Page 27 of Dark & Dreadful Brutes

She fell asleep quickly, and Ravv gave her one last pat before he created another ice shelter for us—this one bigger, and with thicker walls.

My mind went back to our conversation the night before.

He wanted me to drink his blood.

I halted outside the shelter as he disappeared inside.

“Laeli.” His warning rumble flooded the air.

No, I was not ready for that.

I turned and walked right back to Gleam’s side, then plopped down next to her. She was snoring loudly enough to scare off all the predators, so I’d just sleep beside her.

He stepped out and leaned up against the side of his shelter, his eyes narrowed at me.

I narrowed mine right back.

There was no way he could force me to drink his blood. Even if there was, I didn’t think he’d actually do it. He was grumpy and angry, but never cruel.

“You’re covered in bruises. You’re tired and achy, too. My blood will fix all of those things.”

“I told you, I’m not a vampire.”

Vampirism was a curse most humans feared deeply. Using magic we weren’t born with would corrupt our bodies and make us vampires, who were hunted and tossed into the Aching Chasm. I wasn’t sure what that magic was, or how to find it, but I knew it was deadly.

He was silent for a moment, his eyes still narrowed at me. A long moment passed before he finally said, “You’re scared.”

“No. It’s just… new.”

Fine, I was scared. In what world would I enjoy drinking his blood? What would be wrong with me if I did?

“Would it make you more comfortable if I drank from you first?”

I shuddered. “No.”

He stared at me.

“We’ll just tell everyone what happened with the raiders,” I finally said, looking away from him.

An image flickered from his mind to mine—and lingered.

I straddled him while he sat on the ground.

His hands were on my hips, his head was tilted to the side, and my mouth was at the crook where his neck met his shoulder.

Veil, it was intense.

My hand lifted to my throat, and my eyes jerked back to Ravv’s.

They looked… hot.

Steam caught my attention, and I swore when I looked down and realized my hands were smoking.

“You actually want to do that?” I asked him, my voice quieter than before. “Not just because you feel guilty, but because you’re attracted to me?”

“You feel my body’s response to you every night, and we’re fated mates, Laeli. Of course I’m attracted to you.”

I huffed. “I still don’t want to do it.”

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