't stopped si

e storm straight through the halls and flood the place clean. But nothing coul

glass had gone untouched. He wasn't even sure when he'd poured it. He kept seeing her-Irene, lit by the moonlight between t

d himself

and the world into a smear of black and silver. He drove fast, without thinking, just needing to

-

her hands, hair still damp from a shower. The surprise i

uldn't b

kno

Her hand was stil

ended this," s

id t

. He looked tired. She looked gua

-

of red she barely touched. He didn't eat. Just sat across from her like he was trying

s, the pause by the stairs-that she looked back a

-

made. She curled up near him on the mattress, legs pulled

I'd see you ag

dn't hav

you

d, he let her. And when she kissed him again, deeper this time, he kissed her back. Pulled

s breath hitched as her m

th

sion d

lust. Fro

he taste of her lips wasn't enough. He could smell her blood. Hear the rush of it behind

o

aving, eyes wide like he'd

d, still reaching fo

alf-buttoned. Her touch still

ed again, quieter this time

t said nothing. He c

" she

e night. Before he could want her in the wrong

f their branches, strip the forest bare. Liam didn't feel the cold. He didn't

felt

pulse. Her bre

he hu

, soaked in sweat and rain. He dragged his hands through his hair, baring

ll taste her

uc

Bark split, bone cra

ead screaming for blood. He'd seen it happen before - what happened when vampir

er had w

You'll love her - yes - right up to the

ark like something hunted

uman kind, soft and careless - his fee

-

, a fire, music playing from a phone half-buried in

bl

oat. His fingers curled at his sides.

them lo

ed. "You okay,

es flicke

m didn't

t. It was messy, animalistic - blood staining his mouth, his shirt, his hands. The gi

s, breath ragged, face streaked red. His ey

as somet

und - low, shaking, not quite human. He pressed his hand

l be

clean throug

asured.

looke

l, statuesque, not a drop of blood on him. Black

Just stared, breath

it's almost impressive how low you've fallen. At least

wiping his mouth wit

ile was razor-thin. "You ran from her. And now lo

dn't hu

low, amused thing tha

's the point, Liam. You wante

you," Liam growle

estured to the corpses. "Is this better? Three nameless stra

ne i

ke ice. "You let her live, and she'll either betray you or die becaus

mbling. His teeth cle

s not

long moment, then leaned in

from her one day, Liam. Whether it's with her consent

clenched again, nails digging

glance toward the bodies. "Clean y

ed - like mist swa

ing harder now, blood soaking the moss

se - the hunger, or the fac