Kingsley knew I was out here the entire time!

I jerk back from the tent and scan the tented area, debating whether to run or not. Not that I believe they’d hurt me. Still, they just had an entire conversation about the past lives they watched me suffer through and it’s really freaking me out. The last time I ran away from the truth, though, I ended up getting dragon fire burns on my neck.

Time to woman up, Raven.

Taking a measured breath, I lift the flap of the tent and step in.

Inside, lantern lighting mixes with the orange glow of a crackling fire. Twinkling lights are strung above and a pitcher of blood is perched on the far back table. Sitting rigidly around a rectangular table are my parents, Rhyland, and Ava, while Kingsley leans against a corner beam, looking as comfortable as can be. The really odd part is they’re all dressed in black attire, like I am. Maybe it’s a Land of Moonlight thing.

“How long have you been standing out there?” my mom whispers with wide eyes.

I casually shrug, though I’m on edge. “A while.”

Rhyland crosses his arms and stares me down. “How much did you hear?”

I shrug again, my gaze boring into him. “A little more than I already knew.”

He reclines in his chair, a pucker forming at his brow. “And how much did you already know?”

Another shrug. “Some stuff, but not all.”

He frowns. “You’re being very vague.”

“So are you,” I quip. “All the time.”

The corners of his lips quirk. “I guess so.”

The way he’s looking at me, as if he’s starving and desperate to eat me, makes my chilled blood warm. Feeling the blush creep into my cheeks, I look away from him and at my parents.

“I take it by the shocked looks on your faces this hasn’t ever happened before,” I say. “But since I met that pixie, Harper, before, I’m thinking this isn’t my first time in the Land of Moonlight.”

Stunned doesn’t even begin to describe the looks on their faces.

“You remember?” my mom whispers, clutching the necklaces hanging around her neck.

“Some stuff. I definitely don’t remember all the centuries and centuries I’ve spent plummeting around in this hellhole of a loop.” I make a circular gesture with my finger. “Not that you guys tried to help me remember.”

“Honey, we couldn’t.” My mom pushes to her feet and takes cautious, measured steps toward me, as if I’m a spooked cat about to flee. “I don’t even know how you were able to find out what you know—you’re not supposed to be aware of any of this.”

“You guys may have thought that,” I say, “but at some point in one of my past lives, I either started putting two and two together or overheard something I wasn’t supposed to.”

Her forehead crinkles. “You remember your past lives, too?”

“No … Well, sort of. That’s not how I know I figured stuff out in a past life.” I anxiously fiddle with the zipper of my jacket. “I found something.”

“Found what, exactly?” Kingsley asks, crooking a brow. “Come on, sweetheart; you have to give us more details than that.”

I shake my head. “I’d rather not say right now.”

“Because you don’t want to?” Kingsley asks. “Or because you can’t?”

“Because I don’t want to.” I step forward as the wind blows the flap of the tent against my back. “Not when I don’t have a clue who I can trust.”

“Raven, maybe if you told us, we could help you figure out more,” my mom encourages, stepping toward me. “You can trust us, honey.”

I hold up a hand, indicating for her to stop. “Right now, I don’t know enough about what’s going on to know if I can trust you or anyone else. I mean, for all I know, you guys could’ve staged that entire conversation.” I let my hand fall to my side as my mom slows to a halt. “And even if I did tell you how I found out, you guys can’t even say who cursed me or why I was cursed, right? So, there’s no point.”

They all trade an anxious look. Well, all of them except for Rhyland. His gaze hasn’t wavered from me since the moment I stepped inside the tent.

“Dammit.” My mom yanks her fingers through her hair. “I wish I could … I wish … Fuck.”

My eyes widen. “Wow, since when do you drop the f-bomb?”

She lets out a depressing laugh, her eyes flooding with tears. “I want to tell you so much. You know that, right?”

Not wanting to see her cry, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

She only cries harder, wrapping her arms tightly around me. “I hope so. I really do. But you don’t … Fuck.” She sobs harder.

