Page 30 of Midwinter Night's Prince

Seth sucked, and sucked, and sucked. She moaned, wishing she could tell him to go to hell, to move away, but also to never, ever stop. His hard length pulsed against her core as he drained her, just like he’d promised he would.

Finally, he lifted his head away from her throat.

Blair was utterly spent, exhausted, and so vulnerable.

“Never forget what I am, witch.” His mouth was filthy; filled with her blood.

She could feel herself clench against him.

Blair hadn’t forgotten her schooling. She was aware that being drained by a vampire could be pleasurable if the vampire wanted it to be—it was one of the reasons why they could find so many willing victims. Yet there was a stark difference between knowing the effect his kind could have on hers and feeling it for herself. She felt so foolish now. She’d wanted a reaction from him, but she’d never thought she would be the one losing this particular game. Blair was supposed to be good at this. She didn’t often play with guys, but when she did, she could wrap them around her little finger.

Seth chuckled, openly mocking her weakness, her humanity.

She found the strength to get to her feet and push against his chest. He didn’t budge. “I hate you.”

“You only hate the fact that you want me.” His smirk made her want to hide in a hole—or better yet, bury him in one. “It’s not your fault.”

Blair expected him to launch into a soliloquy about being irresistible to any living thing. Instead, he lifted her arm. “Your so helpful Aphrodite poisoned you with lust. I could taste her spells in your blood. Quite delicious, I might add.”

“What!” Blair remembered how the goddess had marked her.

The divine bitch was responsible for the most embarrassing moment in her life. Blair wanted nothing more than to kick her perfect ass.

“Why would she do that to me?” She’d been so certain that Aphrodite had been on her side. Now she wished she’d listened to Seth’s warning.

“It appears you were correct,” Seth said, shocking her. “She was trying to help after all.”

“She can shove her help up her ass with a broomstick.”

He finally moved a step back, laughing. “I needed blood and power. You carry both.” Seth brought his own wrist to his lips, bit into it, and dabbed a finger at his blood.

Blair shrank back, but he got to her neck before she could move, pressing the golden liquid to the puncture marks he’d left behind. They burned like acid, but before she could open her mouth to scream, all pain disappeared. The two small holes were gone, her skin smooth and unmarred.

She slapped his hand away anyway. “Ever heard of asking?”

He didn’t even need to think it through. “No.”

Fucking asshole.

“What did Aphrodite tell you again, about this labyrinth?”

“Fuck her, and fuck you.”

He winced. “Not all at once, I hope. I’m not much into incest.”

Now that he’d fed—on her—his infuriating smart mouth was back. Gone was the uncertain man who feared the woods around them. Seth seemed utterly in control.

“You have a plan,” Blair realized.

“I’m supposed to be willing to leave my strength behind, is that right?”

Blair forced herself to recall exactly what the goddess had told her.

It is a labyrinth one cannot escape unless they’re willing the leave their strength behind. My stepmother will have him broken and on his knees, begging for death before the sun rises.

She repeated each word, as precisely as she could remember them.

Seth sighed. “Fine. Come here.”

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