Page 48 of Kiss of Light

“Itistomorrow,” he said mildly. “It’s one am.”

“Then I’ll see you later today.”

She slid off the stool and marched back to the cellar. Stupid fae. Pretending he knew her. He had no idea. The sooner they were out of here and on their way, the better.

She threw her jacket over a chair and pulled off her boots. She glanced at the couch. Lemar was still asleep in the same position she’d left him.

He must have started to heal by now. Maybe the wound had even closed over.

But when she checked on him, her heart sank in dismay. The gaping hole under the dressing hadn’t changed a bit. She shook him hard.

“Hey, wake up. Wake up, Lemar. Why aren’t you healing?”

His eyes opened briefly and she saw pain in their tortured depths. He spoke two distinct words.

“Need. Blood.”

“Shit. Hold on. I’ll get you some steak from the kitchen.”

“Not… enough. Wound too… deep.”

His eyes closed again and Tala shook him.

“Hey, stay with me. What kind of blood?”

“Bag… will… do.”

Tala chewed her lip. It was one in the morning. She had no idea where the local blood bank was, and even if she found it, she got the feeling that time was of the essence. She shook Lemar’s shoulder again.

“What about demon blood? Lemar, what aboutmyblood? Would that work?”

“Not… feeding… from source.”

“But would it work? Open your eyes, dammit. Can you use my blood?”

“Not feeding… from… you. You… know… why.”

“But you can’t hurt me. I’m not some frail human girl, remember?”

“No!” His explosive snarl took her by surprise and she jumped. “Not from the source.”

He sank back onto the couch, exhausted.

“Lemar.” She stroked the hair back from his brow gently. “I’m a demon. Demons are hard to kill. I promise you I’ll be all right.”

He focused on her face.

“Why… why would you do… this?”

“I…” she fumbled for a reason. “I promised I’d get you back to Palissandra.”

“Just… a job.”

“Yeah. Exactly.” She drew a blade and sliced it swiftly across her arm. Dark red blood bloomed against the ivory of her skin. Lemar’s nostrils flared at the scent.

She watched, fascinated as his eyes dilated and black veins snaked across his cheekbones. Light glinted off his canines as they slid from his gums.

He grasped her arm, forcing himself to hold off and give her one last chance to change her mind.

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