Page 90 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

What made no sense was that the fangs did not stir when he watched battles between clashing armies in the films Vrog had put into the device he had given him. They did not stir even when Khiann thought about Mortdh, whom he did not remember but hated nonetheless, just from what Annani had told him.

The fangs only stirred when Annani kissed him.

The pulsing would start in his gums the moment their lips touched, or even when she simply sat on his lap. By the time she pulled away, it was an incessant throb that demanded he sink those sharp teeth into the soft place where her neck met her shoulder.

He had been so ashamed of the irrational urge, and he had fought it with everything he had. Several times he had even lied to her, pleading tiredness in the middle of the afternoon so he could go to his room, shut the door, and wait for the throbbing to stop. He had thought about talking to Esag, but had not, because he was afraid of the answer. If something in his head had been damaged during the long stasis, and something in there had gotten crossed, then he did not want Esag to know.

What if Esag told Kian he was dangerous to Annani?

What if they removed him from her house and locked him up somewhere?

Bridget was the only one he could ask because she had told him that everything said between them would remain confidential. But Bridget was caring for a newborn and was not seeing patients.

And now Annani had said she missed the venom bite and was looking at him over her dark glasses with the kind of smile that promised naughty things.

"Oh, sa-mu. I have so much to tell you." Annani squeezed his hand. "Male gods and immortals have fangs and venom glands. Goddesses and immortal females do not, nor do humans, whether male or female.”

"I have worked that much out." He kept his voice low. "I thought the fangs were a weapon."

"They are. But they are more than that."

The sun shifted, and the porch was now fully shaded. He removed his glasses because he did not want to hide behind them.

Annani removed hers as well. "Male gods and immortals bite during lovemaking. The venom produced in response to arousal is very different from the venom produced in response to a threat. Both are produced by the same glands, but their chemical composition differs, and the body never confuses them. The venom produced in a fight incapacitates an opponent. In larger amounts, it can put an immortal or a god in stasis, and it can also kill. In just the right amount, it can induce a male Dormant's transition. So, as you see, even the aggressive venom has positive properties."

"Right now, I am more interested in the venom produced in response to arousal. I thought something in my brain got confused when I felt the urge to bite you. I was afraid to allow myself to get overly aroused."

"Oh, Khiann." Her expression softened. "You should've said something."

"I was afraid," he admitted.

"Of what?"

"That I would be locked away from you. But I was also afraid I might harm you."

"Oh, sweetheart. I am so sorry you suffered in silence like that. The venom produced by arousal is a gift to the female, not a threat. It brings tremendous pleasure. It is an aphrodisiac, a euphoric, and a hallucinogen. It is also addictive. When a female engages exclusively with one male, she becomes addicted to his venom and is repulsed by other males who show sexual interest in her."

"You said the gods did not value faithfulness."

"Most did not. Most were also not mated to their trueloves, and those who wished to keep their freedom made certain to bite widely and be bitten widely, so that no one venom took hold." She shrugged. "It was considered sophisticated."

"But we were truelove mates."

She smiled. "We got addicted to each other within weeks. I loved your venom bites, and I have never been bitten by another."

His relief was tremendous. His shoulders dropped, his spine bent, and he had to put a hand on the lounger to keep himself upright.

"I thought something was wrong with me. That the wires had crossed, and I wanted to hurt the one I love, and now you are telling me it is normal?"

"It is the most normal thing in the world. For gods and immortals, that is." She smiled. "Humans might think it is strange or scary, but the women who experience it are not complaining. They enjoy it as much as goddesses and immortal females do."

"Why did you not tell me before?" he asked.

"Because I thought you knew. I assumed it was as natural as breathing. As natural as getting an erection." She frowned. "Please tell me you know why you are getting those."

"I worked that out."

"Oh, good." She let out a breath. "For a moment there I thought I would have to explain about the birds and the bees."