13. Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

Raevyn

I managed to find my way back to the kitchen, past the creepy floating flower and ominous West Wing – which I totally scooted past so that I didn't get distracted by the weird tugging sensation I felt behind my solar plexus when I eyeballed the black door – and up the stairs to where the main reception rooms were. Then it was a case of following my nose until I found Rook and Korbin having an animated discussion while cooking breakfast.

I'd left Corvus perched on his branch, he seemed content to just be there, and I didn't want to disturb him.

A nervous cough left my lips, feeling awkward as I watched the pair of them.

"Good morning, Raevyn," Korbin said as he navigated around the kitchen island. "I trust you slept well?"

A flush crept up my face as a memory of my dream flashed in my mind. "Yes. Just fine."

Korbin frowned slightly, clearly picking up on the uneasiness in my tone.

"I see you found your wardrobe?" Rook said cheerfully as he peered around Korbin. "Great, isn't it?"

I nodded. I had walked into the closet this morning to find it filled to the brim with my favourite things from the topside as well as all the sorts of things I'd fantasised about owning. I'd thrown on some leggings, a sports bra and a hoodie knowing that today was going to be an active one. I'd left my hair down after I'd washed it, still amazed that it was fucking purple.

"I'm guessing it's magic?" I said, taking a seat at the island.

"Yep, and intuitive. If you have something you need it'll figure that out and poof, it'll appear." Rook plated up some scrambled eggs and placed it in front of me.

"Are you not joining me?"

Rook shook his head. "We don't need to eat."

"Technically you don't either, but, just like your breathing, it'll take your mind some time to figure that out." Korbin wrapped his arms around Rook and kissed his temple. "Why don't you set the training room up? I'll bring Raevyn when she's finished."

"Sure thing, love." He kissed Korbin, an open-mouthed dirty kiss that I was pretty sure was for my benefit rather than Korbin's. Then he left the room with a wink and a smile in my direction as I tried not to drool on the floor.

"Can you not eat anything at all?" I was seriously going to miss a lot of things if I suddenly stopped needing food.

Korbin smirked and came to sit next to me. "We can enjoy food, but we don't need it for sustenance. It's purely indulgent."

"So what do you feed on?"

"Death."

I choked on a piece of egg. "Excuse me?"

"When a person dies, the release of their souls from their body creates a burst of death magic. We're tuned to that moment in every being on the planet, and that powers us. We also have other ways of getting energy."

"Like what?"

He fixed me with a look that had my toes curling.

"Sex. Blood." He leant closer, making our conversation feel a hell of a lot more intimate. "Memories. Fear."

I swallowed, my body coming alive with every husky word he uttered. "And what do you feed on besides death?"

"Memories. The darker the better."

"Oh." I swallowed, my mouth suddenly dry. "And the others?"

"Casimir feeds on fear, Nox sex, and Rook uses blood."

"Like Hawk?" I asked, recalling the way he'd licked my blood off his thumb.

"Not exactly," Korbin replied with a frown. "Hawk requires it to live, like a vampire from a fantasy novel. But Rook…"

His words trailed off and his frown deepened, seemingly struggling to find the right words.

I took his hand in mine. "It's okay, you don't need to tell me."

A small smile creeped into the corner of his mouth. "Thank you. It's not that, I just don't want you to think less of him."

"Not possible," I replied with a squeeze of his fingers. I couldn't explain it, this connection that I now had with them was woven into the very fabric of my soul. "Whatever this connection between us is, I know I can trust you all."

I just had to hope they felt the same way about me.

Korbin seemed to disappear into thought for a moment before he gave me a resolute nod. "Rook has an unhealthy relationship with his need for blood. He never really attuned to it so when he uses it as a source of nourishment, he tends to go wild. He hasn't fed on anyone in that way in over a century."

"Really?"

Korbin nodded solemnly. "The last time he did, it was a disaster. He disappeared for weeks, lost to the bloodlust and, when I finally found him, he was enslaved to madness."

He looked away, but I didn't miss the sadness that crossed his face. It must have been horrible, to see someone you loved struggle in such a painful way.

I didn't even think about it. I launched myself towards Korbin, catching him by surprise and making him jump. I wrapped him in the biggest hug I could muster and just hoped it was enough to drag him from the grip his sad memories had over him.

He relaxed on a deep exhale as his arms circled my waist. "Thank you, Raevyn."

He pulled away after a few moments and I saw that silent tears had left tracks over his cheekbones. I reached out and brushed them away with my thumbs. He flinched a little, I really should get better at telling him that I'm going to do something.

"Sorry," I said softly.

He captured my wrist. "Don't be sorry. It'll just take time for me to get used to someone else wanting to touch me. If Rook is in the room, it's instinctual. I just need to learn that with you." He lowered his gaze to mine, and I almost felt he was looking deep into the very heart of me. "Be patient with me."

Korbin pressed a kiss into the centre of my palm, his lips hot against my skin and setting goose bumps running up my arm. Need burst to life inside me, something intense and inescapable. A gasp flew out of my mouth as it crescendoed and a little bit of panic fluttered behind my solar plexus. What was this?

I burned. I needed something .

But what?

Raevyn…

I whimpered as the memories of my dream rushed to the front of my mind. My body flushed and my heart raced.

"Raevyn, what is it?" Korbin asked, his arms gripping my elbows to keep my steady.

"I don't know." Gods, was I dying again?

