Welts like that come from attacking the sensory nerves in full force. Illusions don’t leave marks unless they’re set to max power.

I swallow the bile in my throat, still feigning a calmness I don’t feel.

“He kept my heartbeat from dropping by stabbing me with phantom knives or something,” she says when she sees my gaze lingering on the many, many welts. “It hurt, but it wasn’t worse than a lightning feeding, Damien. Seriously, I promise I’m okay.”

I nod slowly, though I feel my vision trying to dim, as I take one step back, and then another.

“Where are you going?” she asks me, clinging to my hand when I try to release her.

“To ensure Dorian is never your problem again,” I tell her, turning to go.

She clutches my hand tighter instead of releasing me, and I stare ahead at the hallway, spotting various pairs of curious eyes peering around corners.

They all disappear when I catch their spying, but I remain rigid, as Violet steps in front of me. Staring over her head, I do all I can to hold my composure.

“You can’t go after Dorian. He feeds regularly, and you don’t feed at all.”

My eyes cut down to hers, and then they narrow.

“He put his hands on you. I’m Head of my family. You’re a daft girl, Violet Carmine, if you think I’m not going to go after him. When I’m done with him—”

“He did this to intentionally provoke you,” she cuts in, almost sounding angry. “Don’t play right into his hands because you’re pissed off.”

A humorless laugh bubbles out of me, and my head drops back. “Pissed off?” I ask, my laughter quickly tapering off, as my mind stirs with wild images of all the terribly painful things I wish I could do to him right now. “I’m afraid I’m well beyond that point, Violet. Stop forgetting who I am. I’m an alpha, and you’re the woman I intend to claim—”

She kisses me so suddenly that it catches me off guard, and she climbs up me, her legs effectively clamping around my waist. I break the kiss, my hand cupping her cheek, as I glare at her.

Her gaze stays fixed to mine, and her legs tighten around my waist.

“I’m still mad at you, but if you’re not going to let me talk you out of this, then you’re damn well going to feed until you’re strong enough to take him,” she says on a hushed breath, eyes determined and expression deadly serious.

“I’m not going to use your body for a feeding just after my brother—”

The damn woman won’t let me finish a sentence before her lips are back on mine, fingers twisting in my hair. She almost succeeds in making me forget how very on edge I am right now.

My eyes slowly open, as her lips break away from mine, her breathing heavy as those scared, worried eyes stay fixed to gaze.

“I’m mad at you right now, but I’ll get over it. However, if you go into this fight without feeding, just because you want to underestimate what I can and can’t handle, and end up losing everything you have because of me, I’ll never forgive you for putting that on my conscience. If you really plan on claiming me one day, you better feed on me before you do anything stupid.”

She kisses me again, and this time, I hesitate for only a moment before I kiss her back, unable to help myself.

She moans into my mouth, body grinding against mine, as the pheromones start driving their way into her veins, warming her from the inside.

“Take selfishly,” she whispers across my lips. “This is for your pleasure. Not mine. Take as much as you need.” She pauses her words, greedily drinking me in, as I carry her away from the office and to the bed in her room, kicking the door shut behind me on my way.

“Take more than you need,” she amends, her touch growing more insistent, as she rips my shirt open.

I drop her to the bed, and she tears my shirt open the rest of the way, shoving it over my shoulders.

“Take as much as you can stand,” she almost begs, as fresh tears rim her eyes.

I’ve begged for death more nights than I can remember. I even dropped to my knees and prayed for it.

She’s the first thing to give me a purpose in too long to remember, and I keep almost losing her.

“When I finish destroying Dorian, you’re going to be my Flame,” I tell her very seriously.

She smiles up at me, only a single tear escaping her lids. “Only if you stop pissing me off so much.”

I nip her lips with more playfulness, trying to comfort her, as I hold my own emotions at bay.

I’ll feed, and when I’m done, I’ll ensure no Morpheous—by name or by blood—ever touches her again.

Tearing her pants down her legs, I return my lips to hers, kissing her the way I’ve wanted to since the day I met her. Kissing her the way I should have those five months I stood still. Kissing her like she’s the last breath I’m ever going to have.

She moans into my mouth when I shove her legs open and slide inside her with ease, and I don’t hold back…much.

I force every bit of pleasure into her that I can, and she immediately clenches around me, already crying out my name.

My lips descend on hers so I can swallow the sounds, because she said I could be selfish. Damn this girl for making me care so fucking much about anything, even if she is my new favorite addiction that I never want to let go.

I forgot what it was like to have to feel. I have a love/hate relationship with it.

A rush of power swells inside me, fire burning in my veins, as I move inside her with abandon.

Take selfishly.

Take all you need.

This is for your pleasure. Not mine.

Take more than you need.

Take as much as you can stand.

She’s more intoxicating than I remember when that power flows inside me with a heady rush, almost leaving me high on the outrageous dose. My lips crush hers in a bruising kiss. I hold back my sounds, feeling each pulse of pleasure, as my spine stiffens and my body releases inside hers.

Her nails dig into my back as she clenches around me again, my orgasm setting off her next one.

But I’m already moving again, because I can certainly stand more. Much more.

“As much as I can stand?” I ask, double-checking the ambitious woman’s request.

Her legs tighten against me, and she kisses her way up my neck, as she holds me to her with as much desperation as I hold her to me.

“As much as you can stand,” she echoes. “And then some.”

 

 

Chapter 5

 

ARION

 

Where did that bloody cock run off to in such a hurry?

Obviously, the first place I go is Sanctuary. The omegas scatter like flies as I stalk through the doors, pausing to inspect the fact one is hanging precariously to the side.

Bobo rounds the corner with a toolbox, smiling over at me before, he bows at the waist.

“What happened here?” I ask when he straightens from the weird bow.

He shrugs, and I remember he’s fucking mute.

Right.

Guess I’ll get answers elsewhere.

Leiza freezes when she rounds the corner and spots me.

“What happened to the front door?” I ask her.

She turns and darts inside a wall. Bloody hell. I’m not wearing an angry expression, am I?

I check the mirror, finding no major scare factor. I’m fucking devilishly good looking and my smile is positively charming.