Page 33 of Crimson Shifter
When we made our way to my bed to rest for the day, I couldn't take my eyes off him, even as he fell asleep. He was truly glorious, and I was quite certain that I would nevereverhave it so good as him again.
CHAPTER 11
Talon
“It's good to hear from you,” Zachariah said once I'd said hello, speaking into the burner phone that I’d managed to smuggle onto the island. I currently paced the length of the warded slice of paradise that I’d hiked to tonight in order to make this check-in call.
“I know it's past the check-in point,” I said. “But it's hard to find any alone time out here when everyone expects Shadow to be at Cassandra’s side every single second.”
Cassandra was still at the estate, saying it would be less suspicious if she stayed behind and attended yet another formal dinner with her mother in the hopes of gleaning more information about Edward.
There was an ache in my chest I couldn't explain, something like an alarm blaring, telling me to get back and not leave her so exposed.
“I understand,” Zachariah said. “Have you learned anything useful?”
“Not as much as we'd like,” I answered, disappointment sinking heavy in my gut. “According to Mrs. Zorin, Edward has taken over where his father left off,” I said. “But he hasn't cometo the island yet. His mother keeps thinking he will, but we haven't even seen a hint of that.”
“We understood this mission might take time,” Zachariah said. “How are you holding up? Are you feeding regularly?”
I fell silent, the taste of Cassandra’s blood still clinging to my mouth from the quick fuck and feed we'd had before I left.
I couldn't help it. I was insatiable around the female, for both her body and her blood, and if I was being quite honest with myself, herwords,hercompany. She’d opened up to me last week in a way that I’d never expected, telling me the story of what her horribly abusive parents had done to her. Explaining to me what really had happened with the mating mark tattoo and my king. It was all so wretched and awful I wasn't sure how to process it.
All I really wanted to do was rip her mother's throat out since I couldn't kill her father.
“Talon?” Zachariah’s tone was filled with worry and just enough authority that I blinked away the rapid thoughts.
“I'm feeding,” I said simply.
“From who?” Zachariah asked as if he already knew the answer.
“Cassandra's mother has her talem keeping track of every single feeder brought on the island. I'm not about to start tearing into the protected species that happen to be thriving here. I had no choice?—”
“Bullshit,” Zachariah cut me off. “Look, the last thing I ever want you to do is starve, but you and I both know that you can go for much longer than a few weeks without blood.”
“I'd like to see you try to resist when someone as beautiful as Cassandra is shoving an open vein in your mouth.”
“Is that all it is? Feeding?”
I didn't make a habit of lying to my brothers, so I remained silent.
“Fuck,” Zachariah said on the end of a heavy sigh. “Talon, you have to be careful with her. I know the king trusts her, but there is a well of toxicity that runs in that family?—”
“You don't have to remind me of that,” I cut him off. “I know exactly how evil these pieces of shit are. I've been living in their estate for weeks. The way her mother treats her, Zachariah. You should see it. It's taking everything in me not to kill her on sight.”
“Kill her? Without orders? Have you lost your mind?”
The memory of tearing into Archibald’s throat ripped through me, bringing with it a ripple of satisfaction. He’d touched what was mine.
Not mine.
Make up your mind.
“For fuck’s sake, Talon,” Zachariah groaned. “Have you been killing people?”
“Not people,” I said.
“Are you being careful,” he finally said. “Whatever affections you may have for this female, we still don't know if we can trust her?—”