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A soft mewl fell from her lips, and Flora sank back onto her elbows in the sand. She blinked rapidly and a weary smile tipped her full lips. “I can see again, and the world doesn’t feel as though it was pulled out from under me.”
Relief flooded him, but he still raked his eyes over her to ensure for himself she was okay. With a wide berth, he stepped around her legs and crouched down next to her. He reached up hesitantly and brushed a strand of sopping wet hair from her shoulder, gently testing his touch. When she didn’t pull away or shriek, he cupped her face and tipped her gaze toward him. “Are you okay?”
Flora’s eyes searched his, though he wasn’t sure for what. Her features hardened, and she turned her head away, shutting him out. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not.” His eyes dropped to the angry patch of skin between her breasts. “I’m going to bite you now to heal you. My wolf is pacing inside my chest with the need to claim and protect you. If that’s not something you want, I suggest you be a good girl and remain very still.”
Flora’s mouth dropped open and a sweet aroma filled his nostrils; if he had to guess, she was thinking about his wolf claiming her. He was having trouble thinking of anything else himself.
Draven hovered over her neck, waiting for her to object, a hint of a smile forming on his lips when she didn’t. Fuck, she was perfect. His cock grew against the constricting material of his jeans, and he almost regretted what he was about to do.
Almost.
Flora was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted. This may have been to heal her, but he was a selfish prick, and he would never give up the opportunity to have her essence slide between his lips.
His fangs elongated as he brushed his lips along the crook of her neck. Flora shivered under his touch and opened her mouth to speak. Unwilling to give her the opportunity to protest, Draven pierced her flesh and took one long, deep pull.
The objection that might have fallen from her lips was replaced by a sultry moan, which Draven answered with a growl of his own, fueled by the lust that consumed him. He swallowed hard, savoring the taste of Flora’s blood. A subtle hint of rose with a bite of mint.
Flora shifted against him, rolling her hips forward in search of something to sate her own lust. His concentration wavered, lost in her need. Draven tangled his hands in the mess of soaked blond curls at the base of her neck while his other hand slid down her body and cupped her pussy over her pants.
A breathy moan that might as well have been a plea escaped her lips, and she lifted her hips to chase her pleasure. She was divine, riding his hand like she owned it.
Flora was a vision when she took what was hers. It wasn’t until he tasted pain in her blood that Draven snapped out of the trance she held him in and quickly reined in his emotions. She protested when he removed his hand from her throbbing heat and pushed vibrance and healing toward her through a large amount of venom.
A whimper left her lips, and it took every amount of restraint he possessed to pull his fangs from her and allow her the space she needed to heal.
He wished his venom would mend the rift he’d created between them, but wishes were only meant for stars. It didn’t matter how much they desired one another, fate wasn’t on their side.
Draven licked each of the small puncture wounds and backed away, giving her the space she deserved, despite his wolf fighting against him. His eyes lingered on her as she fingered the flesh his venom healed.
He steadied his voice to be the strength she needed. “What happened with the stone—has it done that before?”
Flora swallowed hard, and when she spoke, her voice cracked slightly. “Don’t you think I would have known what it was if it had?” She reached down and picked up the fabric-wrapped stone from the ground beside her, tying a knot in the fabric so it wouldn’t shake loose. “I’ve only had the thing as long as I’ve known you. It’s never done that before, but something in my gut is telling me it’s a sign.”
“How do you figure?”
She slipped the chain around her neck and allowed the ball of fabric to hang where it had before the stone had turned its power against her.
“The second my feet hit the ground, I got this sense of foreboding. Almost like a nervous anticipation. I think it’s a sign that we are close to the other half.”
“I hope you’re right.” Draven eyed the unpredictable stone with disdain. “But do you think it’s safe to wear?”
“What do you suggest? It has to come with us, and I’m the only one who can touch it. Plus, if it’s on me, I know it’s safe.”
Draven tensed, hating that she was right. He’d almost suggested they put it in a pack on one of the horses, but with Ambersy aware of their movements, she was smart to keep it on her. It didn’t mean he liked the idea. The whole thing didn’t sit well with him, especially given that the bartender said many who entered these woods looking for the caves of the Moon Thieves didn’t return.
Flora didn’t deserve this. She didn’t ask for it, and yet she was willing to put up with him and every threat thrown at her for the sake of his people. And on top of it all, he was asking her to put herself at continued risk.
He tipped his head up to the moon and sent a silent prayer to the Goddess. They would need her on their side if this was her will. And if it wasn’t and they were tempting fate by being there, then they were absolutely fucked, but at the very least, he prayed Flora would make it out alive.
Despite her instant protest, Draven wrapped one arm around Flora’s back and the other under her knees, picked her up, and walked her toward the treeline.
“What are you doing?” She pressed her hands against his chest and shoved him as hard as she could. “I can walk, you overgrown, protective fleabag.”
Draven tipped back his head and laughed. “That’s a new one. And while I appreciate your creative name calling, we are both soaking wet, your shirt is destroyed and it’s only going to get colder. We need to find a place to set up camp that’s not in the open.”
“That still doesn't answer why I can’t walk.”
