Chapter 31 #2
A high-pitched giggle echoes through the trees, and my blood warms as I sense a threat. Not one but three witches step out of the shadows, their smiles eerily perfect as they stand there, holding hands. Runes glow on their skin, amplifying their powers with some sort of spell, I think.
“The academy wards got to her before we could,” one of them pouts, her gaze sliding to the feline shifter scrambling toward me and the bear. “But that bear shifter—” One of her sisters points at the male shaking off the electricity behind me. “—is ours.”
I feel his hot breath before the impact comes, his wide paw slamming into my side.
Two of my ribs crack, the repeat offenders from my own shifts, and I slam into the dirt and tumble to a stop.
I gasp for air and force myself to my feet.
Pain throbs in time with my heartbeat, and I stare at the bear as he stomps closer, sharp teeth bared and eyes flashing—not yellow, but bright purple.
“Witch’s curse,” I hiss, cursing my fucking luck. Of course three witches had to be paired together. I bet they’re from the same coven, too: Professor Aesir’s biases on clear display.
He’ll put them together but separate me and Revyn and Gemma. Of course.
“Fight me yourself,” I shout, my gaze narrowing on the witches’ joined hands. If I can separate them, the spell will end. “Using a shifter to do your dirty work is cowardice.”
“He already hates you,” one of the witches mocks. “I can feel its poison running through his veins.” She clicks her tongue. “If he can’t act on his own volition, we’re happy to help.”
“Revenge is always sweet,” another one adds.
I try another tactic. “We don’t have a figurine. You’re wasting your time with us.”
“Who said we want a figurine?” The tallest witch stands in the center of their trio. “We’d much rather test our magics.”
Insane. All of them.
“If you’re not going to follow the objective, what’s the point of even being here!” I laugh, the sound as bitter as I feel. “Am I the only person who wants to fucking graduate?”
Movement behind the witches catches my eye, and bright red eyes flash in the darkness.
I tear my gaze away to keep the witches’ attention on me.
“She doesn’t care about graduation.” I nod toward the feline shifter who’s suddenly sprouted a tail while crouched on all fours.
Is she trying to shift, too? “I doubt he does.” I take a careful step back as the bear approaches, the growl rumbling through his chest tempting me to growl back. “Now you three?”
“We do not owe you an explanation, wild wolf.”
I dodge the bear’s next strike and launch at his flank, stabbing directly into the joint where his hip meets his femur.
He brays loudly and sways his whole body, dragging me through the underbrush before I can retract my claws.
“Wake the fuck up!” His other paw crushes my ankle, and I gasp at the harsh snap of pain as bones break.
“Goddammit!” I twist my claws into his flesh and barely dodge the snap of his jaws.
“You’re stronger than this! You’re a fucking bear, for gods’ sake! Act like it!”
All of a sudden, he roars and collapses, crushing the lower half of my body beneath his massive weight. Blood sprays and women shout, a cat-like snarl rending the air.
Finally, my teammate does something.
Callum is by my side moments later, his expression unreadable. “They’re unconscious.”
Something crunches nearby, and I wince at the mental image of a cougar having a late-night snack.
Our bear shifter teammate shifts back in slow motion as he falls unconscious, and Callum quickly kneels beside me.
“Where does it hurt?” He touches my bruised and broken ribs first, then gently prods the lower half of my body.
I hiss as he reaches my broken ankle, the flesh swollen and tender as my body attempts to shield the bones from further damage.
There goes my shot at impressing Aesir.
“No one cares about the academy.” I slam my fist against the dirt as pain radiates up my spine.
“We might as well have one big orgy for everyone to claim their fucking mates. That would be easier than pretending we all care about academics and—” I hiss as Callum pokes another tender spot. “—improving our fucking skills.”
“An orgy would turn into a bloodbath,” Callum muses, frowning. “Most species aren’t meant for large mating rituals.”
I choke on a pained laugh. “Is this when you tell me that vampires are the exception?”
His ruby gaze meets mine. “Yes.” Rolling up his sleeve, he taps a vein in his wrist. “Bite me here, Sienna, and drink deep.” He holds his wrist to my lips. “You’ll heal faster.”
I swat his hand away. “Excuse me?” I’m no stranger to a little blood on my tongue, but drinking it is another story.
“I can carry you throughout the remainder of our training session,” he murmurs, brushing his fingertips across my forehead, “but it will hinder our offensive capabilities. If you heal within the next few hours, we stand a better chance of completing our objective. I know how much strength means to you, Sienna.” He leans closer, his voice a mere whisper on my cheek.
