17. TWELVE

TWELVE

Alister

“Yes.It’simportantto focus on the spot above your head. My mate had trouble when she first started too,” I explained to Skip, the male student who had been remorseful about how he treated Wren when under the influence of the charm from Fallon.

His brows furrowed, and his gaze shifted upward before widening. “Um, that’s okay, Professor. I’ll just see you in class.”

“What’re you—”

“Have fun!”

“Sorry to interrupt, Alister,” Wren’s sweet voice purred as her pheromones danced lightly over the back of my neck.

Skip shot me a nervous smile before speeding out of the classroom. I turned toward the entrance, and he didn’t glance back and made sure the door shut behind him.

A groan left my lips as I stared at Wren. Her pink lips curved into a sultry smile, but my gaze dropped to her arm where her veins remained black.

When I’d tasted her blood, it was normal. It had no hint of the sulfur I could scent on her.

“I’ve missed you.” She strutted over, sliding her hands over my chest until she locked her arms around my neck.

“I always miss you, sweet ruby,” I murmured, trying to ignore the pricking of her pheromones at my skin.

“I have a problem.”

My jaw tightened, and I scanned the room quickly. “What problem?”

“Damien is searching for the human facility again, and I’m bored. Can you help… distract me for a bit?” Her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip, and my gaze dropped to follow the movement as she stared up at me with excitement.

Damien had been searching non-stop for the facility, and I was beginning to think it wasn’t where the human had said it was. Not to mention, the shadow demon felt guilty for trying to cut the dark magic out of Wren’s arm—which was valid, because that pissed us all off, even though he was just trying to help.

“And how would you like me to do that?” My voice was strained, and my cock throbbed in my pants as I imagined bending her over my desk and giving her the distraction she wanted.

Being intimate with Wren had seemed to give her the clarity she needed from the dark magic, but I couldn’t help feeling worried. Dark magic was unknown, and almost all supernaturals were unsure of how it worked or the effects it had. I’d been searching every record about dark magic I could find, but I hadn’t found much.

“You’re a vampire.” She tilted her head, and her hair slid over her shoulder before dropping down her back, exposing the side of her neck. “Bite me.”

The sweet scent of her blood filled my nose, and my fangs dropped. I dipped my head and dragged my nose over her mark before using my vampire speed to plant her ass on my desk and pierce my fangs into her flesh.

A scream rippled from her throat before she moaned, tangling her hands in my hair and arching her back to press into me.

Fuck, she tasted so good.

“Alister,” she moaned. “Thank you. I feel lighter, not as heavy anymore.”

Her sweet metallic blood rolled over my tongue and down my throat as I pulled it into my mouth.

“Oh, Fates, Alister, I have to…”

A sharp pain erupted from my shoulder where her mark was embedded into me, and I recoiled, yanking my fangs from her neck.

She’d bitten over her mark, her canines extended in a way I didn’t know she could do unless she was marking her mates for the first time.

She looked positively feral, but in a beautiful kind of way. Her snout was half-shifted, her ears and tail sprouted as she dug her teeth into my flesh. Our magic swooped around us, and I hissed in pleasurable pain until she pulled her mouth off and blinked up at me with a dazed look over her face.

The warm tingle of my wound healing swept over the mark, and the bond tugged me closer to her, wrapping her in my arms and holding her against my chest tightly.

“I’m sorry. I’ve never had the urge to do that before. Did that hurt?” She breathed slowly, clutching me to her as if she thought I’d leave.

“It did.” I hummed, kissing her head. “But it felt good too. I bite you all the time, so I don’t mind if you bite me every now and then. Just as you’re mine, I’m yours. Don’t forget that.”

“I would never forget it,” she mumbled, pulling back slightly with tears welled up in her eyes. “I can’t control my words or actions lately… It’s kind of scary. Please don’t let me hurt any of you.”

“You wouldn’t hurt us, sweet ruby.”

She let out a dry chuckle before pulling away and hopping off the desk. “I’ve already hurt you, bitten you. I’ve struck Damien with my shadow, and I’ve run from Rowan, ignoring him and making sure to hurt his feelings. Why am I doing these things?” Her chin wobbled, and my heart squeezed in my chest.

I pulled her back in my arms with a sigh. “Oh, Wren. It’s not you. It’s the dark magic’s influence on you.”

“But it is still me, Alister. I love you. I love all of you, and yet, I’m constantly hurting you.” She sniffled against my chest.

“Oh, little bird. You know we love you too,” Damien said as he stepped out of the shadows. Blood splattered his clothes, and his eyes were simmering with anger. His horns and tail were visible, and I could scent humans all over him.

She turned in my arms to see him, and he closed the distance, sandwiching her in between us both and inhaling her scent deeply. “Damien, what happened?”

“Found some humans deep in the south where it’s pretty fucking freezing. No facility, but I bet it’s hidden somehow. I’m getting closer to finding your father, little bird. So don’t fall apart on us yet. Fight the dark magic until we purge it from you, do you understand me?”

“Yes,” she breathed. “I understand.”

I wasn’t sure how long my venom would give her the clarity she needed to speak normally with us, but I’d bite her every time I needed to. I just wanted my mate to be happy. She’d never had the chance in her short life to just live happily, and after all of this mess, I would make damn sure Wren lived the life she deserved.