Free Rule by Alaska Angelini Page B

more to the side. I could see her fear and it had my vampire instincts flaring. “You can heal me.”
    “But … Marko. He’ll kill me.”
    My head shook as I sidestepped to cut her off. Desperation had me stronger and in predator mode. I was ready to catch the smallest mistake on her part and attack.
    “Marko will thank you. He wants me back. I’ll never get home if I don’t do as Aetas wants. And he wants me to learn. I need you, Marie.”
    “I can’t…’
    Lust . It ruled her fear. The scent hit me hard as I grew closer.
    “And if I don’t give you a choice?”
    “You’re not thinking straight. Don’t do this, Tessa. I don’t want to hurt you.”
    Marie was physically stronger, but I had something she didn’t, and I knew how to use it.
    Dark fog began to cloud the edges of the ceiling, rolling toward the two of us. Panic left her eyes darting around in jerky movements. To get to the door, she’d have to pass me, and I could smell her fear. It mixed with the increasing arousal. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, she wanted my bite.
    “Tessa, you have to stop.”
    The room began to disappear in the thick substance. I opened my mouth, letting my poison, my lure, seep from me in waves of black smoke. Marie let out a sound and she broke to run around, only to turn at the last minute and dive over the bed. Before she could rise, I was throwing myself on top of her.
    My fingers laced on the sides of her head and she arched underneath. I didn’t hesitate to lock my lips on hers. Heat ignited in my core while I started to drug her enough to help her relax. Muffled sounds vibrated my mouth and she rolled us over, still trying to fight. It had me clinging to her tighter.
    “You want this, now lower to me. Let me taste you.” Seduction may have taken over my tone, but I was focused on only one thing. Her blood. I needed it and nothing was going to stop me from getting it.
    “He’ll kill me,” she said, slurring at the end.
    “No one will touch you,” I purred.
    A whimper filled the space between us and I let myself relax as she obeyed. The softening of her body was followed by her molding into me. Marie dropped her head, exposing her pale neck. I brushed back her dark hair, already feeling my fangs push down. A bang sounded and I lunged forward, sinking through her skin. Warmth filled my mouth and I sucked in hard, greedily taking her into me.
    Power exploded over my taste buds, rushing through my system. Her grip on my shoulders increased and she moaned as my eyes widened from the effects. Movement through the fog had me wrapping my legs around her body, holding tightly.
    “Princess?”
    The voice got closer. I pulled at the darkness, making it thicker around us to conceal what I was doing. Vibrations tingled across my skin and the need to scream was almost unbearable. It’d been too long since I had good blood, it was shocking my system.
    “Princess Tessalyn?’ The voice was more demanding. More so, laced with impatience. I broke away, licking over the wounds. Marie panted and I pulled her up, sitting her on the edge of the bed as I lifted my hand, waving away the fog. It cleared enough for me to see the blonde who’d been here before.
    “Can I help you?”
    A suspicious glare was sent my way and I raised an eyebrow, waiting.
    “Aetas wishes to see you. He’ll be here shortly.”
    I glanced at Marie’s flushed face and shook my head. “There’s no need. I was just on my way out. I’ll go and see him.”
    The blonde’s lips parted and she appeared to go blank. Maybe my bluntness wasn’t allowed or heard of here, but I wasn’t staying in this room for a moment longer.
    “Just tell me where he is. I’ll find him.”
    “No.” She drew out the word. “You should stay and wait. If you leave, he will be upset. You don’t want that.” Before she could finished, the door opened and he walked in. I wanted to groan. His visits usually lasted hours and I couldn’t stand to think of staying