Page 128 of House of Crimson Hearts
My nostrils flare; her blood smells delicious. It makes my fangs lower. It’s like summer and sex and the heavenly smell of iron, desire and warm winter fires.
“Fuck,” I bark. I scramble back, trying to force my fangs away and stop myself grasping for her arm.
I’m panting and breathing heavy. I’ve never had such an unconscious, automatic response to someone’s blood. But we’ve obviously gone so far that we’re already connected in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
The colour runs back into Xavier’s face at the same time it drains from Red’s. She sags a little against him, but I can’t go to her with her arm still bleeding out like that.
“Lincoln,” I shout. “Help her. He can’t take too much more.”
Lincoln gets up from where Fenella lays motionless and wrestles with Xavier’s jaw, slapping his cheek until he unlocks his fangs and releases from Red.
Xavier sits up gasping. “What the fuck was that?” he says, his eyes are wide and feral, bloodshot like he took drugs rather than blood. He’s panting as hard as I am.
“Shit,” he says, gathering himself as he glances at Red. “I’m sorry, I think I took too much. She’s going to need your blood, Octavia.”
I shake my head, my fangs still dropped. He frowns. “You’ve fed her before?” I nod.
“Ah,” he says, realising the problem. Then he scrambles up. “Lincoln, hold her arm.” He hands my wrist to Lincoln, and then he wraps his arms around my body, pinning my other arm to my side and going vampire still so he’s locked in place.
Lincoln pulls out a switch blade and draws a short cut across my wrist and raises my arm to Red’s mouth.
She laps at my arm, her skin colour shifting rapidly as the blood feeds into her system. But the more she takes the more I need her.
I need to feed.
Drink.
Own.
I need all of her. I don’t know what’s come over me. I fight against Xavier, but he’s granite-like and I can’t get out of his arms.
I scream in fury, but it’s useless. My neck is corded with the strain but still, Xavier holds me. Finally, Red detaches her mouth, and we all sit in absolute silence. The only sound is the four of us panting. Then Dahlia groans, slowly waking up as her skull knits back together. The knowledge that Fenella is dead and Gabriel has won this round crashes over us. These trials are going to cost all of us more than we thought.
Chapter32
CORDELIA
One Thousand Years Ago
It will be no surprise to you that I fell for Eleanor. Fell hard and fast. She quickly became my entire world and the prospect of marrying one of Mother’s favoured men filled my dreams with nightmares.
We’ve been meeting for some months now. I spent much of the summer evading Mother’s parties and balls and engagements with various lords and suitors, but autumn is establishing itself and the crisp chill of winter is in the morning air.
Today is one of those rare autumn days when the sun decided to show itself in a waning attempt at warmth. So I decided to organise a get-together and sent a note forward to Eleanor to meet me for a late picnic.
* * *
Itrundle to the apothecary street where Eleanor’s store resides. She agreed to meet me for a late lunch. She’s closing the shop early so that we can spend the afternoon together in our favourite spot by the river.
I open the shop door, the bell tinkling, just as she’s closing the register and writing in her accounts book.
“I won’t be a moment,” she says.
She’s wearing a dress today, it takes me by surprise. I’ve never seen her in anything but men’s trousers.
“Oh, gosh,” I say, my mouth falling open at the sight of her. The way the dress curves around her bosoms and shapes her bottom. It’s cut just above her knees so that a little thigh is on show.
I swallow hard trying to draw my eyes up to her face but finding myself rather preoccupied with her waist.