“Drink from me, and you’ll taste a fraction of my power. ”
My cheeks flush at his proximity. “That sounds intimate.”
His scarlet lips curve into a delicate smile. “It is intimate.”
I bite the inside of my cheek as I mull over every possible reason not to drink his blood. “Won’t you get in trouble for sharing your blood with a shifter?” I know very little about vampire law, but blood seems like an incredibly important resource.
“Not if she is my mate.” Lifting his wrist to his own lips, he bites down hard enough for me to hear the puncture.
Blood drips down his chin and onto my chest, warm despite Callum’s lack of a beating heart.
My eyes flare as I scent him—smoke and shadow and earth, along with something ancient and deep lingering in the undertones.
I breathe deep as something inside his blood resonates within the depths of my soul—the sudden warmth blooming around my heart making me dizzy.
“You will be mine,” Callum murmurs, carefully cradling the back of my head. “So I will gladly gift you this taste.” Drawing more blood from his wound, he drinks from his own wrist before lowering his lips to mine and inviting me to taste him.
At first, the press of his mouth is as gentle as the breeze and just as cool to the touch, lingering like a memory.
But the moment I part my lips and taste the blood on his, he curls his hand around mine and locks our fingers together, suddenly pressing my body into the earth as his tongue sweeps into my mouth.
Liquid life flows between us, tasting sweeter than I could have imagined.
When there isn’t any more to give, he bites his own tongue to keep the connection flowing.
My heart bursts and heat crashes through my veins like a tidal wave.
At first, there’s pain as my body realigns its bones and mends its bruises, but then a steady hum of power remains as the tissues and ligaments grow stronger.
My heart rate skyrockets. I pull Callum’s tongue into my mouth and moan as heat coils deep within me, igniting a desire so deep that I tremble.
Fuck, that’s good.
I don’t know how I could have ever opposed something this addictive—
Our connection breaks so quickly that I’m left reeling, my world spinning as Callum buries his face in my neck and drags his sharp-tipped nails up the outside of my thighs. The flash of pain quickly morphs into pleasure, and I arch my back as my pussy pulses in time with my heartbeat.
Holy fucking shit.
I’m on fire and ready to burn the whole world down if it means I can get another taste.
“Oh, Wildflower,” he groans, scraping his fangs against my neck. “I knew you were special the moment we met, but that was . . .” He grabs my hips and holds me down. “Dangerous.”
I catch the other two shifters on our team grimacing a few feet away and toss them a drunken smile. “Ifeelsogood,” I slur, running my fingers through Callum’s silky strands. Damn, he’s got long hair. “All pain’s gone.”
Callum’s hands roam my body, feeling me up under the guise of assessing my injuries. “You healed much faster than I anticipated.”
“You’re very powerful,” I purr, caressing his neck with my cheek and rubbing my scent all over him.
He chuckles, sounding way too sober for my liking. “Easy, Wildflower, or you’ll tempt me to prove it.” Pressing a quick kiss to my cheek, he pushes himself to his feet and drags me to mine, his body unnaturally warm against mine, and a distinct hard point pressing against my stomach.
“Callum Navarro!” I breathe, giggling as I sway on my feet. “Put that thing away before someone gets a free show!”
“Oh, gods, please don’t get each other off.” The female shifter readjusts her torn clothes as she grimaces at me and Callum. “Sucking face was bad enough to watch.”
“But you still looked,” I snicker, grinning at her. “Must’ve been hottttt.”
“Why is she talking like that?” The bear man asks, frowning at me. “Did you drug her or something?”
“I overestimated the dosage,” Callum muses, lifting me into his arms like I weigh nothing. “She’ll be fine once the effects wear off.”
“How long does that take?” The cat wrinkles her nose as I try to swat her face.
“Where are your whiskers?” I manage to smear my thumb across her chin. “I wanna see!”
Callum grabs my hand and holds it against his lips. “Easy there, darling.” He kisses the back of my hand. “Let’s grab a figurine so we can tuck you into bed, hm? Doesn’t a bed sound nice?”
I link my arms around his neck and pull myself up to whisper in his ear. “Only if you’re there.” Crimson eyes meet mine, and I marvel at the shimmering copper in their depths. I trace my fingertips along his kiss-swollen lips. “Have you always been this beautiful?”