“Let me take her to her tent so she can take a breather.” My dad stands up and winds around the table toward us. “It’s been a long few days.”

Nodding, I move back as he slips an arm around my mom. She immediately presses her face into the crook of his neck and sobs harder. My mom has never been much of a crier, so the sight is startling.

My dad pats me on the shoulder. “Just give me a bit to calm her down, and then we’ll talk some more, okay?”

I force the corners of my lips to tip upward. “Okay.”

Everyone keeps suggesting we talk, yet according to the conversation I overheard, they can’t tell me much, so what’s the point in talking? What I should be doing is seeking answers from those who can tell me more, and find my journal so I can finish reading it.

My dad guides my mom out of the tent, leaving me alone with Rhyland and Kingsley. And well, Ava. How is she even aware of the curse? I haven’t seen any memories or read anything about her. And I’m fairly certain not every creature is aware of it.

A malicious smirk twists at Ava’s lips. “Well, well, well, I guess little Miss Loser Raven is finally catching on to what all of us have been aware of for years.”

She reminds me so much of Nadine it’s frightening.

“Ava,” Rhyland warns, but I raise my hand.

“I can take care of myself,” I tell him. “I don’t need you to defend me.”

Kingsley snorts a laugh. “You know, it’s sexy as hell when you’re feisty. But words cannot describe the fantasies I’m having right now of you being feisty in that little dominatrix getup you’re wearing.”

I tighten my jacket around myself. “Ew. Stop thinking about me like that.”

Kingsley nibbles on his bottom lip, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “Nah, I’d rather not. Not until I at least get off on it—”

Rhyland springs to his feet and smacks him in the gut. “That’s enough.”

Kingsley’s hunches over, letting out a pain-laced laugh. “You and your jealousy never get less entertaining. Guess I know all that shit you were spewing in the tent was bullshit.”

Rhyland grits his teeth then turns toward me with his hand outstretched. “Let’s go get you fed before those burns take over your entire body.”

I make no move to place my hand in his as the image of him and Nadine dancing in the castle sweeps through my mind. I shouldn’t care. I really shouldn’t. Not when he’s spent lifetimes torturing me. But my throbbing heart doesn’t seem to give a shit about the past, emitting pain throughout my chest.

Stupid, traitor heart.

Rhyland frowns. “Glad to know where we’re still at.”

“I’m not even sure what that means,” I mutter, turning toward the flap of the tent.

“It means you still hate me,” he whispers softly from behind me.

Snowflakes swirl around me as I step outside into the cold. “No, I don’t.” As soon as the words fall from my tongue, the truth burns through my veins.

How can I not hate him after everything that’s happened in our past?

Evidently, Rhyland is riding the same brainwaves, because his brows rise to his hairline. “You don’t?”

Grimacing, I shake my head. “No, apparently not.”

A relieved smile graces his lips, then he starts down the path, motioning for me to follow. “You seem so angry about that fact.”

I trail after him, moving slower to avoid falling on my ass. “I am.”

“That’s understandable, considering this lifetime and past ones.” He slows down, letting me catch up to him. Then he gives me sidelong glance. “Do you remember anything about your first life? I mean, the one before the curse?”

I give a one-shoulder shrug, staring ahead at the mountains. “Maybe a little bit of it.”

When he remains silent, I turn my head to look at him, only to find him staring intensely at me. So intensely I wonder if he might kiss me. Definitely something I don’t want happening.

Well, sort of.

Okay, okay, as pathetic as it might make me, even after he bit me and ditched me to go dance with my sister, I desire him, which is crazy because I never desired him before I started remembering. Sure, I thought he was good-looking, but a complete asshole.

He doesn’t look like an asshole now as he stares into my eyes and grazes his finger along the rose pendant around my neck. “Do you remember when I gave this to you the very first time?” When I shake my head, he asks, “What about this lifetime?”

Pressing my lips together, I nod. “It was my thirteenth birthday. You kissed me for some crazy reason.”

