Chapter 26 #3
A flash of me sucking the black blood out of his body flashes in my mind, and I quickly take another bite of food.
“I know I already said thank you,” I hesitate. “But seriously, thank you.”
“It’s no problem,” he says, focusing on his food and keeping his words casual and short.
I nod. “Right.”
“Second time you’ve said that, little angel,” he responds. “Am I flustering you again?”
He probably does that all the time, Mara. Stop making it seem like you are special. Stop acting insane.
“S—Sorry. I’m sure you do that all the time when needed.” I ignore his response. “Just another blood bond for you.”
He slowly raises his gaze to meet mine, and a seriousness takes over his expression that nearly makes the fry fall out of my mouth.
“No.”
I go rigid. “No, what?”
“I’m not sure what you think you know about our ability to share blood,” his stare becomes intense, “but I’ve never done that, Mara. For anyone. Nor had any plans ever to do that.”
“Oh,” I hesitate. “I just assumed—”
He cuts me off. “You seem to assume a lot.”
“It’s one of my best traits,” I say back, sarcastically. “It’s gotten me quite far in life. Haven’t you noticed?”
He pauses, letting the words sink in, before bursting into laughter. His strong neck tips back, exposing the butterfly tattoo on his neck, and I watch each laugh escape his lips, prompting a small chuckle from my throat in return. It sets off a pain in my stomach, and I grip it, grimacing.
He quickly leans forward, as if a bomb has gone off, and concern flashes across his face.
“I’m fine.” I lean forward.
“Are you sure?” He stands. “Let me check the wound.”
“I’m okay, Crew,” I snap.
He towers over me as I sit on the couch, gazing up at him standing above me.
“I wasn’t asking.”
I clear my throat, settling back into the loveseat, pressing my back against the cushions.
Crew leans forward, slowly lifting my shirt, and I look the other way, placing my hands away from his as he assesses the wound.
His rough, hot fingers trace along my stomach, and I flinch, not from pain but from his touch.
“Take it easy today,” he says, moving his hand over the closed wound. “You could tear it open again, and I don’t think you want that.”
I stare at him as he lifts his head to meet my gaze, his face inches from mine.
His silver eyes burn into my soul, and I don’t blink or breathe as his body hovers just above me.
I’m on fucking fire. He looks at me differently, as if something has shifted between us—like he can feel his blood flowing through my veins as well.
Oh no…oh… fucking… no.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing.”
“Do I have something on my face?” Crew angles his head.
Just hotness.
“Nope,” I say, almost pushing him away from me.
I let out a shaky breath as he steps back, and the realization hits me.
This is Crew Bannermin—someone I’ve hated for years.
His jaw tenses, and I glance at his features—the darkness that sits behind his silver eyes, the facial hair that lines his chiseled jawline—and I can’t stop thinking about him.
The memory of the taste of his blood has taken over my mind.
“I have to ask,” I say.
“Oh, here we go.” He settles back.
“Your blood went into my mouth at the Jade Order.”
“It did,” Crew casually says, arching a brow.
“Did that bind us then?”
“No,” he responds. “My intentions were different.”
“Okay?” I push. “Then what makes last night different?”
He shifts, and I watch as his mind runs wild with thoughts about me—about us.
“Last night, I offered you everything—my lifeforce, my body, my soul—to save you. I gave you everything to keep you alive. Blood sharing is… tricky, and that’s why many never choose to do so in their lives.
” He breaks eye contact. “We are bound in the sense that you will feel me with you, since I gave you part of me. It doesn’t mean you can’t leave or live a normal life, but it’s complicated. ”
I nod. “Complicated. Wonderful.”
“I hope you don’t regret it,” he whispers. “You may feel… drawn to me, and I feel insanely protective of you.”
He’s right.
“I took an oath when I joined the Order,” I respond, not answering his question. “What does that mean now?”
“Lowell didn’t tell you anything about blood oaths?”
I shake my head. “No, we aren’t taught that. It’s an off-limits topic. Probably to keep us from doing it.”
“It’s more common with demons, I suppose,” Crew says. “We learn about it at an early age, and the workarounds if it’s ever needed.”
“I see,” I respond.
“We are only supposed to do it with other demons, though,” Crew explains. “I’ve never heard of an angel and demon bonding.”
My mind swirls.
“But as far as that asshole goes,” Crew’s stare pierces my soul, “you aren’t bound to Lowell anymore, Mara.”
I suck in a breath.
“You are mine, now.”
Mine.
He fucking said mine.
I pause for a second and open my mouth to speak, but my mind stops me from saying something I might regret later, even though I don’t regret taking the bond.
A heat flutters in my core from his possessive words, and I cross my legs.
After everything I’ve put him through, I wish I could repay him somehow.
“I don’t belong to anyone,” I say.
“That isn’t true.” Crew leans forward. “You belong to me.”
My heart flips, and I stop myself from lunging forward—not to kill him, but to slam my lips to his.
Get a fucking grip, Mara.
He is a demon.
Find out what he knows about your father.
Now.
“Tell me.” I stand with my arms crossed, creating distance and allowing a new wave of anger to surge through me. I ignore the pain and the bond, narrowing my eyes.
He furrows his brow in curiosity and hesitation, feeling the rage rise from my body.
“Wait? What the fuck just happened?”
“Nothing. I’ve just realized a few things.” I feel myself pushing him away again.
“Alright?”
I glare at him, and something in my chest strikes me with pain—the bond. “And I think all of this is affecting my judgment.”
“Tell you what, Mara?” He props his arm on his bent leg.
“About you. Since I’m bound to you, try to fix my assumptions, and tell me what the fuck you were doing the night my dad died.”