Saliva pooled in my mouth as I longed to taste the food, but at the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I couldn’t risk trying it in case I was dreaming, and I was still the same vampire I’d become when the curse was created. The devils only knew how long I stood there, staring at those stupid strips of meat.
I hardly registered the soft patter of footsteps until Raine stepped into the cavern. I felt the moment her gaze landed on me. The female watched me warily as she approached like she was worried I’d sense her presence and either bolt or attack her. The second idea was laughable. I was much less of a threat now than all the other times she’d been around me. Still, she moved toward me slowly, purposely making her steps loud in what I could only guess was an effort not to startle me. I had to admit that the fact I hadn’t heard the steady beat of her heart as she approached unsettled me.
When she was an arm’s length away, she stopped, her gaze sliding from the dried strips in my hand and then to my face. “Feeling hungry?” she said, and her voice was light but tentative. Unsure.
Even without my vampire senses, I could scent what my brothers and her had been doing while I was away. The thought didn’t leave me with jealousy. All it left me with was regret.
I remained silent, not confirming her guess, but I kept staring at the damn meat strips in my hand. Awkwardly, she turned her attention to our surroundings. “I used to think Katakin was the most beautiful place I’d ever see,” she said as she marveled at the glowing algae covering the walls, “but there’s something about the fae realm. Every new place we find ourselves in is spectacular.”
I didn’t disagree with her, but it was hard to focus on the beauty around me. Not when I knew the blood that was on the fae’s hands. There was a time when Kade’s mother and sister were almost like my own family, and I was as keen to make the fae pay as Kade was.
When I remained silent, Raine’s gaze went back to the food in my hand. Gingerly, she reached out, and I let her take it from my fingers.
“It must be strange,” she commented. “Being able to eat food again after so long without it.”
This time, I looked at her. Seven devils, she was gorgeous. Wearing only her shirt and panties, the female was as tempting as ever. “I don’t think I can eat it,” I admitted to her. I thought I would be embarrassed saying something as ridiculous as that out loud, but there was something about Raine that made me feel so at ease. Like no matter what I said, she would understand.
Raine held up one of the strips with her hand. “Well, I know it doesn’t look that appetizing, but it’s surprisingly delicious. You’ll have to work your jaw a bit, but that shouldn’t stop you.”
I wondered if she knew that Asher had dried and flavored the meat himself. My stomach growled again, and this time it was loud enough that if I were back in Katakin, they might have mistaken me for a wolf shifter.
She grinned. “I don’t know if you know this, but we mere humans need food to survive. I think your stomach is trying to tell you something.”
I arched a brow at her then. Not because I, of course, knew humans needed food, but because she continued to call herself a human when it was clear she was anything but. She’d used magic on multiple occasions now, and it was obvious she was turning into some kind of monster, but she still refused to admit it to herself. In a way, it reminded me of when I’d first turned as a child. I’d wanted so badly to believe it wasn’t true. It wasn’t until I was ravenous and ripping out the throats of my friends that the harsh truth had become impossible to deny. And she would have to come to terms with it, too. That was, unless we found a way to break the curse over Katakin.
“I’m aware of that,” I responded.
“Are you? Because you’ve been staring at this meat like you’re not sure what to do with it,” she said, shaking the strip she held up in midair.
“I’m sure I can figure out how to chew again,” I replied dryly.
She stared at me skeptically. “All right, then prove it.” She lifted the strip closer to my mouth as if she intended to force-feed me like some fucking babe. I glowered, but she just waggled the little strip in my face. “Open wide, big boy, it’s your turn to eat some meat.”
Fucking seven devils, this female and her sass. I simultaneously wanted to strangle her and crow with laughter at the comment.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement, and she chuckled at her own joke. My eyes narrowed, and I opened my mouth to curse at her, but quicker than I could get the words out, she shoved the strip into my mouth.
“Chew,” she commanded like she thought I’d listen.
I went to spit the damn thing out, but flavor exploded on my tongue, rich spices and salt making my mouth water, and the challenging look Raine was giving me made me hesitate. It was like she dared me to spit it out in front of her. Devils, the confidence of this female.
My nostrils flared in annoyance, but slowly I started to work my jaw, chewing on the strip of meat and softening it. I wanted to fucking hate it. I didn’t want to be reminded of the things I was missing out on by being a vampire, a monster, but a small groan slipped out of me as the meat melted on my tongue. I chewed faster, relishing the salty flavor as I swallowed and it trailed down the back of my throat.
Raine stared smugly at me. “It’s good, right? Goddess, I wish I had the chance to taste food again for the first time.”
I couldn’t stop myself then. A wolfish smile curved my lips. I could think of something she hadn’t tasted yet, and for once I wouldn’t have to worry about accidentally succumbing to my bloodlust and draining her dry.
Unaware of my intentions, she had moved on from the topic of food and was busy rambling about how incredible our surroundings were again. The space was romantic, I had to admit. I could imagine fae males bringing their sweethearts to the hidden space to woo them amidst the glowing lights of the algae and quiet ambience of the cavern. Unfortunately for Raine, romancing females wasn’t something I was practiced at.
My dark gaze fixed on the side of her face. “Get on your knees,” I ordered abruptly, cutting off her latest remark.
She frowned in confusion like she wasn’t sure if she’d heard me correctly. “What?”
“On your knees,beautiful,” I repeated slowly, enjoying the way my nickname for her rolled off my tongue. A nickname that was all too fitting for the delicious female beside me. Glowing light illuminated her naked skin, giving it a silvery sheen and her fiery hair was still damp from the river and clinging to her shoulders and neck.
I expected her to argue. The female was strong-willed, and she could be unpredictable at the best of times, but her gaze slid to the front of my pants, and her eyes heated at what she saw there.
Licking her lips, she hesitated only a moment before slowly moving in front of me and dropping to her knees. I reached down to free myself, and my cock hardened even more at the surprised gasp that left her delicate throat.
