Page 74 of Feathers From the Sky

“She’ll be good for you.”

A moment later, Margot is ushering a few humans into the room, and Petra makes a beeline toward me and Gwyn. She’s small and fit, her dancer legs thick with corded muscle.

“Roman! It’s good to see you.” The human turns toward Gwyn, sticking her hand out in offering. “I’m Petra, and you must be Gwyn?” My girl sits up, eyeing the human in her fishnets and tight lime-green dress. When Gwyn doesn’t move, Petra pulls back with grace, running her hand through her short dark hair instead. She turns, grabbing the coffee table with our drinks, and drags it across the floor. She’s a bundle of energy, this one, but I think she’ll help Gwyn feel at ease.

“How are your savings?” I ask.

“Almost there!” She beams before turning to Gwyn to explain. “I’m saving up to move to L.A., and I’m a few grand short of my goal.” She leans forward, giving both of us an ample view of her tits. “I think another month or so here oughta do it. Then I am going, going, gone!” Her voice swaps octaves and takes on a sing-song quality.

“Help her figure this shit out, and I’ll make up what you need,” I say. Petra’s eyes go round as saucers.

“I couldn’t accept—”

“It’s no big deal.” I shush her. “You know the risks of a first-timer, and this one is especially feral,” I explain. Gwyn elbows me hard.

“I’m sorry I didn’t shake your hand. I was afraid I was going to bite it,” Gwyn explains, sounding embarrassed.

“That’s what I’m here for, right?” Petra grins at her. She’s a sweet girl, kind and bubbly. Exactly what Gwyn needs to guide her through this, but also as a reminder of her humanity. It’s easy to get swept up into the thirst early on, but getting to know someone helps. “Where do you want to start?”

“Do you agree to let her compel you?” I ask. “She won’t do anything which doesn’t align with your Last Drop contract.” I know how strict the rules are, and I won’t be letting her break them. “I just want to see if she can make you sit down, stand up, shit like that.”

Petra hops up. “Sure! Make me sit down.”

“Sit down,” Gwyn says, completely uselessly. Petra doesn’t laugh though, and I appreciate that.

“No, you have to want her to sit down. The more you want it, the more she’ll want it.”

“Sit down,” Gwyn repeats, leaning forward. Petra immediately obeys, a surprised smile on her face.

“Okay, now release it. Sometimes it helps to say it out loud when you’re first learning.”

But Gwyn is stubborn, brows furrowed as she stares at Petra, non-verbally urging her compulsion to give up. A few seconds of perseverance works in her favor though, and Petra jumps up.

“That was good!” she chirps. “Okay, now bite me.”

When she plops down on my lap, legs across Gwyn’s, Gwyn lets out a surprised laugh. When her eyes find mine, wanting to share the reaction to the girl on our lap, I swallow down the affection. This is getting ridiculous.

“Go ahead,” Petra encourages, shoving her wrist into Gwyn’s face.

A new vampire shouldn’t be able to resist this, to stop herself from biting a human when it’s this easy. But Gwyn almost has more control than I did when I Ascended.

“Roman?” Gwyn’s tentative voice shakes, beautiful brown eyes full of trepidation. Biting me has been nothing to fear—she can’t do me any harm. But this is different. I understand it, and I don’t know what to do. “You go first?” she asks, suggesting exactly how to help her.

“Oh! Good idea!” Petra says, lifting her arm over her shoulder without even turning to face me. I laugh, bringing her wrist to my mouth and biting gently. I am far more careful with her than usual, barely pulling any of her blood into my mouth, wanting to save most of it for Gwyn. Seeing her pupils dilate and her cheeks go pink is a delicious addition to the taste of fresh human. I’ve barely pulled my lips away when Gwyn snatches Petra’s wrist and presses her mouth to where mine had just been. She watches me, not blinking, as she drinks deep. Petra lets out a gasp, adjusting her body as Gwyn pulls her closer. I have to move the human off my lap because watching Gwyn is getting me hard again. She gulps down the blood, and I don’t know what the fuck is happening. Gwyn shouldn’t give a shit about me at this moment. She shouldn’t be caring about my reaction. But when she pulls away, gasping for breath and licking her lips with the bloody wrist in front of her, she does it in such a way I know she means to taunt me.

It works.

27

GWYN

“Thank you,”I say to Petra, licking her blood off my lip. It’s still a little crazy to me that there are people who do this, but I suppose it’s no different from people who donate plasma for cash. If someone will buy it, humans will capitalize on it. And for so many, their bodies are the only currency they can part with. I should be thankful for places like this that seem to have rules. Roman’s eyes are dark as he stares at me over the girl’s shoulder.

“I’m glad to help you learn. Seriously. Some vampires don’t care,” Petra says. There’s a spot of blood I missed, and I swear it sparkles as it dries on her neck. I lurch forward without meaning to. My tongue tingles as I lick the errant drop, and my fangs prick her skin just as Roman reaches around Petra and grabs my nape.

“You weren’t offered a second bite,” Roman says, low and commanding.

“Oh, it’s alright! She’s learning—”

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