With a breath of relief, I lean back on Emeric’s chest. The front door opens, and I pop right up, staring as Phoenix walks through the threshold. He takes in the sight as he closes the door behind him. Everyone is silent, which adds to the tension tightening my shoulders.
“Welcome back.” Killian gives him a welcoming nod, and the corner of Phoenix’s mouth rises. Seeing the exchange loosens my tight nerves.
“It’s a pleasure to see you, Selene.”
“You too.”
The unique pale-blue of his eyes are visible, and it gives me a reprieve. His whole demeanor reminds me of when we were in the basement bedroom of his original home, and he was showing me a better side of him.
“Would you mind if we spoke privately?”
Handing Emeric the beer back, I rise off his lap. The guys watch with intent stares as I join Phoenix, and we walk outside onto the porch.
The awkward tension between us is palpable. We keep our distance, him against the railing while I sit in one of the wooden porch chairs Killian built.
“You seem more yourself.”
Hands in his pockets, he meets my gaze, and for a brief moment, his suffering is visible.
“I am, thanks to the elixir you had made for me. It has taken away the agonizing hunger pain. I’m grateful you thought of it.”
“I should have brought you home the night we rescued you.”
Phoenix looks off in thought, then returns his attention to me.
“No, it’s best you didn’t. I was a monster and needed caged.”
The way he says the words pains me.
“You’re not a monster, Phoenix. You’ve been tortured, and from what I understand, vampires lose their human-like characteristics when starved of blood.”
“It’s true, but—”
“Do you want to hurt me now?”
Withdrawing his hands from his pockets, he slowly comes closer, his features anguished.
“No, I never wanted to hurt you.” Taking the seat next to me, he leans forward but avoids contact. “I’m drawn to you like no other. I have to learn to control my bloodlust for you.” His fingers graze mine, and the contact sends pleasured goosebumps across my skin. “I want to learn to control it.”
“It’ll take remaining here and feeding from me in small amounts often.”
His gaze is pleading. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes.”
“Does this mean you want to bond with me?”
“I’ve wanted you from the moment I first laid eyes on you.” His fingers curl through mine. “I’m done fighting it.”
“All I ever wanted was for you to let me in so we could bond.”
“I know.” Bringing my fingers to his lips, he kisses them tenderly. “I apologize for being cruel to you because of my stubborn refusal to accept our bond.”
“I like this side of you.”
The corner of his mouth rises. “I’m not all beast.”
“I always believed that was the case.”
“I suppose it took finding my beauty.”
The surprise sweeps over me. “You know fairytales?”
Phoenix sits back in the chair, his demeanor more relaxed. With my hand still in his, he rubs his thumb across it.
“I’m full of surprises.”
“I believe it.”
Looking into the woods, I listen to the crickets and the rustling of small animals scurrying across fallen leaves.
“What’s it like hunting?”
“I enter the forest, listen for movement, and follow scent trails. Once I narrow in on an animal, I use my vampire speed to catch it. I make the kill quick to alleviate any suffering.”
“What about with humans? I’ve only experienced you feeding from me, and two out of five times, it was unpleasant.”
“The experience is the same for other humans. Depending on the vampire, drinking from a human can be quick, efficient, even pleasurable. When we lose control, the bloodlust is overpowering, and the feeding violent.”
When I turn my head toward him, he meets my gaze, his eyes brimming with too many emotions to identify. Caressing my hand, his mouth slants, a smile forming.
“Being around you is giving me some peace.”
“What are you feeling? You can talk to me.”
“Remorse, a great deal of it, for the hurt I’ve caused you and for the deaths of Leo and Vivian.”
“All caused by the hands of the Holy Accolades.”
Leaning toward me, he cups his free hand over our joined hands.
“Thank you for coming for me. Without your refusal to give up on me, I might be dead.”
“I need to admit, I haven’t stopped thinking of you. I crave bonding with you.”
Phoenix lifts my hand, kissing the top of it, his fangs visible.
“I’d like to build trust between us.”
Turning my palm up, I give him access to my wrist.
“Only a little. You lose control, and I’ll have to use my magic.”
With a kiss on my wrist, he keeps his eyes locked on mine as he bites into my skin. Blood trickles down the side as he pulls back, closes his eyes, seeming to regain control, then lowers to drink more. The puncture sting blends with the pleasure, traveling from the movement of his lips, up my arm, and across my shoulders and back. My palm fills with the violet essence of our blood magic, swirling as if it has a mind of its own, a living entity growing in power. Purplish-red magic escapes his body, the ethereal essence a glow around him. Moaning in pleasure, he pulls himself back from my wrist, his eyes matching the magic whirling around him. Wiping his lips, he rises from the chair, bringing me up with him.
“My exquisite rose.” With a finger under my chin, he raises it, nearing my lips to his. “Go inside, please.”
Briefly, his lips press to mine, sending a pulse of pleasure to my core. When I open them, he’s gone.
CHAPTER FOUR
SELENE
Killian reaches around my side, kisses me on the cheek, then gathers the spatula off the grill side table. “He showed great control last night.”
“Where do you think he is now? He would have needed protection to sleep.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart.” He flips the burgers, the meat sizzling. “He can take care of himself. He’s probably in my woodshop. He’d be well protected in there.”
“I should
