Blood Straight & Raw From The Source

Derrick stood at the fireplace, just staring at the dancing flames. Briar watched him from where she made herself comfortable behind the desk in a large office within a library. If it hadn’t been for these circumstances, she would’ve loved to get lost in the abundant shelves with books lining the walls. Instead, she propped her legs up on the edge of the desk and crossed her arms. She couldn’t appear desperate for him to focus at the topic at hand. She huffed, waiting for him to bloody acknowledge her. Did she have to threaten his life to get his attention and apparently keep it?

When he finally turned to face her, she had to remind herself that he could be lying. He could just be saving himself and Persephone from her wrath. His eyes were beautiful though and she couldn’t deny that she missed swimming in them. When his eyes searched hers, he sighed at what he saw within them. She obviously didn't cloak her mistrust and suspicion. He was her weakness and he had already left when he promised her the world and got what he wanted from her. He made her feel worthwhile only to feel foolish for believing someone wanted her.

“There was never anything beyond friendship when it comes to Persephone," he once again claimed.

She rolled her eyes. It would be too easy for him to say words, but actions spoke louder than words. She remembered how well they got along. Jutting out her chin in defiance, she quirked her eyebrow in challenge.

"T-Time will r-reveal the tr-truth."

"I made a grave mistake believing Reginald wouldn't go after you," he told her as he walked toward her. Her chest and belly tightened at his closeness, but she remained where she was. "I didn't want you to get involved in all this. That's why I left without a goodbye or an explanation, because if I saw you, I wouldn't be able to let you go. I wanted you safe.”

Liar.

He was nothing but a liar. His entire lot was.

"Your-Your words are-are just pr-pretty words," she whispered, but she knew he heard them when his eyes hardened with anger and determination. "You pr-promised me your bl-blood or-or was that a-a lie t-too?"

His eyes narrowed at her words. After a moment passed, she watched the slow smirk take over his face. What was that devious mind concocting now? She didn’t like the heat in his eyes as they swept over the length of her body. She didn’t like the lustful promise that burned within them. She didn’t like how it made her own body heat up in anticipation. Her eyes widened when he unbuttoned the cuff of his left wrist and rolled up his sleeve, revealing smooth skin for her eyes to feast on. She swallowed when he walked around the desk to where she was seated.

With his eyes zeroed in on her, she watched as he bit his wrist and offered his wounded wrist to her. Her eyes drifted to the two puncture marks made by his fangs and the blood already dripping down his skin. The scent of his blood was doing things to her body. Why was he so hard to resist?

"As promised," he told her.

Wait.

No.

She bit her lip and glanced up at him. He actually wanted her to drink from him? That act was way too personal and intimate to drink from him. The act usually was reserved between amorous lovers and mates. She was about to question him when he smirked at her hesitation.

"Blood straight and raw from the source is never tampered with," he reminded her and she couldn't deny that claim. "Are you scared to know the truth, ma petite fleur?”

Her eyes narrowed at that. No, she wasn't scared at all! Yes, yes, she absolutely was. He would force to lose control with this, but she let her feet drop down from the desk. If he wanted to play games with her, she would play them back. He would lose control first. She would make sure of that. Her eyes went to his wounded wrist and her hands reached out. She hated that they trembled, but she pushed through her nerves.

Her eyes met his when her tongue lapped at his blood. His entire body stiffened as her mouth pressed against his skin and she suckled his wound. His groan rocked through her straight to her core. He bit his lip as his eyes rolled back. She wanted to watch his unraveling, but she was drawn to his memories surfacing.

Visions and voices flooded her mind. Their time together and what they truly meant to him. His last conversation with Persephone before she vanished. His fury towards Reginald when he found her out in the hallway with him and how she reacted. The blackmarking ritual that took place after he refused to go along with their disgusting plan to force bite Persephone. The conversations with both Caleb and Helios about leaving without discussing it with her.

When she finally pulled back, her eyes fluttered open to meet his. His chest was heaving, trying to catch his breath. Sweat beaded his skin. His eyes had a haze of crimson as they intensely gazed into hers. She licked her lips, tasting his blood. He growled as his eyes flicked to her mouth and she wanted him to lose control like he seemed to make her do effortlessly. She purposely licked his wound and his body tensed. She was rewarded with another groan before he grabbed her and he yanked her upwards.

"Not so scared, are you, ma petite fleur?" he taunted. His eyes spoke of danger.

She smirked before leaning in and letting her tongue brush against his mouth to taste the leftover blood there. He growled and pressed a hard kiss to her mouth. She moaned, encouraging him to deepen the kiss. Tonight he’d give into her and she would make him lose control. She would make him make the most important decision of their immortal lives upon instinct rather just logic. Perhaps she would forgive him for leaving her to keep her safe in due time, but he had a lot to make up for.

Her heart thudded when he pushed her against the desk, forcing her back upon it. His hands desperate to rid her of any offending barriers between them. He took no heed or fear of all the weapons that were on her. She realized he was fearless and fierce as he took from her. She gasped when he spread her thighs and mounted her. His thick length fully embedded within her before she could truly breathe and he continued to seek her out. He took her to the very edge before he backed off to keep her from falling over the edge. Was he punishing her?

