Page 13 of Ashvale: The Vampire's Thrall

"Leonora, Hayes." Elowen smiled and the sight of her long fangs still put me on edge, recognising the bigger predator in the room. "What can I do for you?"

Hayes explained to Elowen what he'd already told me, and I watched their faces keenly while they spoke.

"I see," she murmured before rounding her desk, deep dark eyes locked on mine. She looked different than last night when I'd arrived, the hollows under her eyes and cheekbones less pronounced, her figure a little fuller and her smooth sheet of dark hair gleamed. She had fed, and fed well, it seemed. "Well, we can take care of this and then I suggest you rest for the remainder of the day. My blood will likely be a little too much for you to handle, even as relatively young as I still am."

I shot Hayes a quick look and he just watched us, his face a blank mask. "What do I need to do?"

Elowen waved a hand and a cool gust of air closed the door behind me, making me jump. I glanced between the two vampires. Hadn't Hayes said his affinity was for air too? Were they of the same bloodline? They couldn't have looked more different, but maybe he took after his father.

Elowen rolled up the thin sleeve of her black dress to reveal one pale, slender wrist. "Drink."

The command in her voice would have made me move even if the call of her blood hadn't. Thankfully my body seemed to know what to do and my fangs lengthened, puncturing her skin neatly.

The first drag of her blood I nearly choked. It was thick, and rich, like Hayes had said. It felt like acrid fireworks on my tongue, burning and blazing as it moved through my veins and I dragged harder.

"That's enough." Hayes' voice barely registered and I bit harder. "You only need a few mouthfuls, Leonora. If you take too much you'll become unstable, your body won't be able to handle the power."

I could hear him, I could even logically see that he was right—already I could feel Elowen's power moving through me, heightening everything until I could count the dust motes in the air. But I couldn't let go. My jaw wouldn't obey, my throat still swallowed greedily. I couldn't stop.

My eyes opened and found Hayes' watching us. I didn't want to beg him for his help, but I couldn't bring myself to pull away and Elowen had gone limp as the enzymes from my bite washed through her.

Two fingers on my jaw pressed hard until I pulled free and spun to confront the one who had interrupted us. I panted as I licked blood for my lips and Hayes watched me warily as Elowen swayed in place before sitting down heavily against the top of her desk.

I felt strangely unhinged, like I'd been blown wide open as more energy than I could ever remember having felt lit me up.

"Rest," Elowen demanded, but her voice was weak as she tried to stand tall. "Classes can wait. I'd rather you not be in a classroom with what's coming next."

I'd slowly relaxed the longer she'd been talking, a heat curling around me that made my skin feel like it was buzzing.

Wait, what had she said about something coming next?

"Get her out of here," Elowen said and Hayes nodded, the movement jerky as he gripped my arm and dragged me out of the room. I gasped as his fingers on my skin felt like the height of pleasure and pain, like my nerve endings were alight with sensitivity.

"What's happening to me?" I gritted out between my teeth and he didn't reply, just tightened his grip and suddenly we were moving faster, practically flying through the corridors until we were back at my bedroom door. It slammed behind us before I could even register that we'd moved inside. The key turned in the lock and I tensed, my legs widening as I attempted to brace.

"Trust me," Hayes said and when I didn't relax he rolled his eyes. "The lock is for your own good."

"Maybe I want to decide that for myself."

"You won't be in any mind to decide anything for a while."

I hesitated and then let my stance ease before retreating to sit on the edge of my bed. He watched me warily, expecting... something.

"Explain," I demanded and he sighed, kicking off his boots before coming closer.

"Drinking the blood of an undead can have... side effects."

"Bastard," I muttered. "You didn't think to tell me this before?"

He shrugged. "It wouldn't have made a difference." His eyes were steady as he assessed me but they felt strangely like a caress on my skin, like he could see to whatever lay beneath the surface of my flesh to the no-longer-beating heart of me. "You needed the blood, we'll just have to deal with the consequences."

"There's something you're not telling me," I murmured as I kicked off my own shoes and crawled to the centre of the bed, raising up onto my knees so I could peer into his eyes. His breath feathered across my mouth and I shivered. "Why doyouneed to be here? Why is the door locked?"

"You're going to need me."

I drew back sharply. "I don't need you for anything."

"Are you sure about that?" This time it was him who leaned closer, his fingertips brushing over my knee and sending hunger thudding through me. "You forget, we're connected, Leonora. I can feel what you feel, to an extent, and you're about to be feeling... a lot. I'm duty-bound by the bond to be here."

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