Page 15 of Infernal Bonds

Logically, it made sense. But what if I couldn’t stop?

What if I did the one thing my dreams had taunted me with repeatedly? Gorge myself until there was nothing left.

“Bite me.”

“What?”

She laughed. “You look terrified. I thought you’d want to.”

“And I thought you had stronger survival instincts.”

“You won’t kill me.”

Fuck. I needed to make her understand.

“I can’t promise that. I don’t know what will happen.” I clenched my fists at my sides, admitting what I’d wanted to hide. “I don’t trust myself to stop.”

“I wanna make it easier to live together. I don’t think you’ll kill me. Not like this, at least. Besides, now that my infernal side has awakened, I should be able to heal if you go too far. I cut myself with a razor by accident while shaving my legs before we left Earth. It healed, so I know it works.”

“You’re lucky you’re bonded to Ash,” I said. “Infernals don’t heal. Royalty does.”

She made a face I couldn’t read.

Our royal blood didn’t heal others, but something about her had healed them both in Cholian. Maybe it wasn’t their Nyrith tether that allowed her to heal them, but whatever had saved them in Cholian.

I carded my fingers through my hair, pushing that line of thinking away. I didn’t want to think about the illusion magic connected to her.

“This is your only chance. I’m only doing this to make life easier until I’m allowed to stay elsewhere.”

I doubted Ash and Zeke would agree to that without argument.

I stormed into the bathroom, returned with a pair of scissors, and tossed them on the bed beside her.

She picked them up. “What are these for?”

“Stab me in the side if I don’t stop.”

“What the fuck, Cyn? I’m not stabbing you!”

I rolled my eyes. “I’ll heal, but it’ll give you enough of an edge to get away from me while I’m distracted.”

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“And you seem like you want me to drink your blood.”

“No. That’s not what I want. I mean, I know it’s supposed to…” Her gaze shifted away. “You know what? Forget it.”

I closed the distance as she started to climb off the edge of the bed. “Hold up.” I grasped her upper arms. “It’s supposed to what?”

The smell of apple crisp filled my senses, making my cock twitch with interest.

She looked up at me. “When Ash…”

“When Ash?”

“It wasn’t bad.” She shrugged. “His bite felt good.”

“Mine won’t.”