Bloodsong

Chapter 61

I took Quinn to the beach. There was a light wind, the waves crashing on the shore sending salt spray in our direction. Her presence was captivating, and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.

The changes in her were apparent, from human to vampire. Her movements were those of the predator she was now. In the state she was in, she would not pass for human. I’d have to teach her to hide her vampirism, to move the way a human would. From her new vampire visage, blood on her chin, and the hunger in her eyes, she would be enough to send any human running. But to me, she was perfect.

I’d fallen for a human, and she’d finally chosen to be a part of my world, accepting the feral. My chest ached with the sudden emotion that flooded through me. Love. More than what I’d had with Marisa. A man and a siren, separated by centuries and brought together by fate.

“You fed from Mia before I could teach you the basics,” I told her, delighting in being here to teach her. “But you can make them enjoy it, instead of screaming in pain.”

“How?” she asked.

I tilted her chin up, pushing her lip back, pressing my thumb against a fang. “There is venom in your bite. All you need is to release it. Intend for them to feel pleasure at your bite.” I grinned. “I do like them screaming, but it calls too much attention these days.”

The human we hunted was one I’d sent down the beach, telling him to run, moments before I’d awoken Quinn from her slumber. He’d gone further than I’d anticipated because of our visitors. My senses were more tuned than Quinn’s, and I could hear his heartbeat, and the slight hint of absolute terror wafted through the air. But with Quinn beside me, I was able to resist giving chase.

I could tell when she’d picked it up, as her mind shifted, becoming more alert.

‘That’s right. That’s the one we’re hunting.’ I told her. ‘ We can take our time, or we can make it quick. I do like to take my time, to savour the hunt, but you might have a different preference.’

I could feel her hunger, as she gazed up at me. ‘ Savouring the hunt sounds like more fun .’

‘ A woman after my own heart. ’ I held my hand over my chest, before resting it on hers. I couldn’t look away from her. The yearning I held for Quinn had surged when she awoke, in a way I had never experienced before. Her fangs were a beautiful sight that I couldn’t resist. I drew her into a kiss, sharing the affection I felt through our bond. To have her with me, a vampire, filled me with a deep satisfaction. A wave of warmth hit me as her own feelings flooded through us both. She wasn’t quite herself, but her feelings were still there.

“Are you ready?” I asked out loud.

I monitored Quinn, pleased that she was moving in tune with me. We stalked the human for an hour, deliberately drawing it out. She barely left a print in the sand, instincts for the hunt as natural as breathing. I’d wanted this from the moment I laid eyes on her.

Finally, the human became aware that he was being hunted. He caught glimpses of us, only to find no one there when he looked again.

‘ Time to eat, ’ I said, encouraging her to feed first.

The human turned to find himself face to face with Quinn. In reaction, he stepped back to find me behind him.

“Quinn?” the human’s voice shook and his fear enticed me. Delicious.

She tilted her head. “You know me?” Her eyes shifted to me. ‘ Who is he? ’ she asked silently.

I struggled to think of his name. She’d told me once, but I hadn’t cared enough to remember it. “He’s Dan.” I’d left her with Carlos while she slumbered, only long enough to snatch Dan from his own balcony. His desire for her had annoyed me, and I saw no better way to be rid of him.

‘ Remember, you don’t want him to scream. Release venom into your bite, ’ I told her, and she struck.

Unable to hold back, I moved in, biting the other side of his throat. His struggles stopped, and he gave in to our venom. All he was to her now was nothing more than a meal, and I took great pleasure in sharing him with her.

“Quinn,” he moaned, his hands on her.

A growl rose up from me, and I released his throat only to bite down again. This time harder, ripping into flesh, blood gushing into my mouth. Quinn responded by doing the same. My hand pressed to the back of her head, holding her to his throat. As she buried herself deeper into him, a happy rumble rose from her, like a purr.

He groaned again. “Quinn, you’re hurting me. Stop.”

‘ Don’t stop, ’ I told her, the red haze rising up. I didn’t try to hold it back.

I tore deeper, blood gushing as I ripped out a chunk of him. The only regret I felt as he fell was that I’d wasted blood in my possessiveness of her.

I kicked him. Call me Champ, stronzo.

I pulled Quinn to me, our kiss rough, the taste of blood on her lips only adding to the fire between us.

“You’re mine,” I whispered when we separated.

I took a look at Quinn. My heart, my love. Her mind would clear, and she would be more like herself after a couple more feedings, and my overwhelming need to protect her would likely clear, too.

I laughed at the blood over her face. I leaned in, waiting to see her reaction, and I lapped the blood from her face. It was a mixture of Mia’s and Dan’s. She closed her eyes, a rumbling of satisfaction deep within her chest. When I finished, she leaned forward, and her tongue on my face made me hard. I wanted to take her. But I wanted her in my bed. The sun would be rising soon, and while not lethal, it would be unpleasant for her. For both of us .

“Let’s go home; it’s been a long night.” I kissed her again. “I want to get you out of those clothes and spend the day making you scream.”