Page 10 of Bloodween

A bloodline that could feed.

Getting the approval to participate was no easy feat, and now, because of Renna’s carelessness, I had to sacrifice a new prey.

Dorian.

But Dorian and I didn’t have the level of friendship Renna and I had. We were friendly. Cordial. I knew him through Renna—double dates, game nights, group brunches. I’d been to his apartment. He’d been to mine. We’d gotten tipsy together at Renna’s birthday earlier this year and talked shit about her terrible taste in reality TV.

But we weren’t close.

Which meant higher risk. The ritual might not take. I could end up losing my magic for three years. Or worse—his spirit could bind to me, haunt me, drive me mad.

The odds weren’t in my favor.

But the elixir that bounced around in my stomach didn’t seem to get that memo. What it wanted, what it demanded was right in front of me.

A werewolf. Alone. Isolated in what had to be the middle of nowhere.

I didn’t have time to waste. My body didn’t have enough time to find Renna, go through the motions and woes of whatever she probably was dealing with right now with both her man and bestie disappearing, and get her in a vulnerable enough state to kill her.

But what I did have was him.

A fine specimen of a man who I had no choice but to make the perfect sacrifice.

Otherwise, I’d be dead by lunch. And I wasn’t letting that happen.

He licked his plump lips as he set me free, rubbing my wrists gently. I took a moment to appreciate that if nothing else, Renna had good taste in men.

I looked at him—really took him in. At the way his broad shoulders were still tense. The way he didn’t seem like he knew what to do. The way his eyes flickered gold every few seconds, betraying how much he lacked control right now.

And that he didn’t feel the need to hide himself from me.

He must trust me enough not to feel threatened.

Good.

“Does anyone else outside of Renna and your pack know what you are?”

“No.”

“Aww, I’m the first. I’m honored.” I winked and a low rumble escaped from him. He was still crouched in front of me.

I kind of liked the submission.

Maybe somewhere deep down, I too was into some weird kinky stuff.

Or maybe I was just thirsty. Hungry. Craving.

The elixir rolled again, annoyingly stronger now, and I had to press a hand to my stomach.

Dorian noticed. “You okay?”

“Fine.”

“You don’t look fine.”

“I said I’m fine.”

He studied me as if he was actually concerned. “Is it a witch thing?”