Page 63 of Tethered Magick
“I should have realized it was too soon to try a regular diet.”
“That will change eventually, but Lorn’s too new to sustain herself on human food,” Kota explained, and I whirled on my stool to see him striding down the hallway from the bedrooms on the first floor, which were located past the living room.
“Is Dason around?” I tried to keep my tone casual, but the hoarseness of my voice betrayed me, as did the wince on my face when the pang in my belly started again.
Chayton helped me down from the seat, his brows pulled together in concern.
Kota scrubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “He’s resting and healing. I, uh… I wanted to talk to you about your feeding schedule.”
A blush, well as much of a blush as I could work up anyway, mantled my cheeks.
“Okay?” I fidgeted with the hem of my shirt, my fingers twisting the blue fabric.
Kota sighed and crossed the room, moving close enough for me to smell the freshness of his woodsy scent. The spicy undertone made me wonder what he and Chayton would taste like one right after the other… sweet and savory.
I shook my head, trying to hold back my fangs. I was hanging onto the last thread of my sanity, so I fisted my shirt tightly, searching for the last dredges of my self-control.
“You know that shadow touched heal faster than mundanes. That means we’re able to heal ourselves from the blood loss after each of your feeds.”
“That’s a good thing.” Chayton nodded his head, rubbing light circles on my back in support. I hated to tell him that his touch only made the craving worse. His nearness was tantalizing, the blood swooshing through his veins a distraction I couldn’t afford.
“It is, but it takes time for blood to replenish. Plasma is replaced much faster than red blood cells. It would be wise if she only drank from the same person once a day, leaving a full twenty-four hours for us to replace not only our blood volume but our cell counts.” Kota’s gaze flicked from Chayton to me. “There are six of us. Between all of us, we can keep you fed, but you’ll need to rotate between us.”
Six of us. Those words echoed in my head. I almost dared to contradict him, but I was the only one who knew what had happened at the bloodletting before the vampires had taken me.
I couldn’t focus, my mind too fractured with my need to eat and stay alive.
“How long will this insane thirst last?” My hand went to my throat, and I wanted to rip out the burn that had started, the raw scratch scorching.
“I can’t give you an answer.”
I narrowed my eyes on Kota, needing better than that.
“You’re not only a vampire, thus your transformation may vary greatly from other newborn vampires.” He seemed apologetic, his fingers drumming on his outer thigh. “If you need an answer, however, the best I can give you is two weeks for newborns. They need to eat voraciously for the first week, and then it starts to stabilize until they’re fully turned and can maintain their appetites.”
I nodded. Two weeks. I could make it two weeks, couldn’t I?
Chayton tangled his fingers with mine, and his voice was low as he led me farther into the kitchen. “You can feed on me.”
My eyes were wide as I pulled him to a stop between the island and the kitchen counter.
“There are… side effects,” I warned, dipping my chin and staring up pointedly into his deep brown eyes, hoping he wouldn’t make me elaborate further.
“I know. Vampire venom is common knowledge,nizhóní.” He leaned closer, invading my space. I didn’t mind. “Now let me tell you a poorly hidden secret in return.” His tone was sinful as he murmured, “I’m yours, Lorn—body, soul, blood, everything I have… everything I am.” His finger trailed over the unmarked skin where his mate bite used to reside. “You knew that when we mated, and though you can’t feel me now, the same is true.”
I shivered from the whispering touch, and Chayton backed me into the counter.
“I can… go.” Kota hitched a thumb over his shoulder and started backing away.
“No,” I said as Chayton grabbed my ass, and without any effort, lifted me onto the counter. My gaze flicked to Kota’s as Chayton’s large hands caressed the tops of my legs. “I… Please don’t let me hurt him,” I stuttered, making Kota promise he’d keep an eye on his packmate’s wellbeing.
Chayton’s thumbs stroked the inside of my thighs as he parted my legs before stepping between them. I tried to remember how to breathe. Kota nodded and leaned back against the counter. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw him grip the edge, studying us intently before Chayton stole my full attention.
I worshipped the hard lines of Chayton’s chest as I ran my palms up his body. He pulled his long braid over one shoulder, leaving a swath of beautifully tanned skin bare for me. The hammering pulse in his neck increased in pace when I licked my lips, and his eyes darkened.
Chayton tilting his head became an erotic sight that made me squirm on the countertop, and I couldn’t hold back.
My cry was smothered as my lips found his skin, my fangs springing free to sink into his throat. Chayton’s pheromones shot into the air like cologne with the first hit of my venom, and he groaned, bracing his hands flat on the counter as I fed.