Hydromancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 4)

“What do you mean?”

“You’re mine. One way or another, I would’ve had you. I was prepared to wait, however long it took for you to accept. I don’t lead an easy existence. My life is dangerous, but I know you can handle it.”

Shit, this wasn’t what she’d expected, not a confession that he was half vampire who wanted her blood in exchange for his mark and protection.

As if reading her thoughts, he said, “I want your heart as much as I want your blood and your body. I won’t lie to you, blood is an aphrodisiac to me and there’s none bigger than the sweet temptation flowing through your veins, but I need your nutrition less and your love more.”

She inhaled sharply. She had considered sex as a motivation for Tim’s pursuit, but not these deep and beautiful feelings. She hated the idea of deceiving him, but what choice did she have? She was torn in two. Her heart and mind were splintered, and she had no idea how to pick up the pieces.

Another thought struck her. “Can you read my mind?”

“I can’t read minds. Even if I could, like some ancient vampires, I wouldn’t invade you in such a dishonorable way.”

She started pacing the room, her thoughts scattering in a hundred different directions.

He got to his feet, his brow furrowed. “Maya, please say something.”

She stopped to face him. “I can’t give you what you want. I can’t promise you forever.”

“It’s already forever. There’s no going back. Your body will be called to mine until the day we both die.”

“But you can’t die.”

“Yes, I can. I will. I don’t have a vampire’s self-healing power. I’m aging, just like any other human. Frankly, I’m glad. Who wants to live for eternity?” He gave her a lopsided smile and pulled her into a hug. “Give it time, baby girl. I promise I’ll make it good for you. I’ll make sure you don’t regret this, not for one second that you’re with me.”

She had no words. All she could do was stall for time. “I’m not ready.”

“I promised to protect you. If you don’t let me bite you, Ilano is going to come for you. I’ll be careful. I just have to take a little blood and bite deep enough for my marks to show. It won’t turn you. It’ll only affect your need.”

“It’s going to make me want you more, isn’t it? My irritability of late … it’s because of this.”

“When I bit you in a moment of passion, I cut my tongue on my teeth to give you my blood. It was instinctive. I swear to you, I couldn’t control it. The lure was too strong. To answer your question—yes, if you don’t ingest small quantities of my blood on a regular basis, you’ll become cranky. It’s your body’s way of telling you what it needs.”

“Oh my God. We can never be separated, can we?”

“I don’t like being away from you even now, but there is a way. I can give you blood packs or some of my plasma.”

“Isn’t that painful to extract?”

“Pain isn’t the issue here. Don’t worry about my discomfort.”

“And the others? Your donors? Why don’t they get cranky or carry your mark?”

“Because I don’t bite them deep enough, and I don’t share my blood with them. Only you, Maya. There can only be one.”

She walked to the window to stare out at the lit garden. “I need to think about this.” What would she tell Cain and Joss?

Closing the distance between them, he placed his hands on her shoulders. “There’s no time, baby girl. Ilano expressed his interest in you tonight, and he won’t be gentle. Or patient.”

She turned back to him. “Will it hurt?”

“You’ll feel pleasure and a deep satisfaction if we copulate while I bite you.”

“Is it the same for you?”

“It will be as intense for me, or so I’m told. I’ve never had sex while feeding.”

“Have you ever drained someone?”

His eyes turned somber. “I almost killed a woman once. I was young and inexperienced, and I didn’t have a vampire to guide me. I’d been keeping my nature hidden, saw it as a curse, and tried to survive by denying my need. I starved myself. When she passed me in the alley and asked if I wanted to pay to fuck her, I paid, but with a different idea. I wasn’t going to take much. Only a few swallows. I never realized how hungry I was or how long I’d drunk until she was so weak I had to carry her to the nearest house and leave her on the doorstep.”

“What happened to her?”

“The people of that house were a good family. They helped her. She didn’t turn, but it was close. I realized that night the implications of the curse I live with.”

Tim trusted her. He wanted to protect her when he shouldn’t. If she had a loyal bone in her body, she’d call Joss tonight and tell him everything. He could send Lann to finish the job. The more she got to know Tim, the less she understood his involvement with the illegal arms. Cesar was right. Tim was a good man. It didn’t make sense.