His nostrils flare as he breathes in deeply. “Kingsley is right. You are getting stronger.”

“Um, hello.” I gesture down at my feet, struggling not to slip on the icy path. “I’m still as klutzy as I’ve ever been.”

He folds his fingers around my arms, pulling me to an abrupt stop. If he wasn’t holding me, I probably would’ve fallen on my ass.

“I’m not talking about physically.” He steadies me. “I’m talking about mental strength.”

I grip his shoulder to keep my balance. “How does me remembering you giving me this necklace a handful of years ago make me strong?”

“Because I …” He grinds his teeth. “I can’t say, but maybe if you remember all the details, you’ll be able to figure it out.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “Well, I remember how you blackmailed me into kissing you in order to get it.”

He chuckles, his eyes full of life, so unlike the Rhyland I know. Well, in this cursed life. “Don’t pretend you didn’t like it.”

“And,” I talk over him, but all he does is grin, “you told me I wasn’t allowed to wear it.”

His grin fizzles. “That’s because I wasn’t supposed to give you gifts at all. Not then, anyway.”

“Then, how did you?”

When he shrugs, I grimace.

“Let me guess; you’re cursed into silence?”

He silently stares at me with his lips pressed firmly together.

I sigh. “This curse is really a pain in the ass, isn’t it?”

He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear with a speck of a smile on his face.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I touch my cheek. “Do I have something on my face?”

He shakes his head, strands of his blond hair falling into his eyes. “I just never thought I’d ever hear you speak about the curse.”

“And that’s a good thing because …?”

“Because it means you know you need to break it, which has put you way further ahead than you’ve ever been.”

“But this creature who cursed me is speeding up the reset, right? That’s what the smoke was back at the castle?” I ask. Though he doesn’t nod, I know I’m right. I know what I overheard.

I ponder all the times I’ve seen the smoke, in the forest, at the castle. Every time, the fey queen was around.

“Is it the fey queen?” I wonder. “Is she the one who cursed me?”

His expression remains neutral, his body frozen in place, revealing nothing.

“Let me guess; you can’t tell me?” I sigh as he unfreezes and offers me an apologetic smile. “Well then, let me go back to the memory of you giving me this choker and see if I can at least figure out why you think I’m mentally stronger this time around.”

I tap my finger against my lip. “Truthfully, I can’t remember much after the kiss. And I didn’t even remember kissing you at all until recently … until after I was declared the next vampire queen, which is a kind of a reoccurrence when I’m around you—forgetting memories, I mean. And falling asleep …” Something I overheard him say in the tent dawns on me. “You have witch’s magic in you, right?” Again, nothing but silence, but I know the answer already. “So, did you take that memory of us kissing away from me with your little witchy powers?” I don’t bother waiting for his answer, knowing he can’t say anything. “I bet you did. But, I remembered because I’m mentally stronger this time? Stronger than witch’s magic, anyway, which is also why I probably know you put sleep spells on me.”

His expression remains blank, literally driving me crazy.

“You know that neutral look is unbecoming on you,” I say, trying to irk a reaction out of him.

His lips loosen into a grin. “Is that so?”

I nod, relieved he’s no longer doing the creepy staring thing. “It’s completely so.”

He wets his lips then splays his fingers across my cheek, his gaze scorching, welding to mine. “Do you know what looks are unbecoming on you?”

So not what I was expecting him to say, but I guess I should’ve known better.

“No. And I really don’t want to know.”

He ignores me. “When you have sadness in your eyes. It doesn’t fit you. Never has. Your eyes should be full of life, full of spark, like they are right now. Never sadness.” He grazes his thumb along my cheek. “No more sadness, okay?”

What the alluring vampires is he trying to do? Seduce me or something?

If so, it’s sort of working.

“Do you remember how I used to look at you?” he asks, slipping his other hand around to the small of my back. “Do you remember how I used to touch you?”

I start to nod, then shake my head. “I don’t know.”

“Don’t know? Or won’t admit it?”

“Maybe a little bit of both.”

