Page 16 of The Soulbond and Her Beloved

“This will sting a bit.” She pressed a damp cloth to the cut on his cheek, just beside his scar.

Her brow furrowed in concentration as she dabbed at his wounds. Beside his mouth. Near his shoulder blade.

Her scent was like an elixir.

Vladya breathed deeply, drawing more of it greedily into his lungs.

But all too soon, she pulled away.

He almost groaned at the loss, but then the bed dipped behind him, and he felt her presence again as she climbed in.

She repeated the process, this time on the claw marks raked across his back.

"You smell good enough to eat," Vladya purred, then stiffened, realizing how feral it might sound, and quickly rephrased. “I mean… really, really good.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

He could hear her smile in the breathy words.

With a sigh, Vladya leaned back, burying his nose against her neck, stuffing his lungs full of her scent.Goodness gracious.

For a male who had lived without a loving feminine touch for centuries, he was beginning to feel like an addict.

Two weeks without her, and you are a mess. You are provoked too easily, picking fights like a youngling.

Vladya ignored the voice in his head, instead focusing on the comfort of her presence.

And now you have fallen into the landmine that is your mind, spiraling into a feral episode. Why give a human such power over you?

She winced.

Vladya’s eyes flew open. He had gripped her thigh too hard.

He released her instantly. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

Humans are not to be trusted,the voice hissed again, raging and venomous.She will get you wrapped around her dainty fingers then betray you.

Why else would she stay with a male like you with a fractured mind on a one-way path to madness? She has an ulterior motive. They all do.

"I love you."

Her words cut through the voice in his head.

Vladya’s eyes opened, drifting to her enticing neck. Her blood called to him like a nymph's song. He was struggling to resist.

And because he was feeling a bit pathetic, he rumbled, “Tell me again, Aekeira.”

Her hand stopped moving. “I love you so much, Grand Lord Vladya.”

His fangs descended, his dick twitching in his pants.

Lies. All of it.

“There are voices in my head I wish to silence. I need a distraction,” he said. “Will you let me feed from you?”

“How do you want me?” Her answer came without hesitation, filled with trust and love.

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