Page 63 of Accidental Blood Lust
“We should probably join forces and make some protection tools,” I suggest.
Rune smiles. “Yes. That would be fun for me.”
I smile back, imagining actually having another magic user as a friend. While witches often converge in covens, mages tend to be more solitary, and for the first time in a long time, I wonder what it would feel like to have some community around me.
“There’s something else that needs dealing with.” Cassius swirls the blood in his mug. “Lochlan still stinks of fae blood.”
“It’ll go away, right?” Lochlan asks. “I already feel better after drinking from Rome.”
“Eventually, with lots more feeding, but for now, it makes you a trackable target.”
Roman growls, gripping Loch’s hand and looking at me. “What do we do?”
“As I’ve said…” Cassius tilts his head as his eyes fill with what looks like pity to me. “We have to drain him.”
ROMAN
I growlas my wolf thrashes, pushing to the surface. My eyes sting and patches of fur break out across my arms and chest. “Are you sure it’s the only way?”
“It is, Wolfie.” Cassius offers a slight smile. “Obviously, you’ll both be here to replenish him.”
“What exactly does it entail?” I’m hoping that what I’m imagining is far worse than the real process.
“We’ll have to deplete him, to the point of near death, and then you’ll feed him, restoring his health and removing all traces of the fae connection. Otherwise it’ll take months.”
“Fuck,” I grumble, squeezing Lochlan’s hand tight. It’s just as bad as it sounds.
His face is blank, and if he could be more pale, he would be. “I really fucked up.”
“No, don’t say that,” Jareth says, trying to console our pretty mate.
“It’s true. My actions have hurt you both. Some mate I am.”
“Clear the room,” I growl. The guys take me seriously, quickly leaving the three of us alone. Once they’re all gone, I rub Lochlan’s hand. “You’re an amazing mate and a wonderful person, and we…” My eyes meet Jareth’s, and he nods. “We’d do anything for you. Anything to keep you safe and happy.”
Lochlan looks so sad it makes my wolf whimper. “I wish I could go back in time and do things differently.”
“I don’t,” Jareth says softly. “Not anymore. What you did changed everything. It brought us together in a way we never could have imagined, and once this is all over, we get to build a life. One filled with so much love and desire and happiness. We get to have that because of the choices you made.”
Lochlan’s jaw drops. “Do you mean that?”
Jareth nods. “Yes. If you hadn’t, you and Roman wouldn’t have discovered your bond, and even if I wasn’t included, that’s important and beautiful.” He smiles as he looks at me. “Andmaybe Roman and I never would have…” He blinks his glassy eyes. “Roman didn’t feel safe enough to choose me until he learned he could. That happened because of you turning.”
Gods, I love this man, and my heart is quickly twining itself around Loch’s too. “Jareth’s right. We have all this and a promising future because of your choices. We can’t be grateful and resent them at the same time.”
Lochlan falls into my arms, grabbing Jareth’s hand to tug him close, and then the three of us are wrapped in a comforting hug, and I know without a doubt that I would do anything for the two of them.
After a few minutes of just quietly holding each other, I sigh, accepting what has to be done next. “We should go see Cas now.”
Lochlan shivers as Jareth and I share a worried glance.
“It’ll be okay. Cas won’t let anything bad happen to you, and neither will we.”
“But I have to ask for more blood.” Loch turns his worried gaze to Jareth. “I’m sorry.”
“No.” Jare shakes his head and touches Loch’s cheek. “It doesn’t bother me when it’s you. Not anymore. I’ll feed you whenever you want it or need it, I promise.”
Loch’s eyes pulse a pretty pink as his fangs dig into his bottom lip. “I’m the luckiest vampire alive.”
