Page 55 of Crimson Shadows
“No!”
My shout jars me. My eyes snap open, I’m met with the cold emptiness of my tower room. My skin prickles with lingering heat, Zaiah’s touch is etched into every nerve ending. The sheets underneath me are damp, and I’m naked and aching.
“Fuck,” I mutter, my heart still racing. The sensation of Zaiah’s lips on mine clings stubbornly, refusing to fade with the rest of the dream.
But it wasn’t a dream. I know it wasn’t.
My body rebels against the loneliness that descends. The craving is clawing at my insides. The need to be with Zaiah, to have his arms around me, his lips on mine, his cock inside me. The logical part of my brain wants to believe it was just a dream, but the raw, primal part whispers that it was something more—a connection, a bond that spans beyond the physical realm.
My hands tremble as I rake my fingers through my hair, and I run my tongue over my regular teeth with crushing disappointment. “What have you done to me?”
I swing my legs out of bed and take the stairs to the bathroom to clean up.
Seeing the blood as I wipe, I groan. “Perfect fucking timing, as always,” I mutter and reach for the tampons as a large black figure smacks against the window of the tower, somehow clinging to the sheer glass pane, the shape of his wings showing me it’s a bat.
“Corvus,” I mutter and glance down. “Oh, for fuck’s sake! Are you kidding me?”
26
ZAIAH
The first raysof dawn are creeping through my window as I materialise back in my room, my body tingling with residual energy from the encounter with Adelaide. The dream-like connection we shared feels more real than the physical world around me, and for a moment, I have to steady myself against the wall.
“Shit,” I mutter, running a hand through my hair. The scent of jasmine still clings to me, a phantom reminder of the garden we created in that shared dreamscape. It’s so vivid, so tangible, that for a moment, I wonder if I’ve brought a piece of that world back with me.
I make my way to the window, looking out over the MistHallow grounds. The early morning mist is just beginning to lift ever so slightly, revealing the ancient trees and sprawling lawns that have been home to countless supernatural beings over the centuries. Everything seems so ordinary, so mundane compared to what just happened. But I know better. Nothing will ever be ordinary again, not after connecting with Adelaide on such a profound level.
The bond between us, the one I’ve been nurturing since she arrived, has grown exponentially stronger. I can feel it pulsing in what exists as my soul, a live wire connecting our essences. It’s exhilarating and terrifying. When I first created this bond, I never imagined it could become something so intense. It was meant to be a way to toy with her, to make her want me. I never expected it to grow into something that consumes me.
Does she feel the same?
I’ve always prided myself on my control, on keeping my emotions in check. It’s a necessity when you’re as powerful as I am. One slip, one moment of unchecked emotion, and the consequences could be catastrophic. But Adelaide has shattered that control with a single touch, a single kiss.
My mind races, replaying every moment of our encounter. The way she responded to my touch, the fire in her eyes, the raw need in her voice. It was more than just physical attraction. It was a meeting of souls, a recognition of something more profound. Something ancient and powerful, something that goes beyond the bond I created.
It’s fate.
“Fuck,” I groan, leaning my forehead against the cool glass. I’m in way over my head, and I know it. I have never felt this way about anyone or anything before. I have never needed anyone in this way. It hurts to be without her. What started out as mischief has backfired in a way that has taken me by storm.
I turn away from the window, pacing the length of my room. The energy coursing through me refuses to settle. It’s like my very essence is reaching out and seeking Adelaide’s presence. I can feel her confusion, her desire, her strength, even from this distance. It’s maddening and exhilarating.
What I feel for Adelaide goes beyond simple attraction or curiosity. It’s a pull so strong, so all-encompassing, that it frightens me. And that, more than anything, is what’s trulyterrifying. Her strength, her vulnerability, and the way she’s embracing her supernatural self is powerful. There is something about the power she holds. It’s enough to make my head spin. I can sense it, just beneath the surface, waiting to be unleashed. The potential is staggering. But I don’t know why. What else is there about her that could cause this?
I’m falling for her, and there isn’t a damn thing I can or want to do about it.
The thought hangs in the air, heavy with implications. This is dangerous territory. A djinn and a vampire? It’s unheard of. There are rules and boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed. The very fabric of reality could be at stake if we were to fully combine our powers.
But since when have I ever cared about rules?
The bond between us thrums with potential. I can feel it growing stronger with each passing moment, bridging the gap between us even now. What started as my creation has become something real, something alive. It’s no longer just a magickal construct; it’s a living, breathing connection between our souls.
I sink onto my bed. As I close my eyes, I reach out through our bond. Even from this distance, I can sense her - her confusion, her desire, her strength. I can feel her grappling with what happened between us, trying to understand the depth of our connection.
For a moment, I consider going to her. I want to hold her, feel her warmth against me, lose myself in her eyes, explain everything, and help her understand what’s happening between us.
But no. Not yet. She needs time to process what happened between us and to come to terms with the intensity of our bond. I need to get my head on straight. I need to figure out how to navigate this new reality we’ve created.
The world seems brighter and more vibrant. The colours are more intense, and the sounds are clearer. It’s as if Adelaide has awakened something in me that has lain dormant all my life.