He smiles sadly. “You don’t trust me, do you?”

I shake my head then shrug. “I really don’t know yet. From what I remember and from this life, I’m not so sure I should.”

Sadness reflects in his eyes. “I wish you did.”

“So do I,” I utter truthfully.

“Until you do—until you know everything—you need to be careful, okay?” he whispers, and I nod. His gaze drops to my lips. “I can’t … I wish …” He stares at my mouth for so long I swear he’s going to kiss me. Then he steps back and takes my hand. “Let’s get you to the tent and feed you. We’ve got a long journey ahead of us tomorrow morning, and you’re going to need your strength.”

His sudden switch in attitude nearly gives me whiplash, making my guard instantly go back up.

“Where are we going tomorrow?” I ask as he steers me up the path.

He gives a glance at my neck. “To catch a dragon.”

My eyes pop wide. “We have to catch a dragon?”

“Of course.” He grazes his finger along the brim of my nose before hastily pulling away. “How else do you think we are going to get ahold of dragon’s fire?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I thought maybe we’d catch it in a jar or something.”

He chuckles. “That might be easier if it were possible, but unfortunately, that’s not how it works.”

“How does it work, exactly?” Fog laces from my lips. “Wait, it doesn’t have to, like, breathe its fire on me, does it?”

He cups my cheek. “Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s going to happen.”

My lips part in shock. “Won’t that burn like an evil witch?”

He skims his thumb along the bottom of my eye. “It’ll hurt a bit, but it’ll hurt worse if we don’t get the burns off you.”

I press my hand to the bottom of my neck. “And what happens if it tries to turn my whole entire body into this?”

“It won’t.”

“How can you be so sure? Wait … unless we’ve already done this before.”

“No, but I know what I’m doing.” He removes his hand from my cheek to thread his fingers through mine. Then he guides me farther up the snowy path.

“What are you? Like a dragon trainer or something …” A memory plinks into my mind and images ripple in waves.

“Do you want to know a secret?” Rhyland whispers as we hike through the forest.

We’re around fifteen, maybe sixteen, and are dressed in colors that blend with the night. Rhyland has a spring to his walk, while I stumble to keep up with him. I hate that I’m so clumsy and that he seems to radiate coordination, but at this point, I’m well aware that I’m as good of a vampire as I’ll ever be. And I’m okay with that. I’m happy. Healthy. Have a best friend who’d do anything for me.

“Sure. What’s your secret?” I swing around a tree, but not fast enough and the bark scrapes my flesh.

“Hmmm …” He taps his lips with a playful glint in his eyes. “I’m not sure I should tell you. You might tell on me.”

My lips part in offense. “Hey, I may be a lot of things, but a tattletale, I am not.”

“You sure about that?” He ducks behind a tree.

“Yes, I’m sure.” I rush around the tree, only to find him gone. “Hey, no hiding.”

“I’m not hiding,” he whispers in my ear.

I reel around, but he’s not behind me. “Rhyland, this isn’t funny.”

“Then why are you laughing?” His breath dusts my ear.

I put my hands on my hips, fighting back the laugh tickling my throat. “I’m not.”

“You sure about that?”

“Um, yeah.”

“Hmmm … I guess we’ll have to fix that.” He swoops down from the branches above me, grabs me by the waist, and starts tickling me.

“Hey!” I squeal through my laughter. “This isn’t fair! You’re way faster and stronger than me!”

He slides his hands up to my ribs and pulls me closer so my back is pressed to his chest. “And what kind of vampire would I be if I didn’t use my strength and speed to my advantage?” he whispers in my ear.

For the strangest, most confusing second of my life, a warm shiver rolls through my body. “The sweet kind?” I ask with hope.

He lightly tickles my sides. “Who says I want to be sweet?”

As his breath caresses my skin, I shiver again, my eyelashes fluttering shut. “Well, you don’t want to be mean, do you? At least, not to me.”

“I don’t know. You did eat all my blood cupcakes the other day.” He moves his fingertips down toward my hips.

