ELEVEN
Lilith
It was like I was drowning over and over again with no breath of air. I could handle the pain the first three days, but fuck. I’d lost count of the days as I writhed in pain on the hard, cold floor. The floor battled my fever while the bed made the climbing temperature inside me worse. My muscles were in a continuous spasm. A cool sheen of sweat covered my body, but my insides were burning up.
The urgent need for blood had increased into blood lust, and it took every fucking ounce of energy I had to hold myself back when Gabriel was in the room. His blood smelled delicious, and the sweet tantalizing scent filled my nostrils.The panic that set in when he was near was indescribable, because no matter how delirious I became, I would not feed off him.
It wasn’t just blood that I needed, but my hunger for essence was starting to get hard to control. The hunger settled deep in my bones. I’d give anything to see Aziel, Thaddeus, Blaise, and Kai. I needed them for their comfort as well as their lifeblood.
My eyelids fluttered open as heavy footsteps stopped in front of me and the hair that was stuck to my forehead was brushed behind my ear.
“How long are you going to refuse to eat? Your body needs blood and essence. I’m offering mine.” Gabriel’s voice was smooth, but I knew his intent. I couldn’t give in, no matter how starved I was.
The honeyed scent of his blood hit my nostrils, and I rolled over, trembling. My fangs descended painfully slow, and I held my breath.
No. I won’t feed off him.
“It’s been months, Lilith. Your men won’t be coming to find you. Your precious vampires are working back in the living realm under the Order of the Void again. And Aziel’s been dealt with by your father. I’m all you have.”
My heart thumped hard against my ribs. “You’re lying,” I hissed through clenched teeth. “They wouldn’t.”
“I’m not.” He stroked my hair, sending unpleasant chills through my burning body.
There was no healing taking effect from the damage my hunger was causing. I was pretty sure there was some internal bleeding in my stomach from the way it cramped, and my throat was swollen. I could barely stay conscious.
The pain radiating through my physical body distracted me from the mental turmoil and anguish. I couldn’t escape it, and I hadn’t slept more than a few minutes at a time since the hunger set in. I didn’t know how long I’d be able to resist not partaking in Gabriel’s offer, and that survival instinct made me sick.
He sighed, backing away, and I barely noticed the flash of his teleportation before I blacked out from the overwhelming amount of agony.
My awareness faded in and out for what seemed like an eternity, though that was unlikely. Reality had fractured and I couldn't tell what was real and what wasn't. Had I just spoken to Gabriel or not? If it had been as long as Gabriel claimed, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t have died from starvation already with the bracelet embedded into my wrist.
Was I still immortal or did this bracelet make me as mortal as a human being?
Aziel was probably tearing all the realms apart to find me, and my vampires were probably out of their minds with concern. I hoped Blaise was taking care of himself, that Kai was being as strong as he could, and that Thaddeus was as put together as he always was. I hoped Aziel wasn’t blaming himself. Most importantly, I hoped they were safe.
With me gone, there was no telling what my father would do. Last time I was gone, he blamed Aziel and cut his fucking throat. I had a suspicion he knew where I was, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around why he hadn’t intervened. All I knew was that he better not fucking touch any of my men.
My thoughts about anything other than the excruciating pain were fleeting. A blistering wisp of pain wrapped around my throat before tightening. Weak, ragged breaths left my chapped lips in pants.
I lifted my arm and dropped it like the dead weight it was next to my face. The bracelet had sunk so deep into my irritated flesh it overlapped the coppery metal.
Groaning, I squeezed my eyes shut. Gabriel had been by almost every time I came to, but he wasn’t there the past two times. I’d silently thanked whatever made that happen, because I was so hungry, I’d have sunk my fangs into him without a second thought.
Please, guys, find me before I do something stupid like that.
A warm, tangy liquid dribbled on my chapped, painfully dry lips, followed by the mesmerizing scent of blood. My nerves exploded, and the pain in my muscles subsided for a swift moment. As my tongue darted out to taste the sweet substance, a soft moan left my throbbing throat.
My eyes fluttered open and met two entranced, white glowing ones staring back at me. He leaned over me with his wrist above my mouth. I scanned him for injury but found none.
I sniffed twice. The blood had come from him, but he must’ve healed up from where his skin had broken to release the viscous liquid.
Blood.
Delicious blood from a powerful source.
My instincts clawed to the surface of my consciousness. I pushed up off the ground, and slammed him onto the floor beneath me.
My fangs sunk into the tough flesh of his throat.