Page 140 of Mortal Shift
“Later,” he murmured.
“Soon,” I countered, trailing my fingers across his chest and then letting my hand fall to my side. I turned back to Thessalia to find her watching us.
“If you are done marking your territory,” she said, eyes flashing with impatience.
“What do you want, Thessalia?” I asked, impatience coloring my tone, too. I had other plans for this morning, and for the guy standing at my back.
“I…need something from you.” She forced the words out like they were clawing at her from the inside, and that more than anything caught my attention.
“What?” I asked, immediately wary.
“Your blood.”
I twisted round to look up at Cole, and then back to the vampire, feeling the incredulity writing itself across my face, while my insides turned to ice.
“Is that supposed to be some kind of joke?”
“No,” she said quietly.
“You’ve never fed off me. Not once. And I sure as hell don’t plan on letting you start now.”
“Not me,” she said, in that same quiet tone, and the tiny hairs raised on the back of my neck.
“Who?”
“My brother. He fell back into a coma a few hours ago. He won’t feed.” She took a step toward me and then seemed to catch herself. “Butyourblood—it worked last time.”
“Do you know what you’re asking?” I tried to keep the tremor from my voice, and failed.
“He needs you.”
“Do you know what you’re asking?” I demanded again; no tremor this time.
“She knows,” Cole said, rubbing his hand along my upper arm. I swallowed hard, and turned back to him, my stomach already roiling at the thought of being drained.
“But you want me to do it?” I asked him.
“Want? No.”
“Need,” I whispered. “You need me to do it.”
“If you cannot,” he murmured into my ear, “I will not ask it of you.”
“But I will,” Thessalia said. “You’re his only chance. Demand whatever price you will. We’ll pay it.”
My eyes slid closed as I imagined the fangs sinking into my flesh, the sickening sensation of the blood being drawn from me…and the way my body would react. The euphoria. The raw need to have the predator take my blood, to keep taking my blood, even at the expense of my own life.
I swallowed hard, and forced my eyelids to part. Because Thessalia was right; I was Thaden’s best chance. And that meant Cole needed me to do this.
“A favor,” I said to her. “To be decided at a later date.”
She nodded. “Done. Your mate is witness. Now let’s go.”
She reached for my arm and I pulled back, shaking my head.
“And your vow that you’ll stop him taking more than I can spare, whether it’s enough to wake him or not.”
She stared at me, utterly unmoving.