I stop fighting and lean into his touch. This feels so good—

My eyes pop open as he starts tickling me again. My laugh echoes through the night air, sending bats fleeing from the trees.

“Rhyland!” I laugh. “Please, please stop. I’ll do anything.”

He immediately stops tickling me and wraps his arms around my waist. I relax against him and wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes.

“Don’t get too relaxed,” he teases. “One day, I’m going to hold you to that promise.”

I secretly smile. “I’m not worried.”

His lips dip beside my ear. “Maybe you should be.”

I resist the urge to shiver again, despite how much my body desires to. “I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”

He laughs softly before stepping back then moving around in front of me. “You’re right. I never, ever would do anything to hurt you.” The truth reflects from his eyes. Then, as swiftly as he turned serious, his playful demeanor returns. “So, do you want to hear my secret?”

I nod eagerly. “You know I love secrets.”

He chuckles then offers me his hand, which I take. “I want to learn how to control dragons,” he says as we hike farther into the shadows of the lofty trees.

“Really?” My brows pull together. “But I thought only a few powerful faeries were able to do that?”

“I found a loophole,” he divulges. “It’s going to take some time, and I’ll have to leave Mystic Willow Bay, but I want to do this more than anything.”

“Do you think your parents will let you?”

“Probably not. I’ll just wait until I’m eighteen, then they have no say.”

“Oh.” I fight back a frown. “Where do you have to go to do it?”

“Probably to the Land of Moonlight where most of the dragons live.”

“That’s really far away. And only a creature with moonlight blood can take you there.”

He gives me a teasing sidelong glance. “It’s a good thing I’m best friends with one of them, right?”

“You want me to go with you?”

“Well, it’s either that or find some random stranger to take me.” His lips tease upward. “Personally, I’d prefer my pretty best friend who I know will do anything for me. But, if I have to take a stranger, then I guess I will.”

I roll my eyes. Inside, my heart skips a beat. He called me pretty. “Fine, I’ll take you as long as you don’t use any more cheesy lines on me ever again.”

He chuckles. “I’ll try my best.”

I can’t help smiling. “What will you do after you learn to control dragons?”

He shrugs. “Travel the world, go to places only dragons can go, cure fire burns, help stop the destruction in the Land of Moonlight—the list of possibilities is pretty long.”

I’m not surprised. Rhyland has always talked about wanting to leave Mystic Willow Bay, something most of our family has never done.

“Will you take me with you?”

“Hmm … that all really depends,” he teases. When I narrow my eyes, he laughs. “Of course I will. I could never leave my best friend behind.”

“Good.” A smile begins to take over my face, but instantly falters. “You know, I’m still not convinced I have moonlight blood. Not with how sucky my powers are.”

He frowns. “Your powers aren’t sucky.”

“You have to say that because you’re my best friend.”

“I don’t have to say anything just because you’re my best friend.” He tugs me to a stop and forces me to face him. “You may not be the fastest and most coordinated vampire there is, but you are kind and sweet, and brave and clever.”

I sigh. “Thanks for saying that, but that’s not going to get me very far in this undead life.”

“Yes, it will.” He cups my face between his hands and looks me in the eye. “You’re going to do great things in this life, whether you think so or not. You want to know how I know?”

I nod.

“Because you’re amazing and perfect and strong.” His gaze burns so fiercely that, for a moment, I swear he’s about to kiss me.

For a moment, I wish he would.

Then a grin creeps across his face. “And because I know everything.”

I dramatically roll my eyes. “You’re so cocky sometimes.”

“And that’s why you love me.”

“And overdramatic,” I add, making his grin broaden. “Seriously, for a second there, you got so dramatic I thought you were going to kiss me.”

He sucks his bottom lip between his teeth. “Did you want me to kiss you?”

I miss a beat. “No.”

His grin shines through. “Liar.”

“Oh, whatever.” I playfully shove him back. “Think what you want, but you and I kissing would be weird.”

