“I want more,” Charlotte hissed.
She stepped toward two of them, and they both took a step back, one’s eyes glowing green, the others with yellow fire.She grinned at them, taking another step before Roman landed in front of them, his dark wings folding in behind him.
“Charlotte, you don’t want to hurt them,” he told her, his piercing blue eyes raking over her body.
Heat flooded her.Her desire for Roman stopped her, but only for a second, as she licked more blood off her lips.She closed her eyes, relishing in the taste.
As she opened her eyes once more, she squared her shoulders, narrowing her gaze at the handsome angel.
“I want more,” she said again, starting forward.She wondered what he would taste like.He’d be exquisite, she decided.Like a fine wine.
She smiled as she walked closer to Roman, stalking him, excited.
Maalik flashed in front of her, face battered, one eye swollen shut.
“No,” Maalik told her sternly, as a parent would scold their child.
Charlotte froze, frowning at him.She felt compelled to obey him.It was an odd feeling.She wanted to… please him.
“But I want more,” she whined, annoyed with him.“I’m still hungry.”
Maalik nodded, walking up to her and placing his hands on her shoulders, looking her in the eyes.“I understand that.But you will never, I repeat,neverdrink or feed from any of the people in this room.Do you understand me, Charlotte?”His tone was stern but soft as he spoke to her.
Charlotte looked over her shoulder, eyeing Roman hungrily.
She pouted like a scolded schoolgirl.“What about Roman?”
Maalik looked over his shoulder at his brother, then turned back, the side of his mouth tilting in a slight grin.
“You will only ever bite or feed from Roman if he allows you to.You are never to do it without his permission.”His face became serious as he spoke the last part.
Charlotte nodded.She glanced around the chamber, stopping and staring at each of the fallen.The urge to feed off them was gone, but her hunger was still unsated.“But I’m still hungry.Why am I still hungry?Why am I hungry for blood?”
“There is a lot I will have to explain to you.There will also be a lot I need to teach you.You are a vampire of sorts.I gave you my blood.When you died, it turned you, so you are my sired now.I will find you some blood to drink to help with the cravings till we get back to Los Angeles, where I can teach you how to control yourself properly and safely so you don’t hurt people.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone,” Charlotte told him, panicking as she looked at the dead body of the demon.She backed away from Maalik.“My god, I did that?”I’m a vampire?her mind whispered in horror.
Roman quickly rushed over, the warmth of his arms surrounding her as he embraced her.
“It’s okay, Charlotte, it’s all going to be okay.I promise.”His deep voice calmed her as she buried her head in his chest.“I’m going to make sure you’re safe, that you will be okay.”He placed his hand under her chin so he could tilt her head up to face him.
Her eyes welled with tears.“I didn’t mean to kill him.I wasn’t myself,” she whispered.
Roman grinned at her.“Are you kidding me, angel?You were magnificent!Charlotte, you saved Grigori.You saved us all.”His eyes went hard as tears welled up in them, mirroring hers.
“I thought I’d lost you.I watched you die.”He gently rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip.“You cannot ever leave me again.Promise me?”
Her heart melted for him.“I promise,” she whispered back as he dipped his head, taking her lips hungrily.
She kissed him back with so much passion she was worried she would hurt him.Her fear faded when he matched her ferocity, groaning as she dipped her tongue into his mouth.
“Are you two fucking serious right now?”
Charlotte broke away, her cheeks heating.It was going to take her a while to learn how to handle the intensity of her emotions.
Phoenix was standing there with awhat the fuckexpression.
“Grigori has been gutted; Ariel nearly decapitated.The rest of us can barely move, and you two are going to have sex right in front of us, are you?Not to mention how the hell your little mortal girlfriend has suddenly morphed into a badass vamp angel that just ripped an Archdemon’s head off?With her mouth, mind you!”he snapped, arms spread wide.