Darkest Temptation (The Dark Ones Saga 4)

It seemed like a bunch of crap until I’d seen a blue-eyed demon at a bar last week who’d actually waved at me and then kissed a human right on the mouth without killing her.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t realize I’d finished the entire steak.

I patted my stomach. “Thank you. I was starving.”

“Your stomach was loud. Believe me, the entire house was aware of your pathetic state. Vampires need food just as much as they need blood. Meat helps repair red blood cells and keeps your body running at its best. Pair that with your daily doses of blood, and you should be good to leave by the end of the week.”

I gulped.

I want to leave, right?

Why did the idea of going away make my chest ache?

He took the plate from my hands and stood. “I’ll be back to check on you. Go sleep.”

And that was it. The door clicked shut behind me. The bird returned to my window, and I was left wondering if I would always be in this state.

Alone.

Wishing for more than I had.

And cursing myself for wondering if it would have been an awful thing had they just left me to die.

MASON

I cleaned the dish, wiping it with a rag at least a dozen times before placing it back in the cupboard. I wasn’t sure how many minutes I’d stared out into the empty space of the kitchen.

Until a ripple of awareness ran from my hands all the way down to my bare feet. The spells always happened this way, as if I was possessed by some sort of monster inside that needed to be fed — demanded it.

“Drink,” it whispered.

I clenched my teeth and braced the counter with my hands as claws started sprouting from my fingers, digging into the hard granite like it was dust.

Normally, I could control the urge.

I always had.

Not this time.

This time, I felt the blood coat my tongue, the taste of ecstasy as it built in my body.

“Cease.” A booming voice came like a clap.

My claws retreated, and I looked up into the face of Cassius.

With a sigh he tilted his head. “You cannot fight it forever.”

“I can.” I snapped my teeth together. “I’m just weak because of her.”

“Then continue the mating process. You and I both know you already started the minute you decided to heal her a second time. Every time you lick her, the link between you intensifies. This is not a fire you can control. It’s a blaze that will sear you alive.”

“No.” I ignored the need to charge up the stairs and love her, mate her, make her understand that this predatory thing between us was more than just healing. I was lying to myself if I believed otherwise. I chose the lie.

He sighed. “Stubborn wolf, you will mate with her. You will stop ignoring your destiny.”

“My destiny has already passed,” I whispered with emotion. “It died the minute she did.”

“She…” He leaned in until we were face to face, until I could feel the ancient secrets his wings whispered into the air. “…was not your destiny.”