: THE LOC

ull orange embers. She sat up from the edge of the oversized bed, careful not to make the mattress creak. Luca's massive frame laid st

he bookshelf, her fingers trailed along the spines of worn leather boo

re...almos

n door slid open

t not empty. Something pulsed

o close the door and run aw

ancient and cracked with veins of glowing red lava frozen mid sc

, crimson and jagged like a wound. Symbols curled a

me bloody, and some glowing fr

tar, every step making her c

it breathed when she touched it and opened the covers. The first page was blank, but the second page ble

and the door behin

around.He stood shirtless in the doorway, shadowed by the red light, his eyes go

he asked softly,

d her spine. "I

ions you don't ev

like a predator ci

he altar. "Of course you did, you always end

she asked, voice st

dn't

wn. His hand came up, brushing a strand of hair b

he said quietly, "why men

ainst her lower stoma

hing worse alr

heart hammering against

didn't reach his

ked me the day my father died, bound to my bloodline. The cur

ld. "What do you mea

burned

You were born with a mark no one

is breath brushed her lip

er jaw itched in protest. The sound cra

on't o

flinch,

voice dark with hunger. "

n, not cruel, just enoug

ry secret... I'll take it from your lips,

aimed hers, hot, deep, and rough, not romantic and defi

how long she'd been starving.When he pulled away, her knees had nearly buck

said, voice low against her chee

im swung open on its own, and he vanish

swollen, chest heaving.And beneath her feet,