13. Ezra
THIRTEEN
ezra
You know what will happen if you don’t feed from her soon, Ezra.”
I looked away from Rina, already leaning against the car, leaving Archer and me alone for a moment. “I do.”
“So why haven’t you drank from her again?”
“You should have seen the way she reacted, Archer. The first time. She was…” I sighed, smoothing a hand over my face. “She was disgusted with me. I can’t force her to do that again.”
“But if you don’t drink from her—”
Swallowing roughly, I faced the angel fully. “I know. I know, okay?” The symptoms were already setting in. Maybe that was why he looked so concerned. “I don’t even know if we’ll find the answers back at the manor.”
“So why bring her here? Why come find me?”
“What other choice did I have?” I shook my head. “Keeping her chained to me, forcing her to let me drink from her as often as I needed, knowing the rest of her life would be tethered to mine?” Still, I was an asshole to leave her in the dark.
We’d known each other for a long time, and I knew Archer wouldn’t lie to me.
We had crossed paths almost a century ago, when I’d set off on my own for the first time, determined to carve a different path for myself.
Of course, my past continued to claw me back, but it was then I’d discovered how many beings were out there, ones that had no business walking the earth among humans.
Maybe I was no better than the monsters that I hunted.
Maybe I was exactly the villain Rina thought I was.
Nothing more than a bloodsucker, a leech that would suck her dry until there was no joy left.
Until the witch with light in her eyes was nothing more than a husk.
I’d seen it happen before, of course. Blood mates who were mistreated by the vampire who owned them.
One who would rather have died than be forced to be with their mate.
But I’d never heard of any who freed themselves from the strings of fate.
“It would drive you mad, wouldn’t it?” I asked, keeping my voice low. “The bond being destroyed?”
Archer winced. “Like tearing a part of your soul out.”
I was staring at Rina, fiddling with the sleeves of her sweater, looking stressed and anxious.
My voice was low as I addressed the angel.
“I never expected to find a mate. And even if I did, I knew it wouldn’t be love instantly.
I just… I never expected her.” I stared at Rina, huffing by the car.
Gods, she was something. I never expected my mate to reject me. “What do I do, Archer?”
“I can’t make her fall in love with you.”
“I never asked you to do that.”
He snorted. “No. But it would be a lot easier if she loved you, wouldn’t it?”
“It would be easier if she tolerated me,” I muttered.
Archer hummed. “Probably. But that’s all up to you now.” He looked around us, at the glimmering facade. “We won’t be able to stay here much longer without affecting the townspeople.”
I remembered what Vic had told me. “I heard there have been a lot of miracles lately.”
“Mm.” He crossed his arms, running his fingers through his long blond strands. “My fault. But we’ll be gone soon, and it’ll be like we were never here.”
“What’s Seraphina up to?” I asked, referring to his sister, an angel of life.
Archer grumbled something under his breath. “Nothing good, most likely. I keep finding her in other realms.”
“Oh?” I was interested to hear more, but I knew I had to be getting back to Rina, who was obviously growing impatient. “You’ll have to tell me more soon.”
“What’s the name of the town you just helped save again?”
I rolled my eyes, because he already knew the answer. “Pleasant Grove.”
Archer stared off into the distance. “Hm. Interesting.”
And for some reason, I had a feeling we’d be seeing him again.
Rina slammed her car door shut as she slid into her seat, crossing her arms over her chest after she buckled herself in.
“Are you okay?” I asked, unable to stop my frown.
She quirked an eyebrow. “Do I look okay? Quite frankly, Ezra, I’m pissed off. What the hell was that back there?” Rina demanded. “What was he talking about?”
“It’s complicated.”
I didn’t need to see her aura to know how angry she was with the way her emotions showed all over her face. “And because I’m some sheltered little witch, I couldn’t possibly understand, right?”
“Hold on. I didn’t say that.” I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t put words in my mouth.”
She groaned in frustration. “You’re so insufferable! I just want answers. Like, where are we even going?”
“Does it matter?” I asked, feeling like I was on trial for a crime I didn’t commit. It wasn’t like I’d forced her into this, either.
“Yes!” The exclamation burst out of her. “I didn’t sign up to go on some wild goose chase with you. Especially not when it seems like you knew all along that he couldn’t actually help us.”
I looked away. “I was hoping there was another way.”
“What about the vampire he mentioned? The one who successfully broke the bond?”
“Already said that’s not an option. If he’s talking about who I think he is… he’s a dangerous vampire, Rina. And say what you want about me, I’ve never wanted to put you in harm’s way.”