He chuckles, stepping away. “Yeah, maybe.” He fleetingly mulls the idea over then loops his arm through mine. “Come on; let’s get home before someone notices we’re missing.”

“Raven? Can you hear me?” Someone waves a hand in front of my face. “Where’s your head at, sweetheart?”

I flinch, stepping back, and the heel of my boot lands on an icy spot. “Shit.” I reach out as I start to slip, and Rhyland loops his arms around me.

“You know, if you’d just drink my blood, you’d be quicker on your feet,” he jokes in a strained tone while eyeballing my neck hungrily.

I arch my brows. “Is that the only thing that would happen?”

A smirk tugs at his lips. “You might have a bloodgasm.”

Rolling my eyes, I steady to my feet then slip out of his arms. “Doubtful.”

He chuckles as we start up the path again. “Maybe one night we’ll find out.”

“Maybe.” The word just sort of slips off my tongue. I crinkle my nose. I might have drunk from him in the past, but the Rhyland from this life is different.

Then again, I may have to get over this weird compulsion not to drink his blood so I can see if that’s the key to eliminating the curse.

“So, where did your mind go when you spaced out back there?” Rhyland asks, observing me closely.

“I was remembering something,” I divulge distractedly, my thoughts stuck on if I should just attack him now and sink my teeth into his neck. Do I have the lady balls to do it? “About the night you told me you wanted to learn how to train dragons so you could travel the worlds and fight wars. Since we seemed pretty happy, I’m guessing that was from our first life.”

His grip on my hand constricts, but he doesn’t utter a word.

“I’m also guessing you learned how to control them,” I continue. “But not with my help since, by the time I turned eighteen, I was cursed.”

Again, he gives no response, causing frustration to burst through me. “Are there any questions you can answer?”

Remorse fills his eyes. “Only ones not related to the curse.”

“Okay.” I sigh out a cloud of fog. “How about you explain why no one seems to be around here? I thought the Land of Moonlight was supposed to be under war or something?”

“It is, but the battles are happening in the mountains and in some cities.” He points at the ominous welcome sign. “We’re on the outskirts.”

“So, what’s with all the tents, then?”

“Our guards are all in there.”

“Oh.” That makes sense, I guess. “Did everyone make it out of the castle okay?” Fear rushes through me. “Are Dex and Aeribella okay?”

“They’re fine,” he assures me. “Dex got Aeribella and then headed home for a little bit until we can figure out what is going on.”

I nod, relieved. “Does Dex know about the curse? I’m guessing he does, but what about the guards?” I instantly wave myself off. “Never mind. I guess you probably can’t tell me.”

He offers me a sad smile as he steers us to a stop. “This is us.”

“Huh?” I peer over my shoulder and find the fanciest tent I’ve ever seen behind me.

The tent is wide with a large, domed roof and a fabric spun of material that resembles the night sky back in Mystic Willow Bay. Even shimmery stars and moon patterns have been embroidered around the edges.

“It’s really pretty,” I admit, tracing my fingertip along the soft velvet.

“Wait until you see the inside.” Smiling, he lifts the flap and gestures for me to go in.

Lowering my head, I duck inside where warmth immediately envelops me. Not that I mind being cold.

I turn in a circle as I peer around, taking in the colossal fireplace, the ebony dressers, table and chairs, and the elaborate four-poster bed decorated with curtains and mounds of velvet pillows. Dangling from above are a sea of violet jewels that reflect in the fire glow and cast twinkling reflections all over the walls and roof.

“Your tent’s awesome,” I tell Rhyland as he steps inside and lets the flap fall shut.

He unfastens a leather band from his wrist. “Our tent.”

Anxiousness bubbles inside me. “I thought the tent I woke up in was mine.”

He drops the leather band onto the table without looking at me. “We just put you in there until Ava had this one set up.”

“Why is Ava setting up your tent?”

“Our tent,” he corrects, turning toward me and leaning against the table with his arms folded. “We need witches’ magic to make all this possible, or else it’d probably just be a tent and an air mattress.”

