Page 77 of Fated for Flames

“Yes,” I breathed out. “Please, Alister. I need to not feel this…this pain.”

He looked at me for a long minute, silent contemplation flickering behind his mesmerizing blue eyes. Then he reached out and grabbed my hand. Turning it over gently, he brought it near his face.

“I’ve waited so long for this moment,” he said in a whisper. “A better male would refuse,” he murmured, “but I am not one of those males.”

His lips brushed against the skin on top of my crescent moon scar before he sank his teeth into my wrist.

The sensation was immediate and overwhelming; a wave of euphoria washed over me, obliterating everything else. It wasunlike anything I’d ever felt before, an intoxicating mix of relief and pleasure that drowned out the world around me.

I closed my eyes, letting the sensation consume me. The pain, the guilt, the grief—all of it faded away as Alister’s venom coursed through my veins like a comforting embrace, numbing my senses and soothing my shattered heart.

And then a blinding light consumed me. With a final push of Alister’s venom, something shattered within me, and a wave of unadulterated power surged through my being. It felt exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

I staggered, my legs threatening to give out beneath me. Then everything else disappeared into the void as the world went dark around me.

48

Evelyn

Asudden, urgent pounding on the door yanked me from sleep. My heart hammered in my chest as I sprang to my feet, still groggy from Alister’s venom. It was still in my veins, leaving me feeling strangely invincible.

“Open up, Alister!” Rafe’s usually calm voice was tight with fury. The soft-spoken angel was a storm.

I squinted against the morning light streaming through the windows as I made my way to the vestibule. My head was spinning, but my senses were alarmingly sharp.

Rafe was furious, his celestial turquoise eyes blazing with anger. “Did you tell her?” he barked at Alister.

Rafe’s eyes widened when he saw me walk into the room.

“What’s going on?” I said as I could sense the storm of emotions swirling in the room.

Alister sighed heavily, his midnight-black hair falling into his eyes as he turned to face me.

“Tell her,” Rafe repeated with an icy edge to his voice.

Waving in dismissal with a defeated expression, Alister began, “Ten years ago, a couple sought my help.”

My breath hitched in anticipation.

“They were desperate to bind their daughter’s abilities.”

My blood ran cold as his words sank in.

“My parents?” I stammered. “They were the ones who bound my magic?”

He nodded solemnly. “They were terrified…of your unique predisposition.”

“Unique predisposition?” I echoed blankly, grappling with his cryptic words.

He rubbed two fingers against his forehead. “They were terrified of the potency of your…abilities, scared that someone would take advantage of them.” He paused, swallowing hard before continuing, “They were unsuccessful in all their attempts until they found me. My venom, being ancient, could paralyze their daughter’s…rather extraordinary abilities.”

“What does that mean? Why?” I choked out, tears prickling at the corners of my eyes.

“It’s not what you think,” he said with a kind smile. “And as soon as I saw your eyes, I knew.”

“Knew what?”

“So I decided to make a deal,” he continued quietly. “In exchange for my venom, you would belong to me.”

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