Page 106 of Taste Me

It’s a very welcome sight after being trapped in the death plane.

“You’re alive, little witchling,” he says as if that alone is worthy of praise.

And it is, really. The way I feel suggests I have been dancing with death.

Or hanging out with it in a library.

I look down and realize that Jasper’s hand is lightly pressing on my chest, which is why I’m not hearing the screams.

But there is blood everywhere.

“What’s… going on?” I ask, my voice coming out tired and scratchy.

“We almost lost you,” Zyran says from somewhere behind Jasper. “Again.”

Peering around Jas’s massive shoulder, I find the brown-haired vampire adjusting his glasses. He resumes cleaning a cut on his hand with a handkerchief.

We’ve already established that his death sight doesn’t harm me, but I’m not sure how it works with his brothers. I’d imagine they’d be immune to each other, or at least be able to channel each other’s death magic.

Which leads me to the conclusion that Zy is hiding behind his glasses. The urge to rip them off takes over again as I remember what we’d been doing before…

Before Kornelius.

“You mean you and Kor almostkilledher,” Jasper snarls over his shoulder, confirming the gruesome memory.

I know my third mate is in the room. Even if I can’t see him, I can sense him.

Meaning that a bond has already formed between us just like it had with Jasper before we finalized fate’s choice.

I’m learning that the fate bonds transcend the standard links normally severed by death.

When my mates are necromancy-vampire hybrids and I’m forever linked to the death plane, that changes things. It changes therules.

“I want to see Kor,” I demand. My voice is coming back stronger now, although the ache along my neck and shoulder still blooms with blinding pain.

Jewel had something to do with what happened, meaning Kornelius and Zyran might actually be innocent in all this.

My rage is justified, but perhaps misplaced.

“No,” Jasper says, the word nonnegotiable. “Kornelius was just leaving. Weren’t you?” he asks over his other shoulder, where I presume Kornelius is standing.

“You’re not listening to me,” I say, keeping my voice low and steady. “I said—” My words are cut off by incredible pain as I lean forward to sit up, rendering me speechless. Deciding to relax back onto the pillow, I hiss at the overpowering sensation as dark spots filter over my vision.

The sound of wood cracks and Jasper moves over me as if to help, but it allows me to see Kornelius, who is just a few feet away.

He’s gripping the wooden frame so hard it’s splintering underneath his fingers. His gaze is locked somewhere outside as he remains unnaturally still in a way only a death vampire like him can do.

“Do you remember what he did to you?” Jasper snarls in my ear. His hand continues to press on my chest and the places where his skin touches mine feeds me his magic.

It eases the pain and I allow it to seep through me like the invading force it is.

Overpowering. Masculine.Angry.

He’s not angry at me, but his rage is palpable. I’m honestly not sure why Kornelius is still in one piece with the amount of hatred stemming from Jasper’s unbeating heart.

Jasper begins to tremble, his need to protect me making him cage me in by his arms as if he wishes to be my shield. “He fed on you, Issy. He ripped into you like a piece of fucking meat. The only reason he’s still alive is because killing him might hurt you more, and I will do every fucking thing in my power to protect you—even if it means sparing his worthless life.”

Kor’s gaze flicks from the window, allowing me to see amber orbs of his reckless emotion.

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