Your cup.
But not yet sweetened. A moment later, Malmon hissed. Ah, perfect. The pain only adds to the potency, and the flavor.
“Blood,” Bran murmured. “It would be his blood, freely given.”
Your room here is pleasing. I will stay here an hour with you.
An hour? But . . . You won’t live with me here while I find the star for you?
In this place? One for mortals, for humans? I make my own.
The disgust in her voice rang clear, then turned to amusement.
Do not sulk, my pet. I’ll give you paradise for an hour. Take off your clothes so I can see the progress of your transformation. And then you and I will sate our appetites.
“Transformation.” Riley nodded at Sasha. “You said he wouldn’t be what he was.”
“But I don’t know, yet, what he’s becoming.”
Ah, yes. You, too, are pleasing. Is there pain?
It comes sharply, then passes.
But you like the pain. It tells you you’re becoming.
I’m stronger.
And will be stronger still.
I’ll be invincible. Immortal. And together we’ll rule all the worlds.
Of course.
“She lies,” Annika whispered. “Can’t he hear the lie?”
There was a sound, like a whistle of wind, a low growl.
Thudding, harsh grunting, hungry sucking, animal pants, and twice an agonized cry cut off as if sliced with a blade. Slaps sharp and ri
nging, moans like the damned begging.
Under the table Annika clasped her hands together. “This is not what we do. This isn’t sex. It’s . . . like the sharks. This is only feeding, without beauty or kindness. Or . . . heart.”
“Sex isn’t always kind, but yeah, this?” Riley shifted in her seat. “Be grateful we don’t have video.”
More! There was a guttural sound to Malmon’s voice, something not completely human. An hour. You said an hour.
Did I? After a laugh, Nerezza said, Sleep now. Yes, yes, sleep and dream, before you bore me. Soon, my pet, you’ll bring me all I want, all that’s mine. Fail, and your blood will more than sweeten my wine.
Again, there was a kind of crack, then silence.
“That’s it,” Sawyer told them.
“More than enough.” After grabbing her water glass, Sasha drank deep. “She wanted to see him, so there has to be something physically transforming.”
“Don’t look at me,” Riley said when Sasha did. “I’m a hereditary, three-nights-a-month girl.”
“But you said there’s pain, when you change.”