Page 29 of The Coven’s Sacrifice

“It is tonight,” she grumbled. “Dinner will be served in thirty minutes.”

“Thank you,” I said, dreading what came next.

Sienna left without another word. Sighing, I placed my tools inside the coop and closed the lock, ready for a warm shower and maybe a movie in bed. I guessed I could start a series as well. I did have time, after all. My books weren’t much of a comfort to me lately, my mind was too wired to stay focused on the letters, but movies I could do. Anything really to keep my mind occupied as I waited for the vampires to show up.

Inside my room, I undressed and placed the dirty clothes in the hamper, pleased to see my skin had lost that pale sickly tone to it. Instead I was lightly tanned from working outside all day, my cheeks a lovely red shade. I looked alive again. My shower was quick, even if I’d preferred to linger under the hot spray. A certain vampire tended to visit me there, and I wasn’t about to get distracted again by his amazing body. So, a quick shower it was.

Freshly washed and dressed, I sat down at my tiny dining table, digging into the delicious roast Nicco had made for me tonight. I was also treated to a glass of red wine, something I wasn’t a huge fan of, but definitely needed tonight. It was like Nicco had known exactly what my heart longed for to face these monsters.

As I ate, I watched a documentary on my laptop, anything to get my mind distracted as the hours passed by. Any minute now and they’d come by, demanding blood. And maybe more…

I was their sacrifice, which meant I was supposed to give them whatever they needed of me, I’d just never imagined them wanting my heart and as I sat there, nursing my wine, I felt real fear take hold. What if they demanded I stay with them? They had a right to my entire being, including my heart. Could they be so cruel as to ask that of me? I had no way of knowing, and how utterly terrifying was that?

The door banged open, startling me. My wine spilled all over my hand and table, making me groan with annoyance. Jacob sauntered inside, Harland right behind him.

I should’ve known Jacob would attack me, but I was still surprised as I found myself on the floor, Jacob sitting on my groin and growling low before he lunged forward, intent on biting my neck. I held out my arm, halting his movements, panting, I demanded, “Wrist.” Holding out said wrist in front of him.

“But it will hurt,” he whispered.

“I’d rather it hurt,” I told him, voice firm.

Jacob’s blue eyes flashed with red. “You do not want me to feed from your neck.”

“No.”

“Even if it hurts you.”

“It’ll hurt me more if you feed from my neck,” I admitted.

He made a wounded noise, then bit down on my wrist. He held eye contact, swallowing down my blood as pain erupted from the open wound. It hurt way less than Alexander’s bite had, but it was still unbearable. But I had to do it, for my heart's sake.

“My turn,” Harland rasped, helping Jacob off my lap. I remained splayed out on the floor as I offered my other wrist to Harland. He too looked wounded as he accepted my wrist, biting down and sucking in my blood.

Closing my eyes, I allowed the pain to take hold, reminding myself over and over again that this was what I needed. What I had to go through. Every week.

Alexander hadn’t fed from me since that first time, and would likely be starving now. I doubted I had enough blood to sustain him as well, but if my ancestors could do it, then I guessed I could as well.

“That is enough,” Jacob warned, tugging on Harland’s shirt.

Harland released my wrist, eyes flashing from red to brown. He remained on my lap, staring down at me with confused eyes. “Can we talk?” he asked.

I shook my head. “I want you both to leave.”

“But—” Jacob began.

I closed my eyes, holding out both wrists in front of my face. I couldn’t see them right now, not when it was already so hard. All I fucking wanted was for someone to hold me, to tell me everything would be okay. But instead, I had to go through this alone. “I need to rest.”

“Come, love,” Harland said, getting up from my lap. I stayed in place until I heard the door click shut behind them.

I was alone. As I should be.

But then why had it felt so wrong?

I wasn’t tied up this time when Alexander visited me in my dreams, just naked and panting for him to touch me.

“Please, Alexander,” I begged. “I need you.”

“I am here, my precious,” he purred, licking up my thighs. I quivered under his touch, starved for any affection I could get.