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“It’s okay. I just popped a stitch,” Cordelya says, wincing.

Grace places a hand on my arm as I suck in lungfuls of the scent of Cordelya’s blood. “Augustus, do you have your gel?” She asks quietly. When I turn to face her, her eyes go wide. I don’t bother addressing the fact that my fangs are out; instead, I walk straight for Cordelya.

The closer I get, the more my gums ache, and hunger builds in my stomach.

“Let’s get you over to the medic station, and I can stitch you up.”

Cordelya looks at me, and then the stunned faces of all my friends, then nods. I guide us through the crowd to where Brecken is set up.

“Popped stitch,” I grate out around a mouthful of fang.

One look at my fangs and Brecken's mouth drops open, then snaps shut. “Want me⁠—”

“I’ve got it,” I snap as I pull out a chair for Cordelya. Once she’s seated and Minna is lying by her side, I grab the medical kit from behind a stunned Brecken and retrieve everything I need. Laying Cordelya’s hand on my thigh, the scent of her blood washes over me. Warm. Inviting. Mine. I suppress a moan as the ache in my gums increases and a hunger builds in my stomach. I shake my head and force myself into work mode.

Cordelya tilts her head as I begin to clean the area around the stitch. “Are you okay?” She asks gently.

I nod, focusing on removing the stitch. “I’m fine.”

I am not, in fact, fine. I have bypassed fine and swerved straight into an internal spiraling. Hunger pulses through my fangs, making them throb.

“Are you sure? Because you look as spooked as you did at the crash, though it is refreshing that you didn’t bolt like I was going to impale you with a pitchfork.”

I bark out a laugh. “I still owe you an apology for that. This is going to sting. I need to pull the thread out and replace it, so I’m going to numb you.”

“Okay.”

It takes me no time to get her hand numb and pull out the old stitch to replace it. “Done,” I declare as I bundle up all the supplies coated in her blood and bag them for disposal. If I don’t get away from them, I’m afraid I’ll suck the blood off them.

Which is insane, not to mention the fact that it would break countless medical laws.

“Thank you,” she says, cradling her hand.

Standing, I deposit the trash in the medical waste container as Brecken eyes me suspiciously. My fangs have yet to recede no matter how much I will them to. I need to get away from Cordelya so I can calm myself down. Even as I think it, my body seems to rebel; leaving her is the last thing I truly want to do.

I turn back to Cordelya, who watches me curiously.

“Ms. Holland?” A familiar voice calls.

We both turn to see Dale, the apartment property manager.

“Hi there,” she says.

“So glad you’re enjoying the fair. I just finished myself,” he says, lifting a basket full of goodies. I see an opening and, though I really don’t want to, take it.

“We just finished ourselves. If you’re headed back, could Cordelya and Minna walk with you? I need to fill out the incident paperwork.”

“Of course,” Dale says happily.

I walk to Cordelya, just catching the sadness on her face. It guts me, but I need to get myself under control. Reaching a hand out, I help her stand, savoring the contact.

“My apologies for not walking you back.”

“No problem” is all she says, confusion dancing across her delicate features. She picks up her basket while I grab Minna’s leash and hand it to Dale.

As they walk away, Cordelya looks back before scanning the area again.

Every instinct in me screams to run after her.