Page 38 of Our Sins in Blood (Coven of Sin 1)

“Trust your feet, Red. You’re only stumbling because you’re second-guessing yourself. Don’t think, just focus on me and move.”

Simple advice, almost too simple. But I took a deep breath and watched as the show-off skated backward, grinning at me as he pulled me along after him.

His eyes were so beautiful, the way their blue depths lit up with his smile. And that damn dimple. I found myself staring at it, almost transfixed when his words of praise pulled me out of my daze.

“That’s it, see?”

“What?” I looked down at my feet to see them moving in rhythm with his.

“Sometimes, you just have to trust your body to take care of you even if you’re in an unfamiliar situation. It’s why vampires move so fast and why they are so damn hard to kill. Your instincts will know what to do even if you don’t, so long as you don’t get in your head and let fear take over.”

I skidded to a halt, my feet somehow knowing to use the little bumper on the edge of the skates.

“What is it?” Corry asked, stopping to look at me with a confused expression as I gaped at him.

The youngblood might not be able to show me how to mesmerize humans or feed like a vampire since he could hardly keep a lid on his own self-control, but he was still showing me how to be a vampire and fit into his world, in his own special way.

“You’re pretty awesome, you know that?”

His eyes brightened. “Awesome enough for a kiss?”

“I know what you’re doing, Corry.”

“Oh yeah, and what’s that?”

“Trying to butter me up, so you can be king.”

The smile stayed plastered to his lips, but some of the light drained from his eyes. “What if I just like you? How about that? Newsflash, Princess. Before you got here, I didn’t give two fucks about being king. But now that being king means having you as a mate…” He shoved his hands in his pockets, shrugging. “Maybe now I care.”

“Corry—”

“Look, I’m sorry. We don’t need to talk about this right now. Am I still awesome enough for that kiss?”

“How about we start with that pretzel you promised me? I’m so hungry that if you were to kiss me right now, you probably wouldn’t escape with your lips.”

“Oh, threats of mutilation? Good thing Deathwish isn’t here. He’d have too much fun with you.”

I followed Corry off the roller rink to the concession stands, frowning. “This Deathwish guy must be pretty messed up, from what I’m hearing.”

“Ha.That’sthe understatement of the century. He’s a sadistic psychopath. There was a reason Vin threw a fit when the Elders decided to let all four princes have a shot at courting you or whatever. It will be best for everyone if you make a decision before he gets back from his trip.”

A mixture of disgust and intrigue swirled in my gut at the mention of my father’s most depraved progeny. Almost enough to put off my appetite until Corry shoved a fat, steaming pretzel into my one hand and a cup of cheese dip into the other.

The delicious scents of hot bread, salt, and cheap cheese were enough to cause a hungry growl to rattle up from my chest.

“Hey now,” Corry said with a nervous chuckle while steering me away from the crowded concession stand. “Keep the predator noises on the down-low there, Killer. You’ll freak out the humans.”

I blinked several times, taken aback. It was the same sort of sound Vincent had made in my room and in the pharmacy restroom, the one that had sent a rush of heat through me.

“I’ve never made that sound before…”

“It’s pretty common for our kind. Whether you’re hunting, or fucking, or irritated. Though this is the first time I’ve seen anyone make it over a soft pretzel.”

I pulled off a chunk of pretzel, but before I could eat it, Corry grabbed my wrist and pulled it toward him, snagging the piece for himself. My protests turned to weak whimpers as he sucked my fingers clean of salt, his gaze fiercely holding mine. I shivered from the way his tongue stroked over my skin, soft and reverent, and I was almost sad when he broke away, brushing off the brief moment we’d shared with a chuckle.

I ate the rest of my snack, watching him as we strolled through the rink, past the lockers to the arcade portion where dozens of blinking, tittering video game cabinets sat.

“I’m surprised by your restraint tonight, Youngblood.”

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