LOVE, LIKE BLOOD

mell it-the blood, the for

he woods until

started, I

ite was clu

wild and terrified until my gr

g into the water.

whelmed me-ric

ike it had been asle

st remembered standing over their

two whole

d feel disgu

I di

hat-powerful. Like my bones had final

s knowing that was nothin

red me more

could do this-what wou

d Aiden t

lose control completely? Drain him dry

bedroom door snapped

lled, her tone light like she hadn't just remin

t have told him alrea

he moment the deer was in my hands, he simpl

g that he had been watching-from a

m's footsteps fade before going strai

ding-and stripped off the clothes th

g up like breath in cold air. I sli

ding. Not tired exactly. Just... used. Like every mu

g not to think. Not of deer. Not o

course,

kissed his neck. The warmt

ater until only my face

lf in the mirror. My skin glowed too pale. My eyes are too sharp. T

still waitin

tell what I'd done. Or worse-if he alread

he bath and clinging to my neck. The daylight amulet puls

n from killing me. Not eno

I entered the living room. That cold-si

ur time,

. Shielding as

briefly to my neck, where the towel had rubbed my skin raw. I wonder

say anything. Just

t's

nd then, I felt his eyes flick toward me, but

wasn't sure I

n a hurry the other d

at him. "Yea

t but wasn't ready to challenge it, ye

ry flickered behind my eyes, the taste of Aiden's skin,

long day," I sa

sh. Heard he

said with a shrug, trying to k

ian said, slow

sound casual, unaffected.

somewhere above us, a harsh sound th

came, low and f

on. It was certain

o, a step ahead, turning to

d you?"

he replied simply

astian," I snapped, irritation rising in my chest. "I'

jaw tight, hoping the con

closed gently but firmly aroun

shield's changed. It's thicker now. That on

free, heat fla

hrow a feast in honor of Aliyah's first deer b

respond, but I cut hi

coming sharper than I meant. "But where I come from, vampires don't poke

a ste

let

k. He stood there like a stone, calm in a

hat's not a bad thing, Noah. It's supposed t

ndescending. It wa

added after a beat, softer now.

way he said it-low, genuine, almost wistful. N

before I coul

Sebastian said. "And no one shou

lines of his jaw, the hint of something o

ter now. "The Regent gave me t

fted. Barely, but I caught

use, then, "Do

ked. "

on a person." His eyes searc

cared me was how easy it was. How much I

once. "Tha

we're just supposed to

to live with it," he said. "And s

u still

The wind rose between us, threading through the trees, ca

ing warm stirred in my chest. Stra

d, my voice quiet

spoken moved with us, like a shadow just beyond

the cloudy morning sky. A few students lingered near the en

little alarmed-but no one said anything. No one da

ain. He just stayed besid

hile, I let someone walk with