They were like a storm with lightening streaking across the sky and thunder roaring. Nothing was sweet about it, but it was raw and complex. It was rare. It was natural. It was beautiful. His eyes continued to burn into hers, but she didn’t look away from his. Once again that devious smirk lifted the corner of his mouth.

“You’re not afraid of the darkness, are you?” he whispered against her mouth.

She shook her head.

“Briar,” he grunted. “This is the last chance you have before I claim you. You need to tell me—”

Without warning, she grabbed his shoulder and yanked him towards her. She sank her fangs into his shoulder and he moaned at her actions. She drank his blood, tasting his excitement coursing through him. He continued to rock his hips and pump into her for a moment before his fangs sliced into her shoulder. She groaned in both pleasure and pain, withdrawing her fangs from him. She let her tongue glide over the wound as he continued to map out her body and dominate her. Her arms wrapped around him as he continued to drink from her, letting him see all her secrets. Her hands and fingers scratched and gripped at his back until he finally thrust deeply inside of her and stilled, spilling himself within her.

She heard an echo of a heartbeat before two heartbeats began to beat together. She heard his voice in her mind as his stream of thoughts burrowed into her. She could feel him everywhere. His fangs finally slid out of her as that masculine part slid out of her. His eyes were still intense, but there was this softness to them as they gazed down into hers.

She still refused to look away and he smiled at that.

“Only you could look at me straight in the eyes without flinching after knowing everything,” he murmured as his eyes swept over his bite mark.

She smiled at the look of pride upon his face. *I’m not afraid of the darkness. I thrive in it.* Euphoric relief flooded her at the gift of finally communicating with her mate clearly without hinderance. She pressed a hard kiss upon his mouth before she gazed into his eyes. Unshed tears still brimmed her eyes, threatening to spill like secrets on her eyelashes. *No matter what happens, we’ll get through it together.*

Instead of looking away, he finally looked her straight in the eyes and he nodded his head in agreement. Finally, the seeds of doubt growing within her were uprooted. His gorgeous eyes now had amethyst bleeding into teal. Her heart squeezed as she gazed mesmerized by their new eye color. She witnessed his truth through that lusty haze, but she did indeed discover his truth.

*You’ll never have to be reminded that you belonged once to the High House of Camberia,* she whispered into his mind. She knew he could see their new eye color, because he was gazing into hers. She hoped he'd find them as beautiful as she did. Tears finally spilled over her lashes, allowing her emotions to run wild.

She reached down and took his wrist that held the infamous blackmark. Instead of wincing at the grotesque scar, she pressed her lips to it and he choked back a sob. She knew this was every bit as emotional for him as it was for her. With everything he was dealing with, he hadn’t had time to truly cope with everything weighing down upon his shoulders.

*This mark will always remind you that you’re free from their clutches,* she told him, mystified she could finally communicate effortlessly with her mate. He could only nod his head and she allowed him to pull her into a tight embrace. She wrapped her arms around his body to let him know she was there.

She would always be there for him. She would make sure of it.

~~~

Pandora led the group to a tunnel. It was about a fifteen minute walk before they came across some steps leading up to a drain cover. There was a storage trunk obviously put there prior. Apollo and Pandora exchanged a look before Apollo quickly jumped up on the storage trunk and pushed the drain cover to the side until it was completely uncovered. Caleb watched Apollo grab the edge before he effortlessly hoisted himself up in the opening.

Soon one by one with Caleb and Apollo's assistance, the others managed to hoist themselves up through the opening. Caleb was the last one left and he glanced over at Pandora. Silver eyes sparkled in amusement and he wondered what she was hiding.

"We'll see each other soon," Pandora told him before she smirked. "Goodbye for now, Lawrence."

He chuckled at the use of his new identity. "Farewell, my dear Waverly."

He looked up to Apollo, offering a hand. He reached for it and he was promptly dragged out with ease. Well, that vampire was bloody strong and he had no intention of getting on Apollo's bad side ever. As Apollo shifted the drain cover back into place, Caleb was given time to survey his surroundings. They were in an abandoned warehouse that had seen better days.

Everyone except the group Caleb had chosen had already departed, probably already spooked by the fact they were alone. His eyes darted to the returned drain cover that was glowing red and the metal was melting and sealing the drain cover permanently. He glanced down through the slates of the drain cover to see Pandora working her magic.

Apollo stood right next to him as they watched Pandora's handiwork. "I need you to keep an eye on her paper trail," he told him as he glanced around to figure out where to go after Pandora disappeared from view. "We're heading to this motel on the outskirts of Eden Borough. It's the closest Angel's Wings. First leg of the journey will be by carriage after we track her down."

Caleb nodded in agreement before Apollo started to walk through the warehouse. Everyone followed after him, sticking close to the vampire. Caleb took out his phone and went to the secret bank app on it. The coven created the app to be only seen by their wards. Others only saw a news app with the most current headlines.

Just as Pandora had said, Persephone's accounts were now visible. He quickly checked her activity, but there was nothing current. He sighed and pocketed his phone. Bloody hell, where was she?