Page 61 of Crimson Shadows
Zephyr turns back to Lucian, still choking away on the magick. “You dared to touch her,” he growls, his tone like ice. “You need to learn your place, vampire.”
Lucian’s face is turning purple, his struggles growing weaker.
“Zephyr,” I murmur but it’s not to stop him. My vampire side is revelling in this darkness and it’s an encouragement.
Zephyr ignores me though, his focus entirely on Lucian. “You think you can touch what’s mine?” he states, waving his hand gently and sending gashes across Lucian’s face that make him squeal with pain.
I’m captivated. There’s a dark seduction to Zephyr’s savagery, and a primal part of me responds to his brutality.
Lucian’s eyes roll back, his body going limp. Zephyr releases him, letting him crumple to the ground. He turns to me, his eyesstill glowing with that haunting light. “No one touches you,” he states coldly.
There’s a part of me that wants to rail against his possessiveness, to assert my independence. But there’s another part, a darker part, that is aroused by his words.
Our gazes lock and the rest of the world fades around me.
Zephyr’s eyes search mine, the glow fading slightly. “You’re not afraid,” he murmurs.
I shake my head. “No, I’m not.”
He takes a step closer, his hand reaching out to cup my cheek. His touch is gentle. “You allow me to touch you. That makes you mine to protect,” he murmurs, his thumb brushing against my skin.
Before I can respond, he leans in, his lips brushing against mine in a soft, fleeting kiss. It’s over before I can react, leaving me stunned and breathless.
Zephyr pulls back, his gaze boring into mine. “Mine,” he says, and then he’s gone, disappearing into the shadows as quickly as he appeared.
I stand there for a moment, my fingers touching my lips where he kissed me. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions, trying to process what just happened.
A groan from Lucian brings me back to reality. I look down at him, still crumpled on the ground. He looks pathetic, all his earlier bravado gone.
“Get out of here,” I snap, nudging him with my foot. “And if you ever come near me again, I’ll let Zephyr finish what he started,afterI’m done with you.”
Lucian scrambles to his feet, giving me a wide berth as he stumbles away. I watch him go, a sense of satisfaction washing over me. I’ve never stood up for myself like that before, never had the power to back up my words. It feels good. I giggle andfeel a weight lifting from my shoulders that I didn’t know was crushing me.
Acceptance for who I really am.
I take a deep breath, as I walk towards Blackthorn’s office. Zephyr is a contradiction, a puzzle I want to solve. His savagery, his possessiveness, his unexpected gentleness. And that kiss... fuck, it was barely anything, but it left me craving more.
I shake my head, trying to clear it. I need to focus. I have this meeting with Blackthorn, and I need to be on my game. But as Orby leads me to the room where Blackthorn and I met before, I can’t shake the feeling that my world has just shifted, that I’ve taken a step down a dark path from which there’s no turning back.
But I don’t want to.
Blackthorn opens the door, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Miss Black,” he greets, stepping aside to let me in. “You look different.”
I raise an eyebrow as I enter his office. “Different how?”
He closes the door behind me, his gaze lingering on my face. “More alive,” he says finally. “More you.”
I smile, taking a seat in front of his desk. “I feel more me,” I admit. “Like I’m finally waking up after a long sleep.”
Blackthorn nods, taking his own seat. “Good. That means you’re embracing your true nature. Now, tell me about your progress with the blood.”
I shift in my seat. “It’s intense,” I say, choosing my words carefully. “I can feel the power in it, the energy. It is a craving, one I’m finding hard to resist.” I lay it out there to see if I can tell if he knew this would happen to me.
Blackthorn leans forward, his eyes intense as he ignores my question. “And how does it make you feel? Physically, emotionally?”
I think back to the rush of energy, the heightened senses, the wild hunger. “Strong. Like I can do anything.”
A slow smile spreads across Blackthorn’s face. “Excellent. That’s exactly how it should feel. These cravings, are you resisting them?”