“Don’t you have Wiccan powers?”

“I’m nowhere near powerful enough to do all this.”

“Oh.” My lips plummet into a frown. “Why are we even sharing a tent at all? We didn’t share chambers at the castle.”

“We would eventually, after you got used to our living situation.” Sadness masks his expression. “Of course, that never …” His lips are open, but no sound leaves his mouth.

“Happens, because of the curse,” I finish for him, since he seems to be cursed into silence. “I still don’t get why we have to share living space here,” I say, wandering around the tent.

“Because the creatures of the Land of Moonlight think we’re king and queen, and are about to be married.” He watches as I round the room and stop in front of the fireplace.

With my back to him, I stare into the flames. The charred wood at the bottom and the smoldering embers look so much like my neck it’s disgusting.

“So, they don’t know about the curse?” I don’t wait for him to answer, since he probably won’t. “There’s so much stuff I still don’t understand. Like why some creatures seem aware of the curse and some don’t. And why, if the fey queen is the one who cursed us, did we have to convince her we were Proclaimed during that dinner. Unless it was some sort of tactic to throw her off her game—to make her think we were ahead or something. Or else I’m completely wrong about her being the one who cursed us.”

The flames hissing against the wood is my only response.

Sighing, I start to turn around when Rhyland unexpectedly moves up behind me, his chest pressing against my back.

“I think you’re extremely smart this time around,” he whispers, his lips brushing my earlobe. “I mean, you’re always smart, but this time, you’re beyond clever.”

I resist the compulsion to shiver against the feel of his breath against my skin. “I’m not so sure I agree with you. I made a lot of mistakes. I let you and Kingsley and Nadine walk all over me for way too long. Let you lock me in a locker, and let loose a demon in school. Let you lock me in the attic. I seriously need to grow some backbone one of these lives.”

“You did well this time,” he assures me. “I promise.”

He would know, wouldn’t he? He remembers every single life. I wonder if he’s ever stood this close to me before. Before the first life, anyway. I wonder if we’ve ever liked each other, like we did on that balcony before everything went to shit.

“You always smell the same.” He nuzzles his face into my neck and groans. “Fuck, usually I’m never allowed to do this.”

My knees quiver as he presses a kiss to the arch of my neck.

“Do what?”

“I don’t …” He groans, slipping a hand up to the base of my neck. “We should get you fed. These are getting really bad.” He skims his thumb across the singed flesh.

“Okay.” I hesitate. “Maybe I should …”

“Should what?” he whispers against the side of my neck.

“Should …” Oh, for the love of all blushing vampires, just spit it out, Raven! If it can break the curse, you need to do it. “Drink … from … your … vein.”

He crashes his chest against my back as he breathes raggedly. “I don’t think you should yet. Not until you really want to.”

He’s always saying that.

I chew on my bottom lip, nervousness bubbling in my stomach like a pot of witch’s brew. “Maybe I want to,” I lie.

Okay, that’s a lie. Ever since I remembered drinking his blood, my fangs have desired to sink into his flesh and suck the warm blood from his vein. That’s not the only reason I’m doing this, though. I have a feeling it might break the curse. Why, I haven’t a clue, but I’ll try just about anything to get out of this awful vampire of a life cycle loop.

“No, you don’t. I can tell.” He snakes his arm around my waist, holding me securely to him, as if he’s afraid I’m going to attack him.

Which I might, since while I was eavesdropping on their conversation, he mentioned how the curse forced him to try to stop me from drinking from his vein

“All right, just give me your wrist, then.” I keep my voice even as my fangs slowly descend from my gums.

Keeping one arm around my waist, he lifts his other arm up toward his mouth. I hear the slicing of fangs across flesh, and then the intoxicating scent of his blood whisks through the air. My fangs pulsate, more than ready. My mind is freaking the hell out, though. I feel so dirty, sneaking a taste of him like this. Not to mention all I can think about is the constant torture he made me endure over the years. Whether that was because of the curse or not, the feelings connected to those horrible memories reside in my chest, aching, piercing, branding me with old emotional wounds.