“Rina—”
“I’m not in the mood, Ezra,” she snapped. “Just drive.”
I leaned back in the seat, jaw clenched. “Right. Sorry. My bad, witch.” I knew she was still pissed at me—fair, since I had kept her in the dark. Not to mention she was right—this had been a fool’s errand.
Nothing Archer told me, I didn’t already know.
But I refused to accept that there was no other way to break the bond. Just like I refused to admit my weakness. It was getting harder to ignore how badly I needed blood. My system was suffering from fatigue on levels I’d never seen, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep going much longer.
Focusing on the road, I drove—in silence—until my vision seemed to grow hazy.
“Ezra.” Her voice sounded like it was drifting through water. How long had she been saying my name?
My eyes fluttered shut. I could feel the effects of blood withdrawals—of how badly I needed to drink from my mate. Still, I refused. I’d abstained for this long. I could make it a little longer.
What then?
I had no other option, and I knew it. My body would reject all other forms of blood I tried to give it.
There was only her.
“Hm?” I blinked, vision unfocused. I didn’t remember pulling off the side of the road, but the car was stopped. Which was good because I was clearly in no state to drive.
When was the last time I’d been this weak? Never. But the sun had taken its toll. That, combined with three days of being this close to her, meant I was in desperate need.
“Fuck. What’s wrong with you?” She pressed a hand to my chest, probably feeling my pounding heart. “You’re burning up.” It thumped faster, and I ignored the swell in my body from her touch, her proximity, her scent. It was maddening.
I rasped out one singular word. “Blood.”
Rina’s face was one of horror. “You…” She seemed to put all the pieces together in her mind. “This was what Archer was talking about, wasn’t he? Because you haven’t drank in days?”
Grunting, I nodded. “Wouldn’t force you. I know you don’t want this.” The words were gritted between clenched teeth, my fangs throbbing, desperate. Knew she didn’t want me.
“You stupid idiot,” she murmured, pressing her wrist against my mouth. “Drink.”
“No,” I said, pushing her away. “I can’t.”
She huffed out a breath. “Because you don’t want me?” Rina frowned. “Goddess, even my blood isn’t good enough for you.”
I groaned. “No.” She didn’t understand. It was the opposite. How did I make her understand?
Everything was wrong. This was all wrong. I tore at my shirt, needing the relief of cool air.
Her eyes widened, hand smoothing down my abdomen in rapt admiration. “Of fucking course, you’re ripped. What a waste.” She sighed.
“No. I’m not asking you to do this for me. Don’t want you—”
Rina cut me off, just as stubborn as I was. “Look. I’m here, and despite how little I want you to drink from me, I think I’m your only option, leech. So get on with it already.”
I shook my head, gritting my teeth. “Will only make it worse.”
“What’s the alternative?”
She wouldn’t like it. “There isn’t one. It’s your blood that I need, Rina.” I closed my eyes again, trying my hardest not to succumb to the bloodlust filling my veins. The smell of her blood made my eyelids fly open. “Your blood calls to me.”
Fuck. It was the most intoxicating smell. One I couldn’t stay away from.
She’d sliced her skin open—for me. “Drink,” she ordered. Who was I to say no to my mate when she offered so sweetly?
I pulled her onto my lap, burying my face in her neck and inhaling deeply.
Biology was riding me hard. A growl ripped through my chest. “I won’t be able to control myself,” I warned her.
I brought her arm to my face, inhaling deeply.
“Gods, you smell fucking amazing.” My eyes met hers.
I was sure my irises were black, completely taken over with bloodlust.
It was hard to even think straight, let alone curb my base instincts.
My tongue darted out to lap up the blood that had dripped down her perfect skin. With a groan, I drank. My teeth barely grazed over her arm, and then I sank them in, unable to restrain my need any longer.
Her taste, her scent, everything was dragging me into a dizzying high. My cock throbbed, straining against my pants, eager to be buried inside my mate. My body didn’t understand why we weren’t already consummating.
Rina’s blood was in my system, and I was harder than I’d ever been in my life.
“Ezra,” she gasped as her core brushed over my erection. “Oh my gods.”
But I didn’t stop. I couldn’t.
Rina’s head fell back as she rocked her hips over me, a small moan slipping from her mouth.
No matter what she said, her body reacted to mine. She wanted me.
But—no. It didn’t matter that my body begged to bury myself inside her, to feel her tight channel gripping me as I drank from her.
That wasn’t what this was.
Even through the bloodlust, I knew I couldn’t take advantage of the mate who didn’t want me.