Page 247 of Halfblood Deceived

“No one does,” Zeydan said. “But you’re too pale, and your heart rate is too low.”

“I’m fine,” Aella lied.

Zeydan tossed the bloody towel into the trash bin. “You just lost a pint of blood, Aella.”

She opened her mouth to lie again, but a violent pain assaulted her head so hard her sight blurred.

Distantly, she heard Zeydan curse.

Everything turned black for a second.

Aella blinked hard, trying to stay awake, and realized she was now on Zeydan’s lap. He sat on the chair by the bathroom door. His beautiful face was pale, and his brow tight. Aella leaned her head against his shoulder. He was so warm, and comfortable, and she felt so sleepy…

“Aella,” he called. “I’m going to need you to stay awake, alright?”

“What for?” she drowsily asked.

“I need you to drink my blood,” Zeydan said.

That woke her up a bit. “Um…”

“Vampire blood usually heals most human injuries,” Zeydan explained, a note of urgency in his voice. “And you’ve had my blood running through your veins already. We know it won’t harm you—”

“Okay,” Aella said.

Zeydan’s eyes shifted into their feline-like form again. His canines lengthened. The ones right next to his front teeth were shorter and angled toward his front teeth, but just as sharp as the others. Unceremoniously, he bit down right over a vein in his forearm.

The scent of his blood reached Aella’s nose. Red wine, spices, copper, and a hint of salt. Aella’s mouth watered, and her stomach twisted as if she hadn’t eaten in a week, a year. Aella gripped Zeydan’s wrist and forearm and put her mouth over the open vein as soon as he released his bite.

A low moan escaped her at the first gulp of Zeydan’s delicious blood. Some unknown instinct had her opening her mouth wider and sucking hard.

Delicious, you’re so delicious, Aella dazedly thought.

“Goddess!” Zeydan hissed. “Fuck.”

Aella peered at him, finding him breathing hard, mouth parted in awe, and cheeks slightly pink.

He ran his palm up and down her back. “Don’t stop, Amazon. Take everything you need.”

Aella half nodded, drinking more and more. A rush of energy traveled from her stomach to every inch of her body. Her spine arched by instinct, and she shook from head to toe. The warm pleasure coursing through her veins wasn’t precisely like having Zeydan’s fingers or mouth on her. But her body lit up almost in the same way.

The cut on Zeydan’s vein closed. Aella felt tempted to tear his vein open with her teeth, but maybe that was rude. She was content with licking Zeydan’s skin clean of every drop of blood, not wanting to waste anything.

You just fed on a vampire. And you enjoyed it, you heathen; remarked a little voice in Aella’s head that sounded very pearl-clutching indeed.

So I did, Aella thought, feeling light and heavy, sated and hungry. And I loved it.

She straightened and placed both hands on Zeydan’s shoulders.

He was looking at her as if he’d never seen her before. His breathing was fast through his parted lips, and his eyes were still shifted.

Beautiful. You’re so beautiful. I want to devour you; Aella thought. Her eyes fell on his neck. The sight of his pulse made her feel thirsty. Hungry. Her mouth watered.

Zeydan swallowed. “Feeling better?”

“Mm-hh,” Aella muttered.

“I’m glad,” he said, voice like gravel.

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