Page 29 of A God of Death & Rest

Rune stands and walks up to me, setting his hands on my shoulders and pushing me an arm's length away so he can survey me. I can see the pain and worry in his red eyes. It crushes me. How could someone likememake him worry? I’ve been trying to be distant with him specifically to stop this, but obviously it isn’t working for either of us.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

He presses his brows closer together with anguish. Iwon’tlet him care about me.

I push him and his hands slip from my arms and hang at his side wearily.

“I will only bring youpain,Rune.” I bite out the words and they physically hurt to say out loud.

He stands there, defeated, as I bend down to collect my books and pass him to return to my room. I’m dizzy, in pain and tired—the lack of blood has been making me feel drugged and I’m not sure how much longer I can hold out.

I stumble over the threshold of my door and fall to my knees, my books sliding across the floor. My body refuses to move as my stomach curls in on itself and makes my teeth clench tightly together.Shit.

Rune is at my side in a second and his worried expression has my heart aching. “I’m okay, I’m—” I cough and blood spatters across the floor. Okay, I’m joining the worried train.

He lets out a soft gasp. I swear I can nearly hear his voice on his breath, but my bobbing consciousness could be fooling me.

Rune lifts me from the floor and quickly brings me to the bed, cradling me as he sits down and holds my face up to his neck, pressing my cold lips against his skin.

I know he’s trying to get me to drink, but I think I’ve gone too long without it. I can’t move my jaw and the only things that my frenzied mind can focus on right now are the slow breaths that are becoming heavier and more painful with each inhale.

He shakes my head in his hand, trying to get me to bite him, but my vision fades.

Rune lets out a small groan and pulls me down to look at me. His eyes are panicked and I feel bad that I can’t tell himIt’s okay, let me fucking die.

It wouldn’t be the worst thing… to go like this.

He lifts his arm and bites into his flesh. I watch wearily, hoping that he doesn’t bleed out if he bites too deeply. His blood drips hot from his elbow and patters on my stomach as he sucks blood into his mouth.

Crimson streams down his chin as he cups my cheeks and presses his lips to mine.

For the briefest second it’s a kiss. My eyes widen—have Ieverkissed lips as soft as his? As crushing and warm…

His tongue slips into my mouth, coaxing it open, and then he pushes blood into me. It’s hot and warms the back of my throat like liquid fire. I drink from Rune’s lips and our auras seem to brush against one another. My very soul reacts to his and once the blood is down he pulls his head away and watches me like he felt the same sensation.

His blood instantly heals my ailments. Though there’s a throb of hunger still deep inside me that calls for Eostrix blood, this will have to do for now. Fucking repulsion curse.

Tears wet the sides of my face. I can’t really say why I’m crying. I just… I’m so fucking tired.

Of everything.

His crimson gaze softens as warmth returns to my lips and the dizzy fog clears from my mind. I try to blink away the remaining tears but they won’t go. I slowly sit up, still in his lap, not quite ready to stand.

I’m not ready to be alone again.

His hand is instantly behind me, supporting me in case I need it. I look at him, our noses a mere inch apart. He’s staring as intently at me as I am at him.

“Rune.” My voice cracks as I begin to let the tears fall.

He brings me into a tight hug and it’s the start and end of every whisper from my heart that bleeds for this. Bleeds for him.

I cry in his arms as he rocks us slowly, his strong arms keeping me safe from everything horrible and dark in my reality. My mind threatens to slip into despair. I can’t continue on this painful, pointless journey of—

A hum stirs out of Rune’s throat.

My thoughts disappear. I’m so shocked by the hint of his voice, and honestly the fact that he is humming to me.

Goosebumps travel up my arms as he continues to rock us slowly. He’s humming me a song. I listen intently to every vibration of his tune. It’s quiet, but I can hear him. After the first verse, I catch on to the chorus and start to hum along with him.

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