Page 37 of To Crave Darkly
“Well,” Levi pondered, “going off the few texts and stories I can get my hands on, when a Sin Reaper feeds, they attack the soul. So, logic would suggest the more they feed, the more soul they take.”
Ew. “I ate Jasper’s soul?”
“Like I said, I don’t have much to go on. But when I examined Jasper there was nothing physically wrong with him… he was just showing symptoms of exhaustion… but perhaps it’s not the soul you eat?”
Levi’s eyes glazed over as he disappeared into thought.
“Yes!” he said so suddenly my heart jumped. “What if it’s not about the soul? What if it’s about the energy?”
I raised an eyebrow. “The dark energy?”
Levi stood up and started to pace in front of me. Jasper was right. This guy did seem to thrive when he had a puzzle to solve.
“What if the Sin Reaper steals the sins for energy? Like how an incubus feeds off sexual energy but a Sin Reaper’s isn’t limited to just one form of energy.”
“You did say Jasper was tired,” I added.
“Yes, but we would have to run some tests to make sure. I’ll need you to come to my lab so we can start figuring this all out. Would you mind?”
Would I mind? Yes. I bloody well would. But if it would help me get some answers…
“Sure, I’ll do that.”
Levi smiled like Christmas had come early and I suddenly regretted agreeing to be a willing lab rat. Oh god. What had I done?
I wasn’t given a chance to think about it. Levi grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet before eagerly dragging me to his secret lair.
***
Levi’s secret lair had turned out to be an ordinary medical laboratory. I had almost expected to be greeted by a dark room with giant glass cases filled with humanoid shapes submerged in some kind of gloopy substance. But it was a bright white space, clean and very clinical.
“Are you a Doctor or a scientist?” I asked as he finished taking another vial of my blood.
“I’m actually both. I trained as a Doctor but my desire to question the unknown pushed me down a more research-based path. Here in the Conclave, I am given the opportunity to do both. My research has proven invaluable and I am also very adept at patching up the various different species that find their way into the Med Bay. All done for now.” He smiled up at me as he placed a plaster on the injection site.
“That’s it? No Reaping experiments?” I was disappointed. I thought we were going to start getting some answers.
“I need to examine your blood work first. It will give me a better idea of what we’re looking at. Besides, you’ve been through a lot. I think some rest will do you a world of good.”
“But…”
“Doctor’s orders, Lori. Now, Jasper should be here to take you back to the Base. I think you’ll be staying with Jasper and his team for a while. I’ll go find him.”
I wasn’t left alone for long. Jasper strode into the room and his gaze immediately locked with mine. My heart soared at the sight of him.
I saw his nostrils flare and his gaze flicked to the vials Levi had left on the counter next to me. His jaw visibly clenched and his eyes darkened to a deep sapphire blue. My pulse spiked in anticipation. Heat pooled at my core and I suddenly wanted to feel him against me. To feel his skin against mine, his mouth on my flesh, his back beneath my nails as I marked him as mine.
Mine.
Whoa. That was not a natural response. What the fuck?
A soft growl filled the air. Wait. That was me. I made that sound.
Jasper took a step toward me.
Yes, come to me.Take me.
“Well, she’s free to go.” Levi walked back into the room and the tension snapped like a rubber band. Jasper’s face fell in horror and dread settled in my stomach. What the hell was that?
