He released her hair and stroked it back, baring the slender column of her neck. Her eyes, already hazy with pleasure, darkened further. He drove harder into her. Her body gripped him like a vice, and his head swam with unfathomable rapture.
“Please,” she gasped. “Take all of me, I beg you.”
He dropped his head and sank his fangs into her tender throat, and the rich flavor that filled his mouth transported him to ecstasy…
* * *
Sunshine had driftedoff only to awaken shortly after for no apparent reason. And try as she might, she couldn’t make herself go back to sleep. Eventually, she gave up.
Taking her polishing rag, she began picking through treasure in the pile, finding pieces she thought the demon they were meeting at the Blood Market might be interested in for their trade. She figured a sack full of finely polished treasure stood a decent chance of making the mysterious seller more amenable.
The next hour or so passed thusly. She selected a piece, turning it over in her hands to inspect. If she thought it useful, she polished it carefully and set it in the pile. If not, she polished it anyway, and set it back in Raum’s stash.
If he was going to have a hoard of treasure, he might as well take care of it. What good was a pile of gold if it wasn’t at least shiny?
The task was strangely meditative, and she found her thoughts drifting and her mind calming. So she was caught quite by surprise when Raum suddenly lurched upright on the cot.
Her eyes had long since adjusted to the dim firelight, and she could see his chest heave as he stared ahead with wide eyes.
“Raum?”
He didn’t move. She wasn’t sure he’d even heard her.
“Is everything okay?”
His head snapped toward her, and it was the first time she’d seen him make such a bird-like movement in human form. Staring at her didn’t seem to relax him. If anything, his eyes got even wider, and his chest never stopped moving with rapid breath.
“Is everything all right?” she asked again.
He blinked. Twice. The third time, he squeezed his eyes shut, and his throat moved on a hard swallow. “Yeah,” he croaked. “Just a dream.”
“A nightmare?”
“No. Well…kinda?” He winced, running a hand over his head. “Just a really fucking weird dream.”
Likely it was a nightmare, but he was too proud to admit it. She could sympathize.
For years after her incident, she’d been plagued with terrible dreams, snippets of her suffering mingling with nonsensical muddled memories. Eventually they’d faded as her mind healed with time, but she had never forgotten the dread that consumed her every time she contemplated resting, knowing what would haunt her in the darkness.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she dared to ask.
“No,” he said with uncharacteristic emphasis. “Nope. No. I’m good.” He swung his legs around and stood so suddenly, she tensed. “You ready to go?”
“Now?”
“Yeah.”
“I—” She looked at her treasure pile and realized that if it got any bigger, they wouldn’t be able to carry it. “Yes, I suppose I am. I compiled some items I think might make good offerings for our amulets.”
“Great.” He seemed unusually on edge and appeared to be avoiding her gaze.
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
“Fine. Let’s get going.”
Taking him at his word, she climbed to her feet, gathered her treasure in the rough piece of canvas she’d found and then pulled on the rope she weaved through holes at the edges, pleased when the whole thing tightened like a sack.
She’d also found a pair of fine leather gloves, embroidered with delicate gold threads, and she pocketed those too. They would be useful for hiding her angelic skin.
