Page 44 of Blood Curse

“If I move towards her, stop me.”

“I will.”

“Without hurting her.”

“Obviously.”

“It didn’t feel obvious five seconds ago.”

His pale eyes stayed on mine. “Then hear me say it. I won’t let you feed from her, and I won’t hurt you to prevent it.”

The certainty helped. It didn’t make the hunger disappear.

Behind him, Elias cut Mara’s sleeve away. The fresh blood under it made my mouth water. The court watched every change in my face.

The Crown loved that too.

Their fear poured attention over me. My skin warmed under it. A sick, bright thrill opened in my chest, and for a moment I understood exactly why the Crown wanted a hall full of people. Hunger made me dangerous. Their fear made me important.

I hated the thought.

My body still liked the feeling.

“I need to help her,” I said.

“Elias has her.”

“I fucking injured her.”

“The vampire caught her arm.”

“Because my mouth ordered him forwards.”

Stellan didn’t argue with that. “What can you safely do?”

I looked past him. Elias had pressed a folded cloth to Mara’s arm while he searched his case with his other hand.

“I can hold the bandage.”

“Can you?”

The question made me angry because it was the right one.

I took one slow breath. “If the wound is covered first.”

Stellan turned. “Elias?”

“Give me a moment.”

Mara’s gaze found mine. “You don’t owe me a performance.”

“I’m not performing.”

“Then what are you doing?”

“Refusing to let the Crown decide I have to hide whenever somebody bleeds.”

She considered that. “I understand.”