Page 25 of Taste Me

I know he still needs my touch to withstand my voice, so I knock twice on the door in response.

“I’ll take that as a yes, but don’t blame me if I rush in when you’re naked the next time I hear something drop.”

Heat climbs up my cheeks as I pick up the comb and try not to imagine that scenario playing out.

Because the way he looked at me suggested he wanted to taste.

To bite.

Todevour.

And I very much wanted that, too.

Is someone there?my sister asks. She can’t usually hear what I’m hearing, but she can sense when I’m distracted.Please tell me what’s going on, Issy. I mean it.

Sighing, I slide down the wall and flick the teeth of the comb with my nail.Promise not to be angry.

While my voice is deadly, Fallon is by far a more powerful witch than me.

She can control her powers—until she can’t. Her magic broke apart everything the patriarchs had built when she embraced her true potential.

A moment of silence lingers, suggesting she’s still working on said control.

And promise you’re not going to ask Nolan for a portal potion,I add.

I can practically hear her roll her eyes. I won’t if I don’t have a reason to, Issy. Are you in danger?

I don’t know. Probably. I found my fated mate,I tell her, opting for the blunt truth. She heard my stray thought anyway. Might as well come out with it.My voice doesn’t kill him, and rejecting him doesn’t work, either. At least,myrejection doesn’t work.Hisworked onme.

She blew out a breath.Gods. That’s loaded. But seriously, he can survive your voice? Then why did you reject him? That’s amazing.

It’s a good question.You’re not going to like the answer.

Issy.

I fumble with the comb until one of the teeth breaks off. I can’t inform her that he has Daithi’s magic in his veins. She will most definitely portal over if I tell her that.

But I have to give her something believable, or else she’s not going to let this go.

He has necromancy magic, like us. He’s not a warlock, though. He’s a vampire, but he’s also something else. I haven’t quite figured that part out.

She huffs.Isn’t that a good thing? Wait. Does that mean you cantalktalk to him?

I cringe.Only when he’s physically touching me, I think. His power seems to work through touch and he’s able to counteract my voice that way.

Oh, Gods, Issy! That’s amazing! I’m so happy for you!

She’s about to gush and plan a fucking wedding unless I stop this, so I add one more truth.He killed my date, Fallon.

He what? You mean theex-date who was beating down your door earlier and not leaving you alone? Sounds like he deserved it. You should ask your hot new vampire hybrid about it instead of jumping to conclusions and doing something silly, likerejectinghim.

Launching to my feet, I practically growl as I yank the shower faucet to the “on” position and set it to scalding hot.

I can’t believe you, Fallon. You’re siding with a killer? Just because you have a vampire mate doesn’t mean you’re the expert in overprotective immortal men.

Ishara,she says, using my full first name. She only does that when she’s being serious.You think I’m making this about me? I’m not. This has nothing to do with me.

Damn right it doesn’t. So why don’t you just leave me alone?