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He steps closer again, effectively swallowing what little distance I’d been able to put between us. Without a word, he picks up my injured hand, cradling my wrist gently.
“It’s fine,” I mumble.
“I can heal it,” he says in a low voice, his fangs extending again.
I stiffen and try to pull my hand back, but he holds it tighter. “I—”
“Relax, Calla. I’m not going to hurt you. You’re doing a good enough job of that yourself.”
“I’ll just wrap it up. It’s fine,” I repeat, my pulse racing beneath my skin; surely he can feel it against his palm.
“You live with four vampires who all want a taste of you. Are you sure that’s what you want to do?”
I chew the inside of my cheek. “F-fine.”
Atlas nods, then lifts his other hand to his mouth. He quickly bites into the skin of his palm, and dark red blood pools in his hand. “Drink,” he says.
Panic seizes me, and I try to pull away again. I have no idea what I thought he was going to do to heal me, but I wasn’t prepared forthis.
“Calla—”
“No,” I croak, my heart pounding in my ears. “I can’t. That’s not… No.”
He sighs. “It will heal your injury.”
My voice shakes when I say, “I’m telling you, I can’t.” I’m not trying to be difficult, but the thought of drinking his blood has sweat dotting my brow and my heart beating quicker than it should.
“Let me help you?” His voice is softer than I’ve heard it before. It makes me pause. Do I trust him? Hell to the no, but there’s also something telling me he’s being decent here, and I should let him.
“Okay,” I finally say, cringing at how weak my voice comes out.
His grip on my wrist softens, and he traces his thumb back and forth across my skin. When he speaks again, his voice is a warm caress that I instantly get lost in. “You’re going to drink from me, and it’s going to make you better. You don’t need to panic or be ashamed. Allow yourself to enjoy it.” He leans down so his lips are close to my ear. “Drink, Calla.”
I move without hesitation, cradling his hand in my less injured one. I bring it to my lips, and he tips it back. Copper warmth pours into my mouth and explodes across my tastebuds. My eyes close on their own, and I step in closer, closing my lips around the puncture marks in his hand. I swallow greedily, shocked at how electrifying the sensation of drinking blood is. Energy zips through me, and I open my eyes as I pull back, sucking in a short breath. My eyes drop to where Atlas is holding onto my hand, and I gape at the sight of completely healed skin. It’s not even tinged red. It’s as if it hadn’t happened at all.
“Holy shit,” I breathe.
He lets go and steps back, watching me closely. “Take a minute. Vampire blood can be overwhelming for humans, especially that of a born immortal.”
I squint at him, the light above us suddenly much brighter than it was a few minutes ago. The buzz of electricity echoes in my ears. “A born immortal?”
“As opposed to a turned one,” he explains. “The others were turned. I, however, was born a vampire.”
Right. I knew that. “Is that why you can glamour people differently?”
“Yes.”
“What else makes you different?”
He arches a brow. “Not much else, really. I’m faster and stronger, harder to kill, and don’t need human food to survive. But you already knew that part.”
I nod, cringing when a wave of dizziness rushes over me, and I sway, reaching out blindly.
Atlas catches me, steadying me in his arms. “Easy,” he murmurs.
My cheek presses against the soft fabric of his shirt, and I glance up at him. There’s a brief moment where I think I see concern in his silver gaze, but it’s gone as quick as it came. “Thank you,” I whisper.
“You’re welcome.”
