she brushed her long black hair off the side of her neck, offering it to him.

Lucian shook his head.

I frowned.

What was he doing?

He stilled her with a single hand to her left hip.

Then, with his right, he swept a talon lightly across the tops of her breasts, drawing a shallow wound.

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