Page 15 of Dark Reckoning
“Are you going to do it right here?” Adrian asked.
Ahh, that was right. The last time he saw me feed, it was my first time. “No,” I told him, then gestured for Nadia to step out of our home with the man.
“You should get used to seeing him feed,” Shi told Adrian.
“Not your business, Shi,” I reminded her.
“No, no... she's right, Sage. I don't want you to feel like I'm afraid, ashamed, or grossed out, or anything like that,” Adrian said.
I snorted a laugh and walked over to him, kissing him. “I know you don't. But you also don't need to see me kill this guy. It's one thing to watch me feed and the person lives. It's another to know that I'm going to kill him,” I said.
My dinner to be struggled in Nadia's iron grip and made all kinds of noises behind his gag, but he was of no concern to me. I kept my gaze on Adrian.
“Is he a bad guy?” Adrian asked.
I nodded. “He is scum,” I said with certainty, because I'd already read his mind. However, I would have fed regardless, because I was that hungry. “But you don't have to see me do it.”
“No.” Adrian shook his head. “The Echelon Imperial proved today that I am immortal because I'm linked to Salino. I need to be able to deal with all of your vampire side, Sage. Just...” he looked at the sofa and frowned. “Just don't eat him on that sofa, because I love that sofa. We already have to get rid of the dining room table.”
I laughed. “Is it because you don't want to sit where someone died?”
Again, my intended victim tried to fight to free himself, but couldn't.
Adrian looked at the man and blushed. God, he was so fucking cute when he blushed. “That's not it. I just don't want you to get any blood on it. It will stain it. Like you said, the man is scum. I won't shed any tears.”
“I meant the table,” I said, remembering the griezel that was made on it earlier.
“Oh, yeah. It would feel odd passing the peas exactly where a dark spell was cast and someone died,” Adrian said.
“Ahhh, I see.” I chuckled and smirked, then walked over to Nadia, who kept the man under her foot as he was pinned to the floor. I knelt beside him and she moved her foot. I grabbed the man by his hair and lifted him to his knees, then turned to look at Adrian again. “Are you sure?” I asked.
He licked his beautiful lips and nodded. “This is natural for you, Sage. I do need to get used to it. Anyway, we both drink blood now.”
That was true. “I mean, you don't have to get used to it right now. I haven't even been a vampire for a full month yet,” I said.
“And yet, it feels like a lifetime already. One, because of everything we've been through. And two, because I feel so close to you,” Adrian said. “As if we've known each other for years.” He smiled.
Hearing him say those words made me want to take him into our bedroom and ravage his body like a wild beast. That would have to wait. We had a lot of shit to deal with. I felt my hunger gnawing at me once more and decided to indulge. If Adrian wanted to see it, I wouldn't deny him. I yanked the man's head back and let my fangs extend before I struck. He cried out at first, then began to moan as my feeding gave him the best pleasure he'd ever had. I knew because he told me, begging me not to stop. He was a murderer and drug dealer, and wasn't even dealing my product, so fuck him all the same. I savored his blood as it flowed into me, moaning a little as I fed because it was just what I needed. Once his heart stopped and there wasn't any more blood coming my way, I pulled back and let his body fall to the floor.
“Get rid of that,” I told Nadia.
“Yes, boss,” she said.
I rose to my feet just as there was a knock on my front door. I motioned for Nadia to get the body out of view as I wiped the few drops of blood from my lips. I sucked my finger and thumb clean before I answered. I wasn't expecting any strangers, as they didn't have access to my penthouse. “You're back,” I said, seeing Jewel and Xavier standing on the other side.
Xavier sighed and nodded. “Is Adrian okay?” he asked.
I nodded and stepped aside, letting them in. They had been off on their own mission tracking down a killer. All of that was done now.
Xavier walked over to Adrian, hugging him. “I was worried. I called like three times and you didn't answer.”
Adrian hugged him back. “Yeah, I'm sorry. A lot's happened today.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and tsked. “My phone is dead.”
Xavier sighed. “I'm just glad you're okay. What's been going o—” He paused when he noticed Nadia tossing the dead body over her shoulder. “What the fuck happened? Who's that?”
“My dinner,” I said, then waved my hand so Nadia could dispose of it.
“You just killed someone in front of Adrian like that?” Xavier snarled.
