Page 66 of This Ravenous Fate
She sank her fangs into Elise’s throat.
In all eighteen years of her life, whether living or damned, Layla had never felt this good. It suddenly made sense to her then, with Elise’s blood flowing into her mouth at a steady rate, filling her hollow parts and smoothing her jagged edges, when people claimed everything was better when done with heart. If feeding on strangers struck Layla with sublime light, then feeding on Elise struck her with divine radiance. It was as if Elise was made up of stars and the dust between the planets. In her, Layla was certain she would find the whole universe.
Though the alley was dark, night cascading around them, enveloping them in shadows, Layla felt imbued with light. The only kind of light that one found in a perilous search. The only kind of light that bloomed in the palm of a chosen being. Layla had chosen Elise and Elise bloomed for her, vulnerable light, sweet blood and all.
If it weren’t for Elise’s fingers digging into Layla’s back and scratching up her shoulder blades, Layla might have completely lost herself in her. She pulled back suddenly. Her fingers, once tangled in Elise’s hair, loosened, and she dropped her hands to Elise’s shoulder. They still stood impossibly close. So close, they shared breath. Layla saw the tired flutter of Elise’s eyelashes against her cheeks, the bright sheen covering her brown eyes that indicated a euphoria only a reaper’s venom could give. Layla’s thumb ran over Elise’s collarbone, thenshe traced over the base of her neck, feeling for the reassuring steady, strong beat of her pulse.
Layla exhaled. “I didn’t take too much?” she asked.
Elise blinked several times, then finally met her eyes. “No.”
“You’re okay?” Layla demanded. Her voice grew shaky, already experiencing the effects of pure human blood on her damned reaper body. A small droplet of blood beaded from the puncture wounds in Elise’s throat. Some spilled onto the pearls layered on her neck, a dash of scarlet tainting the glowing white gems. Without thinking, Layla leaned forward to lick it from her skin. The warmth of Elise beneath Layla’s tongue coupled with the sensation of her fresh blood nearly drove Layla into a new frenzy. And if she didn’t know Elise to be the daughter of the most-revered reaper hunter, she would have believed the sound she let out was one of pleasure, rather than fear.
“Yes.” Elise nodded slowly. Her gaze was locked on Layla’s lips, her eyes glowing with a fuzzy desire.
“Saint—” Layla parted her lips to speak, but Elise had already lifted her hand to cradle Layla’s jaw. A stunned gasped left Layla as Elise’s thumb pressed into her lower lip, swiping at a drop of blood. The heat of her mortal flesh nearly stung against Layla’s cool skin and she yearned for more, leaning into her touch. Unable to think of anything but Elise and her softness pressing against her, Layla opened her lips further and sucked the tip of Elise’s thumb into her mouth. Her blood, her essence, was a sweet sanctity on Layla’s tongue. She held Elise’s gaze while she lapped the last of the blood from her fingertip. And when she pulled away, she watched light flash in Elise’seyes, her lashes fluttering. Before Layla had time to process what had just happened, the Saint heiress was rocking into her. Her gloved hand hit the wall, catching herself right as her body crashed into Layla’s. Instinctively, Layla slung her arms around Elise’s waist to steady her. No matter how good it felt to give in to that heat and feel Elise’s softness against her, Layla pushed her feelings aside for more important matters. “Dizzy?” Layla asked.
A delicate laugh broke from Elise. She pulled back just enough to look Layla in the eye. “I’m sorry.”
Layla couldn’t stop herself from grabbing Elise’s chin. Her fingers were gentle on her jaw, but she felt the Saint girl’s body tense up, her eyes tracing over Layla’s features as if collecting prized memories along her face. The way Elise looked at her… She wished she could tell the Saint heiress to return the kindness to herself.Look at you, she wanted to whisper. But her lips merely pursed and she dropped her hand.
It wasn’t until Elise stepped away from Layla did she release her. Layla hadn’t even realized she was still clutching her waist, fingers digging into her back. It felt so natural, she had barely noticed—
“I can walk you home—”
“No.” Elise adjusted her dress so she was properly covered, then she began fussing with her hair, trying to hide the bite mark. “Sterling is waiting for me at the mansion. I told him I was just debriefing with you…” She glanced at Layla, eyes still shining with ecstasy. “This stays between us.”
Biting her lip, Layla nodded. “Of course.” She watched Elisehurry to the end of the alleyway. Then, muttering under her breath, she smiled and laughed softly. “Goddamn Saint.”
Act Three
The Ascent
28
“Wow. I’m going to tell my grandchildren I fought a reaper off for this scar.” Sterling eyed the newly healed skin stretching over his taut stomach in the mirror. Elise could hardly concentrate on getting her shoes off, much less whatever nonsense her friend was spewing. All she could think about was the intoxicating sensation of Layla’s lips on her throat and then her thumb, her fingers gentle but firm on her waist. Goose bumps rose across her flesh, and her blood seemed to ignite with heat.
She wanted more.
“What?” Elise asked. Her slipper finally came off her foot, and she had to grab her chair to balance herself. An hour later and she was still feeling the entrancing effects of Layla’s venom. Her body was heated, already slick with sweat from trying to fight the urges swarming her mind. She had pinned her hair back on the walk back home, but even getting extra cool air on the back of her neck couldn’tstop her internal temperature from rising.
All because of Layla.
Elise threw her slipper into her closet.
Sterling shot her a strange look. “Is everything all right? Elise, you look feverish—”
“I think I’m coming down with something,” she mumbled, gathering her skirts to try and pull her dress off. “You should go before my father comes back. I told him you were working—”
“Elise, darling!” Her father’s voice rang up from downstairs and both Elise and Sterling froze in their respective positions in her bedroom.
Sterling’s eyes widened as heavy footsteps sounded up the hallway. “What is wrong with him?” he whispered loudly.
“I think he’s drunk. You need to hide—give me that.” Elise snatched Sterling’s shirt from his hands and started shoving him behind her bed. Of course, his massive size did not allow for proper stuffing beneath the bed, so his best chance at going unseen was standing, rigid, behind Elise’s headboard. She sincerely hoped the night’s alcohol had worn off in Sterling.
With her father only steps away from her bedroom, Elise threw herself into her bed and covered up her messy dress with her blankets. Her door cracked open right as her head found her pillow. “Oh!” She laughed weakly at her father while he walked into her room. “Father, I wasn’t expecting you home so soon.”
Mr. Saint returned her smile. His was lopsided and his eyes were a bit unfocused.Drunk. Just as Elise had thought. He leaned heavilyagainst her bed, his hand coming up to stroke her face. “Elise, I—” Mr. Saint frowned. “Heavens above, my pearl, you’re burning up. I will have your mother fetch you some tea—”
