Crimson Eyes

ned long aft

f the chaise beneath him. His mouth was still tingling, his chest rising and falling

ss the room, calm, composed,

o me?" Elias asked

our body is shifting. Your senses are awakening. You s

for this," E

, "but you answered it. When you le

ut they carried weight. O

ike his anymore. His skin felt too tight, his vein

becoming?

ushed under his chi

aid. "Not yet. But

rke

lips nearly touching his. "

idn't m

n't wa

ing-just waiting. There was power in his stillness, in t

ard. "And if I do

anger, but something far more da

," he said softly.

r y

both

sculpted strength of him beneath. Shadows kissed his skin like they kn

, voice velvet-smooth. "What I am

heart hammering

s curved-alm

eyes gl

f candlelight. And his form began to shift-nothing monstrous, but ot

't move. Cou

from

from

closer, eyes

afraid," h

d. "I think I've bee

nce filled the room, thick as the candlelit shadows. Every step he t

red behind him. "I've tasted royalty

over Elias's shoul

something I've for

e him, breath catch

our soul calls to mine. You feel i

d

ning. Electr

ity had b

d just under his jaw, over the thrumming pulse. "This bond-it's not jus

ng back," Elias

en n

erately, he leaned in-n

ough. It wa

s cla

ndering not just his body-bu

d been before,

ew was awakenin

like he was memorizing them-drinking in every breath, every hesitation, every surrender. El

ng Elias's jaw, the other resting lightly on

clung

t physical-it was something older, something other. His body yearned, yes, b

t his forehead against Elias's. His b

e point of

moment I came back

r longing. Then, slowly, he guided Elias back onto the ve

im, his crimson eyes s

he said. "If y

every inch of his skin ached to be touched, to be claimed

t want

straint had finally cracked. His hands moved lower, sliding under Elias's sh

tion-of lips, of breath, of something invis

ot en

at now. The edge of pain, the edge of pleasure-it all

there will be

his head, off

want anyo

k his fangs into his thro

to fire. The pleasu

rapped in Lucien's arms, as the