Her grip tightened, pulling me to her more harshly as I tossed my head back with a groan. She drank deep, taking more than she needed. I doubted it was an accident.
The Witchling was smart enough to know that the more of my blood she drank, the stronger she would be. I had the distinct feeling that the one thing Willow never wanted to be was weak. She would never allow herself to be vulnerable, and while she had to accept she would be with me now, she could go to war with others and not worry as much.
If she was going to give some of her power, she’d damn well take some of mine back.
“Clever little witch,” I murmured with a laugh as she sank her little teeth into my skin surrounding the wounds. She ran her tongue over them, encouraging them to continue bleeding as she let her eyes drift closed.
Her body shifted, her rib moving beneath her skin as it snapped back into place. She let out a high-pitched whimper, continuing to drink from me through the moment of pain. With her body healed, I knew what would come next.
Euphoria.
Willow’s next moan was long and low, her hips shifting on the bed as she sucked at my wrist.
“That’s enough,” I said, pulling my arm back. She tried to hold on to it, tried to pull it back down to her. But there was risk in taking too much, in becoming addicted to it.
I couldn’t afford for her to need my blood to survive. That was a commitment I wasn’t interested in.
“Settle,” I said, letting my voice compel her to lie back down on the bed.
I wanted nothing more than to fulfill the craving consuming her body, to give her what I knew she so desperately desired. Especially after I’d left her wet and wanting the night before.
“Sleep, Willow,” I said instead, tucking hair back from her eye.
Panic filled her eyes for a moment before they started to drift closed. She shook her head, trying to fight the compulsion off.
“No. Please,” she begged as I ran gentle fingers over her forehead.
“Shhh,” I said, leaning forward to touch my lips to hers gently. “You will wake in a few hours. I promise, love.”
The whimper she released broke something inside of me. I’d kill the bitch for making her fear sleep.
As if her nightmares of Him weren’t bad enough.
Kairos stepped into the room, leading some of the other Vessels into my office. I pulled the door to my bedroom closed behind me, shutting Willow’s sleeping form off from prying eyes. He raised his brows at me as he caught a glimpse of who slept in my bed, but he didn’t dare to voice the question.
“You summoned us?” Juliet asked, crossing her arms over her chest. From her position on the sofa, I had no doubt she’d gotten a good look at Willow and the way I’d covered her up carefully.
I moved to my liquor cabinet, pouring myself a tumbler of whiskey. “I’ve invoked dominium,” I said, holding Juliet’s stare.
She grinned, the feline expression on her face nothing but mischief. “On the Madizza girl?” she asked, pursing her lips when I glared at her.
“Yes,” I said, grinding my teeth. I hated to be predictable, but they knew as well as I did just how important a role she would play in the future of Crystal Hollow.
As the last of her bloodline, she would lead the next generation on the Tribunal, and if we could manage to get rid of the Covenant…
They’d need a new Queen.
Having her on our side would work to our advantage in the conflict that had been brewing for centuries.
“Right, so she’s off limits for the Reaping then,” Kairos said, grinning as he shoved his hands into his pockets. The memory of Willow touching him from the back seat was like a burning flame in my blood, making me want nothing more than to rip out his throat.
Even I knew that was probably irrational, since Willow had been the one to do the touching.
I’d put an end to that now that she had more of my blood in her.
“None of the witches are to know about it,” I said, taking a sip of my whiskey and watching their puzzled looks. I could understand it, because what was the point in making a claim of ownership over a witch if I didn’t want the world to know she was mine?
“Why not?” Juliet asked, stepping up and taking the drink from my hand. She tossed back a sip of her own, holding my stare as she handed it back.
“She likes to play games,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “And I want to watch her be the one to squirm for once.”
Juliet chuckled, shaking her head as she made her way back to the sofa. “This should be interesting.”
“Who wants to place bets on how long it takes for her to rip out his throat?” Kairos asked, looking at the other Vessels in the room. While Kairos and Juliet were my closest confidantes, the others were my people in the same way the witches belonged to the Covenant.
They were my responsibility, my duty. But where Susannah Madizza was more than willing to let hers die; I would do anything to protect mine.
Even risk the wrath of the little witchling waiting in my bed.
24
WILLOW
I woke slowly, pressing up to sit. My body hummed with warmth as I looked around the empty room. The door to the bedroom was closed, the room unfamiliar except for the fuzzy haze of being brought here when I’d been in pain.
I touched a hand to my ribs, finding nothing but smooth, unblemished skin when I twisted to look at it. The memory of Gray’s blood came over me quickly, making me queasy with the reality of what that might mean.
The area between my legs throbbed with need, as if the blood he’d given me had only amplified the desire he’d created in me before. I wanted to tear his throat out. I wanted to tear his clothes off.
The fact that I wasn’t even sure which one I wanted more terrified me.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, pausing for a moment to glare down at my ruined shirt. The buttons were missing, and I found one on the floor as I looked around. With a scoff, I tugged it off my shoulders and tossed it onto the bed behind me. Making my way to his closet, I helped myself to one of his dress shirts, slipping it on over my shoulders and buttoning it slowly.
It was so long it covered my skirt entirely, so I unzipped the stiff green fabric and shoved it down my thighs. I couldn’t stand to wear Susannah’s house colors for another moment. It gathered at my feet, leaving me to step out of it and toss it onto the bed with my ruined shirt. With only my thigh-highs and Gray’s shirt, I swallowed as I moved to the door and pried it open to peek out.
The seating area was empty, so I pulled the door open wider and stepped out. I ran my fingers over the back of the sofa as I moved, glancing at the books covering his coffee table. I wouldn’t have pegged the immortal being for a reader, but there was no denying the way they were littered around his space.