Willow stilled, staring down at me as I rose and brought my wrist to my mouth. I sank my fangs into it, holding it out for her as she stared at it. Indecision warred on her face, leaving no doubt that she was genuinely in pain.
I suspected she’d dislocated or broken a rib, and she knew very well how long that would take to heal otherwise.
“I already own you, Witchling. You might as well benefit from that,” I said, smirking down at her as her gaze hardened into a glare. If she didn’t take my blood, my compulsion would eventually work its way out of her system.
But then she’d be in pain.
She reached up with a grimace, wrapping her delicate, slender fingers around my forearm and hand. Dragging it toward her, she drew in a few deep breaths as she stared at the blood welling from the wound.
“Drink, Willow. I may be an asshole, and I will most definitely take advantage of you,” I said, chuckling when her gaze snapped back to mine. “But you’re safe with me. That’s more than I can say of your own kind.”
She swallowed, nodding softly as she lowered my wrist to her mouth. The heat of her wrapped around my skin, flooding my veins as she took a deep pull. I felt my blood leave my body; felt it slide into her mouth and felt her swallow it down.
Her grip tightened, pulling me to her more harshly as I tossed my head back with a groan. She drank deep, taking more than she needed. I doubted it was an accident.
The Witchling was smart enough to know that the more of my blood she drank, the stronger she would be. I had the distinct feeling that the one thing Willow never wanted to be was weak. She would never allow herself to be vulnerable, and while she had to accept she would be with me now, she could go to war with others and not worry as much.
If she was going to give some of her power, she’d damn well take some of mine back.
“Clever little witch,” I murmured with a laugh as she sank her little teeth into my skin surrounding the wounds. She ran her tongue over them, encouraging them to continue bleeding as she let her eyes drift closed.
Her body shifted, her rib moving beneath her skin as it snapped back into place. She let out a high-pitched whimper, continuing to drink from me through the moment of pain. With her body healed, I knew what would come next.
Euphoria.
Willow’s next moan was long and low, her hips shifting on the bed as she sucked at my wrist.
“That’s enough,” I said, pulling my arm back. She tried to hold on to it, tried to pull it back down to her. But there was risk in taking too much, in becoming addicted to it.
I couldn’t afford for her to need my blood to survive. That was a commitment I wasn’t interested in.
“Settle,” I said, letting my voice compel her to lie back down on the bed.
I wanted nothing more than to fulfill the craving consuming her body, to give her what I knew she so desperately desired. Especially after I’d left her wet and wanting the night before.
“Sleep, Willow,” I said instead, tucking hair back from her eye.
Panic filled her eyes for a moment before they started to drift closed. She shook her head, trying to fight the compulsion off.
“No. Please,” she begged as I ran gentle fingers over her forehead.
“Shhh,” I said, leaning forward to touch my lips to hers gently. “You will wake in a few hours. I promise, love.”
The whimper she released broke something inside of me. I’d kill the bitch for making her fear sleep.
As if her nightmares of Him weren’t bad enough.
Kairos stepped into the room, leading some of the other Vessels into my office. I pulled the door to my bedroom closed behind me, shutting Willow’s sleeping form off from prying eyes. He raised his brows at me as he caught a glimpse of who slept in my bed, but he didn’t dare to voice the question.
“You summoned us?” Juliet asked, crossing her arms over her chest. From her position on the sofa, I had no doubt she’d gotten a good look at Willow and the way I’d covered her up carefully.
I moved to my liquor cabinet, pouring myself a tumbler of whiskey. “I’ve invoked dominium,” I said, holding Juliet’s stare.
She grinned, the feline expression on her face nothing but mischief. “On the Madizza girl?” she asked, pursing her lips when I glared at her.
“Yes,” I said, grinding my teeth. I hated to be predictable, but they knew as well as I did just how important a role she would play in the future of Crystal Hollow.
As the last of her bloodline, she would lead the next generation on the Tribunal, and if we could manage to get rid of the Covenant…