As I carefully cleaned the deep gashes, Rathiel remained silent, his expression set in a stoic mask.Though he didn’t flinch or wince, tension sang through his muscles, a clear sign that the pain was more than he was letting on.He lay there, his eyes half-closed, focused on the cushion beneath him, as if it could distract him from the discomfort.
I let out a soft sigh, more to myself than anything.“You really don’t have to keep pretending you’re made of stone, you know.”
He didn’t respond, his silence more telling than any words could be.It was like trying to get through to a fortress—one that had long since decided to shut the world out.
“Fine, be stubborn,” I muttered, focusing on finishing the task.
After dressing his wounds as best as I could, I took a step back, assessing my handiwork.The bleeding had slowed, but the injuries were still bad—worse than I’d expected.
“You’re healing,” I said softly, “But it’s so slow.I don’t understand what’s happening.”
Unclenching his jaw, Rathiel said, “I don’t heal like a celestial.Unfortunately, it’ll take more time.”
I frowned.He didn’t heal like a celestial?Why not?And why hadn’t I ever noticed that before?“Okay, I’ll bite,” I said.“What’s so different about you?And why is this taking so long?”
Rather than answer, he winced and averted his gaze.
“Rathiel?”I repeated, dropping back down to his side.“Talk to me.Tell me how I can help.”
“I need—” He broke off, then shook his head.“Don’t worry about it.I’ll be fine.It’ll just take some more time.”
“Or you could just tell me what’s going on,” I argued.“Maybe I can help?I’d rather get you back on your feet.You’re bleeding all over my apartment, and I’d like my security deposit back when I leave this place.”
“I don’t know what that means,” he grumbled.
That made me chuckle.“Come on, you stubborn oaf.Talk to me.”
Sighing, Rathiel slitted open his eyes and stared at me.“I’m a vampire, Lily.I’m not a celestial anymore, despite my wings.Your father—” His jaw tightened, and an angry growl rumbled in his chest.“Your father tainted me when he turned me intothis.”
“So, you don’t heal like a celestial anymore,” I surmised.“And being that you’re a vampire…”
His eyes snapped open, and I saw something in them that unnerved me—hunger.
“You need blood,” I whispered, the realization startling me.Of course he needed blood.He was a vampire, and after a fight like that, especially with wounds that severe, he would need to feed to recover.“Oh,” I murmured, understanding washing over me.
“Just go to bed,” he uttered through clenched teeth.“I’ll be fine.”
I scoffed.Seeing as how I’d rarely obeyed his orders in the past, I didn’t see myself starting now.
“Okay, so you need blood,” I murmured, pushing to my feet.
I ran through the options in my head.Rathiel needed blood to heal if we wanted him to heal faster.That left me with three choices: I could lure some poor, unsuspecting mortal to my apartment for him to feed on, which wasn’t exactly ideal.I could let him drain Vol, a thought that was far more tempting than it should’ve been.Or…I could let him feed on me.
A shiver shot down my spine, and the little hairs on my arms and neck stood at attention.The thought of Rathiel biting me, feeding on me…it stirred something deep within.Something I couldn’t put a name to.For some reason, the idea didn’t disgust or terrify me.In fact, it did the opposite.Itintriguedme.The concept felt undeniably intimate—toointimate.I should have been horrified by the idea of being his midnight snack.Except, I wasn’t.And I think that terrified memorethan him actually biting me.
All I knew was I couldn’t let him suffer.His injuries were my fault.It seemed only fair that I gave him what he needed to heal.
Right?
“Alright,” I murmured, my decision made.“You can feed on me.”
Rathiel’s eyes widened in shock, a mix of alarm and something else—something darker—flashing across his face.“Absolutely not.”
I crossed my arms and lifted my chin.“You’re in pain, Rathiel.You need to heal, and feeding will help with that.”
“I’ll manage,” he replied through a gritted jaw, the strain in his voice betraying his desperation.“I’ve suffered worse.I won’t take blood from you.”
He had suffered worse.A lot worse.But that didn’t mean he had to suffer now.