A sharp pain sliced through my gut. I doubled over, digging my nails into Korbin as the pain heightened.

"Dammit," Korbin said under his breath. "You're hungry."

"What?" My knees gave out and I fell to the floor, dragging Korbin down with me.

"You need to feed."

"I just ate."

Hands gripped my face as another wave of pain crippled me.

"Not food, Raevyn. You don't need that. You need something else."

"But what?"

"Whatever your body is instinctively screaming for right now. Do it. Use me."

But what did I need? I felt desperate, frustrated, needy.

"Kiss him." The voice from my dreams was loud in the back of my mind.

"What?"

"You need to kiss him ," the dark voice snapped.

"Why?"

"Just do it!" he growled and, as if he had control over my very actions, I did just that.

I lunged at Korbin, ignoring the look of confusion on his face, and pressed my lips firmly against his. A startled gasp left him, and I swallowed it like it was the purest nectar. I thrust my tongue deep into the warmth of his mouth and felt instant sweet relief.

I pressed in closer, a warmth spreading through me and soothing the pain away. I climbed onto his lap and wrapped my legs around his waist, a zing of desire setting my core alight as my pussy brushed against his hard length.

"Use me," he gasped against my mouth. "Feed from me."

I had no idea what I was doing, but it seemed to be working because the pain of earlier seemed to be gone and there was an energy swirling in my gut that was growing the longer that I kissed him.

I rocked against his erection and a rumble vibrated through his chest. My hips rolled and his hands clutched me tighter, one leaving bruises against my hip bone, the other wrapping tightly in the hair at the back of my head.

"More," I said in a soft, needy moan.

"Come for me, Raevyn." He worked his teeth along my jaw, nipping and biting and sending jolts of desire rippling over my skin. "Let me hear you scream."

Need consumed me but I could also tell I was consuming something from Korbin. Power surged under my skin, electrifying my veins. It was thrilling and intense and coupled with the feel of Korbin's tongue brushing against my neck, his hard cock at my centre, everything converged until I exploded.

Everything detonated within me at once. Every nerve ending alight with bliss as power like I'd never felt before hummed in my very soul. I felt dizzy with it. Breathless.

Wow. I licked my lips, the delicate skin tingling with the taste of Korbin.

"Well, fuck me sideways. That shit was hot."

I turned to see Nox standing in the doorway, a rather impressive bulge constrained in his tight leather pants.

"I could feel that sexual energy miles away." He stepped closer, breathing the air deeply as if trying to absorb the remnants of energy I'd pulled from Korbin. "What the hell are you guys up to?"

"Um… well, I got hungry?" I squeaked.

Korbin let out a deep throaty chuckle. "That's one way to put it."

I laughed and pressed a soft kiss against Korbin's lips. "Thank you."

"What for?" he asked, an adorable little frown between his eyes.

"For your help. For knowing what to do. For—"

"Raevyn," he said softly, cupping my face. "You don't need to thank me for that. We've all got a lot to figure out and we are all going to have to help each other."

"Okay," I replied with a nod.

"Now, I need to get up before my trousers become… uncomfortable."

I looked down at Korbin's lap and saw the wet patch growing. A flush of heat swept across my cheeks, and I rolled my lips to try and hold back my grin.

"I can feel your smile," Korbin said as his thumbs traced the skin next to my mouth. "It's okay. That was totally worth cumming in my pants for."

"Fuck," Nox groaned. "I wish I hadn't slept in now."

Korbin snorted as he stood up. "You know that wouldn't have mattered."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because Nox feeds on sex. It would be like an exchange of energy between the two of you. You wouldn't actually absorb any."

"Would be great sex, though," Nox whispered in my ear as he walked past with a wink.

"So, if I could feed on memories, I wouldn't be able to feed on them with you?"

Korbin nodded. "That's right. I'll leave you with Nox. I'm sure he can manage to get you to the training room without any incident."

"I dunno," Nox drawled, sliding behind me and wrapping an arm around my waist. "We might get lost."

"I doubt that," Korbin said as he left.

My body still hummed with the sexual energy that I'd consumed from Korbin, and I had a sudden desire to burn off the energy. I wanted to do something. Like run or jump or dance. A couple of rounds in the training room might help with all the power buzzing under my skin.

"Nox." I turned in his arms and tried really hard to ignore how hard he was.

"Yes, pretty girl?" His voice was low and dark. A rasp that caressed my core.

"Wanna show me your moves?"

A dark brow arched, and a pout graced his mouth. "You're not talking about sex, are you?"

I shook my head. "Nope. I'm supposed to be with Rook in the training room."

"Fine," he said with a sigh. "Spoil all the fun, but I'll get you back for this, pretty girl. Just you wait." He leant closer, his lips brushing the edge of my ear as he spoke. "Your pussy will be soaked, your skin flushed, and you'll be on your knees begging me to let you come."

He pulled back and looked deep in my eyes, a salacious grin on his lips. He pulled at my bottom lip with his thumb.

"But I won't let you. I don't like to be denied, pretty girl, and you've done it twice now. I'm going to enjoy punishing you for that."

There was a whisper of his magic that brushed against my skin. It was dark and sultry, a promise of things to come and, for a moment, I was held entirely captive in his blue gaze.

"Come on, this way," he said, suddenly snapping me out of it. He grabbed my hand and dragged me behind him. "I am going to put that fine ass of yours through some moves."