“Sebastian, you didn’t do this to me.”
“I might as well have,” I said gruffly. “I knew better than to let my mother near you. As soon as I suspected that the People of the Night were involved, I should have found a way to keep you safe.”
“Who are these People of the—”
Luna gasped, curling up in a ball as rough coughs ripped through her trembling body. Every rattle of her chest was like a stake in my heart.
She was in pain because of me. She was here because of me. My wife had almost diedtwicebecause of me.
Enough was enough. I wouldn’t let her remain in pain. Not if I could help it.
Staring into those brown eyes as if they held all the answers to my problems, I asked, “Do you trust me?”
A long moment passed before Luna nodded slowly.
“The gods only know how this happened, but yes.” She coughed, and my heart twisted. “I trust you, Sebastian.”
The smallest of smiles danced on my lips. Hearing those words meant the world to me.
My wife had become the most important person in my life. Theonlyimportant person. Her trust meant far more to me than I could even acknowledge right now.
Our Binding and Tethering had been forced upon us. But maybe we could have something more. Something we chose. Something between just the two of us.
If she didn’t die first. Keeping her alive was my first priority.
Reaching out, I trailed my finger down Luna’s cheek. “I’m going to give you a drink, Luna. It won’t be much, but it will help you heal.”
Her eyes widened, and she gulped. “You want me to drink… your blood?”
“Just a bit,” I confirmed.
“Will I…” Her voice trailed off, but I heard the unasked question hanging in the air between us.Will I become like you?
I shook my head. “No, darling. It would take a lot more of my blood to Make you.” I forced a smile onto my face, trying to put her at ease. “Besides, we’re already Bound. You will live as long as I do whether you are Made or not.”
Luna’s mouth moved in that silent way of hers and she studied me. I stared right back at her. I could get lost in those eyes and the secrets they held.
“All right,” she whispered. “I’ll do it.”
Relief flooded through me.
Luna pushed herself up against the headboard, and I scooted toward her as I rolled up the left sleeve of my tunic to my forearm. Raising my wrist to my mouth, I bit without hesitation. My fangs burst through my skin with a moment of pain that quickly gave way to the coppery tang of blood. I could feel her eyes on me, and a burst of curiosity came through the bond.
Fascinating.
Luna’s lips parted as I slipped my wrist from my mouth. Two identical beads of blood swelled above the bite marks, hovering for a single moment before trailing down the pale skin of my arm.
A wave of trepidation came through the Binding Mark, but still, Luna wrapped her hands around my arm and raised my wrist to her mouth.
Time slowed as her lips landed on my skin. Her tongue swept over my wrist, timid at first, but soon she sucked with vigor. Every pull of her mouth was echoed through my body as fire swept through me.
With every passing moment, color returned to her skin. The bruises faded on her neck as she continued to drink from me. Luna moaned, her eyes flicking up to mine as her mouth moved over my wrist, and my entire body weakened at the sound.
There wasn’t a single point in my entire existence that came close to this moment right here. I felt more alive than I had since the night I was Made. I didn’t want it to end.
My fangs ached, and I clenched my jaw as powerful need washed through me. I groaned, sagging against the headboard as Luna drank her fill.
If I wanted her badly before this, it was nothing compared to the longing now pulsing through my body. The writhing of my shadows had calmed, giving way to something else entirely. I stared at Luna, this female who was Bound and Tethered to me, and I wanted more.