Page 20 of Mortal Shift
“Just a little taste, sweetness,” he said, his lips pressed to my flesh. “Andwhata taste.”
He inhaled deeply, and I squirmed again.
“I’m going to be late for class!” I blurted, and he nodded, his lips still skimming my throat.
“Yes, you are, sweetness. Because I’m not ready to let you go just yet.”
“I’ll scream,” I threatened. He threw his head back and laughed.
“Go ahead. No-one will come.” He gave me a conspiratorial smile. “See sweetness, you askedwhatI am, but what you should have asked iswhoI am.”
“Fine,” I ground out. “Who are you?”
He released my arms and gave me a mocking bow.
“Prince Thaden of the Moritego Clan, at your service… Or rather, you’re at mine.”
Well, none of that sounded good.
“Prince Thaden,” I said, forcing a smile. “I’ll be sure to remember that.” My smile lost its sweetness. “So I know which psycho to avoid.”
He just laughed again.
“How quaint. You actually think you have a choice.”
“How quaint,” I retorted. “You think you’re the first one here to try to control me.”
“I may not be the first to try, sweetness, but I’ll be the first one you kneel to.” He bent his head close to mine again. “And before long, you’ll be begging me to taste you.”
I tilted my head, moving my lips to his ear.
“There’s just one thing you didn’t think of,” I murmured.
“Oh? And what’s that?”
“I don’t beg.” I bit down on his ear, hard. He pulled back, cursing in pain and surprise, and I took off, pounding along the corridor as fast as my feet could carry me. I strained my ears for the sound of pursuit, but I couldn’t make any out. Even so, it wasn’t until I’d rounded three more corners that I dared to slow. And, of course, I was completely lost.
Just great.
I slumped back against the wall and touched my fingers to my throat. Huh, that was weird. I couldn’t find any trace of the injury Thaden had inflicted on me—but I knew I’d been bleeding. And he’d… I swallowed. He’d tasted my blood.Drankit. But surely—
“You look lost.”
I jumped up from the wall, heart hammering, and my feet were primed to launch me forward into a run again when my brain caught up with them, and I recognized the voice—and the person it belonged to.
“Ling! Am I seriously glad to see you.”
She looked me up and down, and her eyes narrowed. “What happened?”
“Some asshole called—” I shook my head and scrubbed a hand over my face. “Doesn’t matter. I’m totally lost, and I don’t even know what lesson I’m supposed to be at because someone swiped my schedule.”
“Well, you’re a first year, right? And a shifter.” She nodded to my uniform and the yellow wolf emblem.
“Not exactly,” I said. “But near enough, I guess.”
“I saw all the first-year shifters heading over to cultural studies. I can walk with you, if you like?”
“Won’t that make you late?” Much as I was desperate for someone to show me the way, I didn’t want her getting into trouble on my account. But I couldn’t hide my relief when she shook her head.
