“My commander can handle a few wargs, believe me. They’re nothing compared to the things she’s seen Below.”

Cirri shook her head. I feel selfish. There’s another girl just like me in one of these villages. Why do I deserve more protection than she does? What makes me better?

“Don’t feel guilty. That’s why Visca is bringing the legions out. The new boys are unblooded, and the veterans need practice. The girl in the village will have Koryek and his brothers out there watching over her.”

She gave me a little half-smile. That’s good. Better she have him, than me. I really do understand now, Bane. It’s always better to tell me of grim things, than to make me guess at them. If all I knew was that the wargs were avoiding us… then maybe one day I wouldn’t have taken the warnings quite so seriously. She looked down at her page for a moment. But knowing what I know now… I don’t think that will ever be a problem. 

“Always take them seriously,” I growled, and Cirri put a finger to my lips.

No growling at me, she signed lightly, then wrote: Not unless you’re going to put those teeth to good use. I’d say we’ve both had enough grim talk for the day and it’s time for lighter things.

I would have protested, would have severely pounded the absolute necessity of the rules into her head, but she tossed her journal to the nightstand, dropped the pen on it, and leaned forward to cup my face, bringing me closer.

Her lips were so soft, like the petals of the bloodroses. She caressed my misshapen mouth with her own, tucking kisses into the corners of my lips, moving with slow, deliberate consideration over my fangs.

Her kisses were a blessing, a light in the darkness I feared.

When she looked up at me, her eyes were bright, pupils dilated. My cock ached at the sight, remembering those lips wrapped around me, their warmth and softness wringing me out.

Drink from me, she said, signing carefully, but with a sense of command. Her fingers trailed over my chest, tip-tapping down my stomach, until she reached her own leg. She pulled the hem of her dress up further, running her fingers over the smooth expanse of her inner thigh. Here.

“By your command, my lady,” I said hoarsely, unable to look away from her silky skin, the unmarked canvas begging for silver scars written with love.

Cirri smiled.

I lowered myself between her legs, wrapping my hands around her thighs as she leaned back. She pulled her skirt out of the way, and my cock twitched at the sight of her sex, already gleaming wet for me.

But my lover had given me an order.

I couldn’t kiss like a human, but I nuzzled against her thigh. Goosebumps rose on her skin where my fangs grazed. A muscle trembled in her calf, and I felt her relax, her body going limp.

She reached down, stroking one of my horns, exhaling a faint sigh of need.

My tongue flickered out, skimming her flesh. I tasted the faintest hints of her spicy rose soap, but it was the musky scent of her skin that made my mouth water and fangs ache. Even before piercing her, my sensitive tongue sensed the sweet coppery savor of her blood, flowing just beneath that fragile silk.

Cirri sucked in a breath as my tongue meandered upwards, the forked tips flicking at her playfully, and she gripped my horn as they lapped over her nether lips, parting them.

She could give me orders, but I could tease her.

I groaned at the taste of her, the way her hips bucked to meet me. Cirri’s next gasp was sharp and sudden as the prongs of my tongue wrapped around her clit, sliding around it, lashing at her lightly. Her entire body spasmed, rocking towards me.

A low laugh escaped me. “Not yet, lover.”

She signed with one hand, panting. You’re an awful tease.

I laved my tongue over her, laughing as another full-body spasm took her, and glided towards her thigh again.

Cirri’s breath rasped as I nuzzled her again, my lower lip brushing against a spot several inches below her pussy, and I let the venom in my fangs flow—one drop, two, three. Enough to numb the pain, to give her ecstasy, without driving her into a giggling stupor.

When I slid my incisors into her satin flesh she tensed again, her body going tight as a bowstring. A trembling moment passed, and she relaxed, gripping my horn tightly to keep my head between her legs.

I sucked the sweet heat of her blood, relishing the taste with every mouthful. She was perfection. No wine could compare; no other blood would ever quench my thirst.

My tongue lapped at her, licking away the thin rivulets of blood that spilled downwards, catching each drop before it could touch the sheets. To waste a single drop of her would be criminal.

Cirri huffed lazily as I wrapped my lips around the fang-pierced skin, taking another long draught. The hand that held my horn with a death-grip had vanished.

She was panting again, so relaxed I knew the venom had coursed through her body. For her, this would be all pleasure, a floating, warm cloud of bliss. She shivered as my tongue stroked her, healing the wounds. They would be silver by morning.

Moving slowly, nuzzling up to her pussy, I peeked at her. Her arms were flung above her head, one hand flexing slothfully.

My tongue delved into her again, and she moved under me, with the slow, syrupy motion of a wave.

The sound of her breathing, shallow and panting, was better than any words she could’ve spoken aloud. In those tiny sounds I heard her need, the tiny hitches and stutters as the pronged tips moved independently, curling around her clit and stroking her in time to the rhythm of her hips.

I heard her inhale, holding her breath, and she quivered. Her hips rolled, thrusting up to meet my tongue, and I plunged it into her, tasting the sweetness of her come as I stroked the sensitive spot inside her sex.

Gods, my cock was aching, but I wanted nothing more than to feel her shiver apart and then hold her. With her blood blazing like a fire inside me, I felt every trembling muscle in her body, the tightness of her lungs as she exhaled, collapsing in a limp heap.

I ran my tongue over her clit in a long, slow lap before climbing up over her, pulling her into my arms.

Cirri smiled up at me, her eyes slightly unfocused. The skin that showed every blush was pink, her hair wild.

Now you? she asked with desultory motions, flinging a leg over me.

I nuzzled her neck, pleased when she tipped her head back. “I want to hold you, Cirri. Let me hold you while you’re in the ecstasy.”

Ask and I will give, she said, a momentary seriousness coming into her gaze. You are mine, Bane. 

I couldn’t stop the grin that spread across my face, exposing all my bloodstained fangs in a terrible display of happiness. “As you are mine.”

She raised her head for a kiss, nipping at my lower lip with her adorably blunt human teeth.

“Are you trying to bite me?” I asked, amused at the thought.

Cirri laughed breathily, flopping back to the bed. Yes.

She snuggled against me, and between one breath and the next she was asleep.

I curled around her, pushing aside all thoughts of awful death-portraits and wargs. My fingers smoothed over her hair, and I stared at her sleeping face, memorizing every inch of it.

There were only so many years left for us.

I had to love the gift of every moment as much as I loved her.

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Chapter 29 Cirri

It was only the thought that Bloodrain would be over at midnight that kept me from hiding in the closet while Rose fussed over my hair. The elaborate braid she was working on somehow managed to feel heavier than my hair on a normal day, tugging at my scalp.