“Whenever you’re ready.” He rests his forehead against the back of my head as he positions his arm in front of me.

Blood pools from two puncture holes in his wrists and drizzles down his forearm. My mouth salivates, my fangs aching with need.

Holy shit, am I going to do this?

Before I can psych myself out, I dip my head and pierce my fangs into his wrist.

A whimper fumbles from his lips as his arm tightens around my waist. He pulls me closer to him and panic sets in as his pulse pounds against the tip of my fangs.

Oh, my vampires, I’m drinking from the vein.

Oh, my vampires, I’m drinking from Rhyland’s vein.

I almost back out and pull my fangs out, but then the wonderfully potent taste of his blood touches my tongue, and suddenly, I can think of nothing else but feeding.

Unconsciously, my hands come up and cup his arm, yanking his wrist closer to my mouth. Then I suck and bite, sipping his blood from the wounds.

As the warm liquid spills down my throat, a drop of his power sparks inside me. Pressure shatters in my chest and lightens the worry and disgust I felt over drinking from him.

I groan as I suck greedy mouthfuls of blood, devouring the taste of him.

“Raven,” he moans against the back of my head, delving his fingers into my hips.

Sucking in a breath through my nose, I lift my head and spin around to face him. Our gazes collide and my fangs throb at the sight of his dilated pupils and the way he breathes raggedly.

“Vampires, you’re so gorgeous,” he murmurs, his glazed over gaze fixed on my mouth.

I trace my tongue along my lips, licking the blood off.

He groans, his fangs sinking into his bottom lip as desire blazes in his eyes. Then he raises his bleeding wrist toward my mouth and waits for me to sink my fangs in again. But I desire something else. Something more.

As my vampire hunger takes over, I lunge forward, loop my arms around the back of his neck and spear my fangs into the side of his neck. He gasps, tangling his fingers through my hair as I gulp down his blood, feeling his power pump through my body.

With a gentle tug on my strands, he guides my head away from his neck, momentarily meeting my gaze, hunger pouring from his eyes. Then he slams his mouth against mine in a fierce, blood tasting kiss.

My ability to think rationally flies away as our tongues tangle. He kisses me deeply, nipping at my bottom lip as he scoops me into his arm. He urges my legs around his waist then backs us across the room to the bed and falls on the mattress with me straddling his waist.

I nip at his bottom lip, just like I did in the memory, and a whimpering groan flees his lip.

“I can’t believe this is happening,” he murmurs breathlessly as he splays his fingers around my waist.

I’m too far gone in a hunger frenzy to reply. Too far gone from reality to even recall what the point of drinking from him was to begin with.

So far gone that, when he grinds his hips against mine, I moan instead of panicking.

He repeats the movement again, guiding my lips back to his for a passionate kiss. When he thrusts his hips against mine, I mimic his movement and rub against him. We both groan in unison and repeat the movement again. Then I jerk away, only to rip his shirt apart.

A throaty moan escapes his lips as I lower my lips to his chest and drag my teeth across his chest. He threads his fingers through my hair again and pulls me closer as his hips move against mine, his hardness pressing against me.

“I don’t even know what I’m doing …” I whisper dazedly as I bite and nip along his chest, making a path toward his neck.

“That’s okay. Just keep doing it,” he practically begs. “In fact, bite harder.”

More than ready to give him what he craves, my lips part—

A giggle tickles my ear. “You think this is going to break the curse? Newsflash. Even if you break it, you’re as good as dead.”

My eyelids snap open, and I jerk my head up. “Did you hear that?”

Rhyland blinks dazedly at me, blood and bite wounds marking his chest and neck. “Hear what?”

Another giggle. “You’re done. The curse will soon be over now, and this time it won’t reset.”

Whack.

An invisible force smacks me upside the head so forcefully I swear my brain vibrates against my skull.

“Raven.” Rhyland reaches for me as I tumble sideways.

Then darkness consumes my mind.