Page 101 of Our Sins in Blood (Coven of Sin 1)

He cast me a pointed look. “Considering your current condition, your carnal lust combined with your blood lust might make for a lethal combination. However, whether you prefer feeding from the source, from a bag, or you somehow learn to control your lust and stick to human food, you still need to know how to safely feed on humans.” Sterling straightened, standing tall and imposing with that formal expression back on his face, letting me know this was going to be something I would need to take seriously. “I will teach you.”

Kenzie took no time at all getting to the hidden room. I wondered how many other people knew about Sterling’s den. At the thought of other females in here, my territorial instincts clawed at my insides once again. But this time, by some miracle, I managed to keep a lid on them.

To my embarrassment, Sterling’s request to bring me pajamas had somehow translated to slutty nighty in Kenzie’s mind. She gave a mischievous smirk when she presented me with an obscenely short black slip with a lacey see-through decoration on the front, one that woulddefinitelyshow off my nipples…if Sterling could see them.

I took it from her, shooting her a look before slinging it onto the back of the couch. She gave me a teasing wink as if to say,hey, you’re about to suck my blood. The very least I get to do is pick out your outfit.

“Miss O’Leary, please take a seat on the sofa.”

Kenzie gave a dutiful nod and moved to obey the prince. She didn’t seem nervous in the slightest, but maybe that would be different if Sterling wasn’t here. He beckoned me to sit beside Kenzie, and I did. He remained behind us, his elbows propped on the wooden frame of the Victorian-style couch.

“Pay attention because this is important, Miss Baxter.” He pointed a long index finger at Kenzie’s throat. At this rate, Vincent’s fang marks from the other day had completely healed. “Feel here.”

I pressed my finger to where Sterling pointed, feeling a little silly. But that quickly fizzled when I felt the delicious hammer of Kenzie’s beating heart thrumming against my fingertips.

“It’s important to note the difference between arteries and veins. Arteries carry pulses, veins do not. Until you are a master of your blood lust, avoid feeding from arteries. Nonetheless, you should be familiar with them. The artery in the neck, famously known as a vampire’s favorite place to feed, is the carotid artery. It may be tempting to feed from here, but don’t.”

“Where should I bite instead?”

“Here.” His finger moved down to the joint in her arm. “It’s called the antecubital fossa, the juncture of the inner elbow. It’s far safer for a youngblood to bite here because it’s a vein, not an artery like the carotid artery in the neck. Biting the inner elbow will hurt less for the donor, so it’s best to bite our own staff here. There are two types of blood in the human body, venous and arterial. Venous blood is deoxygenated, meaning all the oxygen it carries through the body has been distributed and is flowing back to the heart. This blood is darker and unfortunately doesn’t taste as sweet as arterial blood.”

“It’s venous blood that flows through veins and arterial blood through arteries?”

“That is correct. Arterial blood is sweeter, but taking it can kill the donor far faster.” Sterling’s features darkened as if reminded of something unsavory. “Which is why Corry was very reckless feeding from your femoral artery the other night. It’s the second deadliest artery to feed on. The first is the carotid artery in the throat. Only a master, perfectly in control of their bloodlust, should feed from these areas if they plan for the meal to survive.”

A blush heated my cheeks. “You heard about that?”

Sterling’s face remained perfectly void of all emotion, but something flickered behind his pale eyes, making me shiver. “I hear about most things in this coven.”

I swung my attention to Kenzie, who looked positively giddy with being smack in the center of this weird as fuck conversation and not at all freaked out that I was about to bite her.

“Go on,” Sterling gently urged. “Drop your fangs and feed. It will help sate your other appetites.”

Well, boo to that. I wanted to sate my other “appetites” by locking myself away in this den with its naked master, only to emerge sexually sated, full of each other’s blood, with our marks on each other’s flesh. Was that too much for a ravenous vampire princess to ask?

I thought Sterling might have had ulterior motives inviting me to stay with him through the day, but maybe he really was just trying to keep an eye on me so that I didn’t go ape-shit on the other guys like I had with him.

Sensing my disappointment, Kenzie mouthed “sorry” and held out her arm.

I didn’t need to drop my fangs because they had been out from the second I had seen that mark on Sterling’s throat. I hadn’t been able to make them go back in. I wondered if it was like a persistent boner and wouldn’t go away on its own without some encouragement. So with my nerves knotted in an uncomfortable jumble in my throat, I bit Kenzie where Sterling directed.

Human blood wasn’t anything like vampire blood, and I was surprised at just how different it tasted. The guys’ blood all had their own flavor, but each one was like a luxurious cocktail. At least, they tasted what I guessed a luxurious cocktail to taste like. The only alcohol I ever had to date was the cheap bottle of vodka Corry bought me at the pharmacy.Gag.

But Kenzie’s blood was like a thick, rich soup. Instead of making me horny, filling me with adrenaline and need, I felt full, happy, sated.

“Damn, you taste good,” I murmured against her arm.

“That’s enough. You only need a little,” Sterling said, but I was barely listening. His voice was just static now. The monster had taken over, and she was gorging herself on my friend’s blood. No,Iwas gorging myself on my friend’s blood.

And if I couldn’t make myself stop… I would kill her.

Chapter forty-eight

Sate the Monster

“Ouch,Ruby,stop,”Kenziemewled, but her pleas were lost on me.

“Ruby!” Sterling’s voice cut through my haze, and the next thing I knew, I felt myself being wrenched away from my meal.

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