Free Sweet Cravings by Elisabeth Morgan Popolow Page B

consumed my body, the kind that made you feel good, real good, but I couldn’t move a muscle. I sat on the chair with my head resting against the top with my arms folded. I was still in the pink attire I’d come in wearing, and I was grateful for that.
    Caen was cross-legged on a matching chair. He snapped his fingers and a variety of wall candles lit up one after the other in a blazing line. “You can sit there for a while. Enjoy the burning candles. I love to watch them melt. Just like anyone who gets in my way, I melt them down.” He snickered.
    I attempted to lift a hand, but nothing.
    The aura surrounding him was dark now, a deep blue-black with an outer layer of an orange corona. I wondered what it meant. What it all meant. I’d have to ask Darius when I got back.
    If I got back.
    Caen hummed a song to himself while reading a book. I felt like the woman in Kill Bill, trying to move her big toe after being comatose for four years. I may be in a different situation, but now I became helpless and kind of scared, and Lily didn’t like feeling helpless and scared. It brought back evil memories.
    He glanced at me from atop the pages. “Well, this is becoming rather boring. Guess I’ll drink your blood now.”
    He stepped over to me, grabbed me by the hair, which hurt like a bitch, slammed me against the wall, and pinned my hands on top of my head with one palm.
    I would’ve struggled like a madwoman had I not been drugged.
    His breath was hot, and I mean hot on my neck. I wanted to turn my head in disgust and spit in his face, but that wasn’t an option right now. I just had to wait until the drug wore off.
    He nuzzled his face in the crook of my neck and goose bumps rippled across my skin. He smelled me and ran his hand through my hair, and then patted it down. He’d created a rat’s nest after gripping it so roughly.
    “I’m going to take you as mine and hurt that Darius. Do you know how vampires can steal another's blood-child? The bond isn’t as strong, but you’ll belong to me nonetheless. That’s what Darius did to Sang to take him from the claws of Annabelle.”
    I was horrified. I could be free of Darius…but at the same time, be bound to this nut job. I wanted to get away from Darius so much, but some strange string tugged at my heart and whispered softly, no . I had to be with Darius. I didn’t know why, but I had to.
    “All I have to do,” Caen said joyfully, “is drink your blood, give you my blood, and then perform a short ritual which will make you mine.”
    As his mouth went higher to my throat and opened, I could feel energy pump inside me, my blood boil. I was frightened, so frightened, and the power surged through me like an electrical line, poured through me, and strengthened my body. As his fangs barely grazed my skin, I went under him and clamped my mouth onto his neck.
    His eyes widened in disbelief, and his body froze.
    I got this instinctual feeling that as my fangs sank into him I was spreading the drug he had injected me with into his body, and I focused on making him as immobile as I was. Make him fear—the fear I felt.
    I was myself, but not, as if I were a different person. The power was so good, so great, and I was drunk on it, this new energy inside me, and forgot about the other presence that was entwined in my aura.
    I dug deeper into his flesh, made sure it fucking hurt like a bitch, and I pulled his blood in quick movements—hard, harsh movements. I sucked and sucked, but I couldn’t be satisfied. I wanted more. So much more. He had to pay. He had to suffer.
    I snatched his hands, and in an instant snapped his wrists and arms, punched him in the gut, all while I was still attached to his neck, drawing his precious life energy. I could see his aura empty into me, merge with mine and build onto it.
    Yes. More! More! I can’t stop! Must have more! Put him in misery, in complete pain and suffering!
    “Lily!”
    Sang’s voice reached my ears and penetrated my power