Page 84 of Blood Sweeter than Honey

With rushed movements, he helps me step out of my ruined jeans before tugging off his own and carrying me back to bed.

The dreamy pink and orange hue of dawn is already peaking through the curtains, which means we’re running late, further confirmed by the sound of his ranch hand’s voices in the distance through the windows.

But Gideon hardly seems to notice. Instead, he lays me beneath him as he settles himself between my legs, collects my wrists, and presses kisses to them. “You okay, sweetheart?”

My chest warms at his concern. I shake my head. “My arms are a little tingly, but otherwise I’m fine.”

The expression on his face tells me he’s not entirely convinced, but he chooses not to argue. Instead, he sits back on his heels and his eyes drop between my legs. The look of pure love and reverence that passes over his face fills my heart to bursting.

Resting his palm just above, his thumb sweeps gently through my folds.

“Are you on birth control?”

Honest, I nod. I take a monthly elixir. The last time I’d taken it was only days before I arrived here.

Gideon’s expression grows thoughtful even as his thumb sweeps over my entrance, and gently pushes his release inside me.

“Well, one day, if you decide you wanna keep me around… That’s something I’d like to discuss with you. Starting a family together.”

It feels like each half of my heart dives in an opposite direction.

Joy and guilt.

Joy because,soulboundor not, I’d love to have a family with this man.

Guilt because…Divine fuck. How is he going to feel when he realizes his children would be destined to have daemon traits?

Even in my magically resplendent world, unless you’re a daemon yourself, no one wants to curse their children with horns and tails.

How much more vehemently opposed will Gideon be?

The thought makes me want to cry all over again, but instead, I have to force a grin to my face even though my words are true.

“I would love that more than you know,ferion.”

WINNOW | ONE WEEK LATER

Ifeel weak. I don’t have the strength and stamina I did even just yesterday, and it’s taking everything within me not to panic.

It’s too soon.

It’s also impossible to hide anything from Gideon. He’s too in tune with me. Worry carves his features every time he looks at me, and despite working in the sun, I’m starting to look pale, and my fangs are beginning to ache. I’ve always had fangs, but have never needed to really use them. I’ve never mated, and I’ve never needed to consume blood.

Even now, kneeling in the dirt and pulling up weeds, the phantom taste of blood is on my tongue, making me salivate. My head aches, my fangs throb, and I’m so hungry I’m nauseous, and there’s no amount of food that will sate it.

I want to weep.

Why is it happening so fast?

He’s too human. Too accustomed to this near-magicless world.

When I’m in his arms and I feel his love pouring into me, I’m confident that he’ll accept me, but every time he steps away I watch him and his friends, his ranch hands, perform every taskmanually… Perform tasks that, in my realm, everyone performs using magic—including humans, because we have magically charged implements for them to use. With Gideon and his friends, there is never any discussion outside of what is human and earthly. No talk of other realms or other beings…

On top of that, I can feel my annual bleed coming. Soon, I’ll be reduced to little more than a ravenous cat in heat.

My lip trembles, and a moment later, I watch the freshly tilled soil absorb my tears.

Get it together, Winnow. You’re going to tell him.

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