Page 34 of The Monster's Desire

“I need to drink from you,” I say in that tone that indicates it’s not just me speaking.

“Go on,” he says, raising an eyebrow, like I’m being purposely slow or difficult.

“I have a pin I use when I need to do magic.” Yanking the pin out of its compartment, I hold it up, showing Echo.

I’m not sure if he realizes I have fangs. Here’s hoping he meant what he said about being a team. He nods his agreement, and my magic hums in approval. I stagger forward like I’m wasted.

I don’t even care if I look like an idiot because, once I’m no longer compelled, this town can officially blow me.

My instincts scream not to let this council know about my oddities. I’m completely on board with that plan of action.

I’m having a serious conversation with Octavia as soon as I get the chance. She sent me here. She can sure as hell send reinforcements to get me out safely.

Echo bends his head low, and I position my mouth close to his throat. The pin slides over his skin, and my mouth immediately latches on to his neck. I will my embarrassingly tiny baby fangs to stay hidden.

Magic soars through my system with every swallow of his blood.

Echo groans as my tongue flicks over the wound. The skin begins to knit itself back together almost immediately, and I pull away. My chest heaves as magic hums through my entire body.

“Complete the fucking ritual,” Imogen hisses, glaring at me. God, she’s really intimidating with the veins on her neck bulging and that cold, dead look in her eyes.

This wasn’t my idea. Why the hell is she looking at me like that?

My mouth opens to tell her the ritual is complete, but my magic pulses with displeasure. Okay, then, it feels like being a bratty teenager today, despite the fact I’m closer to thirty than I am to twenty-five.

“Get on with it,” Constantine says.

“I invoke the bonds that tether.” My eyes meet Echo’s.

“I accept the bonds that tether.” His stare bores into mine. It’s actually a rather intimate moment, despite the council witnessing it.

The warm, fuzzy feeling that fills my chest as we gaze at each other makes me uncomfortable. I shake my head, blowing out a breath.

Why did old blood witches pick the most cliché sayings ever created to end their bindings? My mouth itches to explain that wasn’t necessaryat all, but I think I’m trying to distract myself from how closely I just bound myself to an unknown vampire.

“Was it successful?” Warren’s words ring with the power of his compulsion.

My chest aches with the urge to tell him to suck a dick. My mouth involuntarily responds. “It was.”

“Yes,” Echo agrees.

“Give us a demonstration.” Valaine leans forward in her chair. She’s finally interested in this clusterfuck of a meeting, and only once I’ve stripped Echo of his free will. I’m going to need to burn this council to the ground on my way out of town. “Come on, then.”

My eyes fly to hers and my eyebrows raise. Really? He’s not a fucking pet. He’s a person. Maybe a soulless person—I’m really not sure about that. It doesn’t matter. It’s not right to play with someone’s free will.

My magic literally will not let me speak as I try to instruct Echo to tell his town council to blow me. It also won’t let me have him tell Imogen to go suck on another lemon. Apparently, it’s also not okay with having Echo rip out Constantine’s throat.

Huh, today sucks worse than yesterday.

I thought the disaster with the wolves was bad.

“Now.” Warren isn’t screwing around. He pours his dominance into the command, and my system jolts with my inability to ignore it.

“Give me a piggyback ride.” I shrug at the frown on Imogen’s face.

Valaine scoffs.

Echo gives me a frustrated look. I’ve sent exactly zero demand with my words, but he knows as well as I do that we have to fake it.

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