Page 127 of Sweet Venom

I saw his blood all over my face and hands as I made him pay for even thinking of touching her. As much as I wanted to grab my knife and plunged it in his chest, I stopped myself.

She came first.

Always.

My body was already moving, my feet pounding the pavement, rage bubbling up so violently that it felt like my insides were on fire. I had no control. No thought. All I saw was her on the ground, struggling beneath him, and everything else faded into nothing.

I reached him in seconds. My fist connected with his jaw before he even saw me coming. His head snapped back with a sickening crack that brought me pleasure. I grabbed him by the throat, lifting him off Poe as though he weighed nothing.

“You just signed your death certificate, motherfucker,” I snarled, my voice low and threatening, the promise dripping with the venom of years spent guarding what mattered most to me. My heart. My Poe.

The fucker barely had time to gasp before I threw him to a nearby car, and I didn’t wait to see what happened to him. I didn’t care. I had only one thing on my mind…Poe. The fucker would have my full attention soon.

Turning toward her I saw that her head was bleeding. I saw the crimson stain soaking her blue hair, the sharp cut on her forehead. My chest constricted with a pain so intense I couldn’t breathe. I could barely think straight. Every second it took for me to get to her was fucking agony and it felt like an eternity.

When I reached her, I dropped to my knees beside her. “Baby,” I rasped, my voice trembling, barely controlling the rage inside me. “Look at me, Poe. Give me your eyes.”

Her eyes fluttered open, and my heart stopped. She was conscious. But she looked out of it, the blood trickling down her face making everything in me snap. “Azariel,” she whispered, voice weak, “I’m… I’m okay.”

No. No, she wasn’t fucking okay. She was fucking bleeding. The blood on her head was making me sick. My heart raced as I scanned her face, her eyes glazed with confusion and pain, and it felt like a weight crushing my chest.

Readers were gathering already trying to see what was going on. I needed to get her out of here.

I lifted Poe carefully, my hands gently cupping her body. “You’re not okay,” I growled. “But you will be. I’m getting you out of here.”

I could hear her soft protests, but I didn’t care. The only thing I cared about was getting her to safety.

I didn’t even look at the fucker I’d just thrown aside, didn’t care if he was still conscious, or if he was trying to get up again. I was already moving, cradling Poe to my chest like she was the most fragile thing in the world. She was. Fuck, she was.

Her head lolled against me, and I could feel the sticky warmth of the blood against my black shirt. “Keep your eyes open, baby,” I muttered, my voice strained as I started walking toward the car, my steps frantic. “Don’t close your eyes. Keep your eyes on me. Always on me.”

I was trying to keep calm but I was terrified. I took my eyes away from her for a second and she got hurt. Fuck. I didn’t know what I’d do without her. I couldn’t bear the thought.

A life without her? That was not an option.

“Azariel…” Poe whispered again, her voice barely audible. “I lied. I’m not okay. It hurts.”

That fucking broke me.

“Shh, baby. It’s okay. We’re going home.” My arms tightened around her, and I pressed my lips against her forehead, feeling the coolness of her skin and the heat of the blood on her skin.

I grew up craving the sight of blood. I didn’t find it repulsive like most do. Until now.

Until I saw it on her.

I reached the car and carefully placed her in the passenger seat. Her head rested on the seat, her eyelids fluttering as I closed the door behind her.

Then, before I got in, I turned to look at the bookstore, taking a deep breath, forcing myself to keep the rage inside in check for her sake.

Nothing else mattered now but her.

And I would make sure no one ever hurt her again.

Fucking no one.

The car cameto a screeching halt outside the manor, and I barely gave it a second thought as I opened the door, rushing to her side. My heart hammered in my chest, every beat frantic, every breath ragged. Poe’s face was pale, her eyes fluttering shut more frequently now, and the blood that had stained her hair was beginning to soak through my shirt.

I carefully scooped her up, cradling her against my chest once more. The feel of her weight against me, her body soft yet fragile in my arms, nearly crushed me. I could feel the trembling in her frame, the faint shiver that ran through her every time she exhaled.

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