Unveiled: The Cursed Trilogy, Book Three by Betty Legend (recommended ebook reader txt) 📗

before on a cut finger, and it’s not appetizing. I don’t imagine vampire blood is much different.”

“It is. My blood is restorative and filled with magic.” Phoenix lifts his wrist, puncturing a small hole in it. “Try it.”

Giving me his wrist, I take hold of it, nerves bundling in my belly.

“I’m trusting you.”

Phoenix awaits me to put my lips to his wrist. When I do, I dip the tip of my tongue into the blood and await the awful copper taste, except that’s not what I receive. It’s almost sweet and not at all copper tasting. Kissing his wrist, I drink more. The blood reaches into my system, and there’s a sensation of rejuvenation, my muscles less tense, the pain in my back subsiding. My senses seem sharper, the colors and sounds around me more vivid.

Looking up at Phoenix, his icy blue eyes are rich with lightning bolts of red tingeing his eyes violet. Before drinking his blood, I couldn’t see that kind of detail in low light, but now the smaller details are visible. Underneath his calm exterior, he’s working hard to control his bloodlust around me. That truth warms me.

“Your blood doesn’t taste like I expected.”

“Drinking blood from a vampire with blood magic can be intoxicating, euphoric even. It’s a secret we hold close. It’s been exploited before.” The wound on his wrist has stopped bleeding, the skin healed. “How does your back feel?”

“Better, thank you.”

“I admit, it’s hard to see how strong your bond is with Emeric.”

“How long were you watching?” Nerves tighten in my chest.

“Long enough.” There’s a pained look in his eyes, and it hurts me to see it.

“I get it. I’m aware this is hard for all of you. I hope someday, it won’t be that way.”

“Maybe someday.” Phoenix takes my hand, caressing his thumb over it. “We’ll take one day at a time.”

With our hands together, we continue our walk, the sounds and scents around us more vibrant and audible than I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The pitter-patter of bird feet on branches reaches my ears, followed by the swish of a squirrel’s tail. Beneath our feet, the leaves are vibrant arrays of reds and browns, the veins of the leaves in clear detail.

“How long does this last?”

The corner of his mouth rises, his grin handsome. “It depends on how quickly it works through your system.”

“I’d like it to last a while.”

“We can do it again if you’d like to.”

“Are you bargaining a trade deal?”

“I suppose I am.” Phoenix laughs, the sound genuine. It’s an attractive laugh, masculine and laced with seduction.

“I won’t become addicted, will I?”

“Crave, yes, addicted like bloodlust, no.”

“All right, then yes, I’d like to drink from you again.” A glimmer of violet fills his eyes. “Did it arouse you when I drank from you?”

“It does arouse me, knowing you want me the way I want you.”

“The night in your condo, there was aggressive and seductive passion between us before you were lost to the bloodlust. Was that real or fueled by your bloodlust?”

Stopping, he turns me to him, his hand caressing my face, the sensation sending pleasured goosebumps along my skin.

“It was real, Selene. What’s between us is real. What we have is an aggressive and seductive connection, and I’m no longer going to avoid it, but I don’t want to hurt you again.”

Placing my hand over his, I lean closer, accepting the kiss we both want. There’s a fierce need simmering beneath our kiss as our lips aggressively claim the other’s. Backed to a large oak, my back meets abrasive bark. I whimper at the jagged feel of it against my tender skin. Phoenix quickly steps back.

“It’s okay. It was the bark of the tree. Don’t stop.”

Coming back to me, he lifts my legs, wrapping them around his waist as he continues our kiss. With the ferocity of our need, our hands roam each other’s bodies. Tightening his hands around my ass, he pushes into me, his erection warming my center.

“I want you, Phoenix.”

His head falls, pressed to mine, his breathing labored. “I want to ravage you here, giving in to the wildness of our magic and our bond, but I can’t hurt you again.”

Lifting his chin, they’re violet with a tinge of red in his eyes. Around the color are tightened features, revealing his struggle.

“I get it. Sex between us is wild and uncontrollable, so we’ll hold back, for now.”

As he lowers my legs, I take hold of his black shirt, keeping him close to me.

“Drink.” Tilting my head, I bare my neck to him.

“Selene, stop me if I go too far.”

“I will.”

Sharp fangs pierce my neck, and I whimper at the sting. Easing his sucking, he drinks slow, his hands holding me tight to him as he moans with pleasure. Magic escapes him, swirling around us. My body tingles with the sensation of my own magic. It responds to him, escaping through my hands before turning into a swirling ball of chaos. Phoenix pulls back from me, closes his eyes, concentrating on his composure. When he opens his eyes, they flicker between bright red and violet. Looking around us, his eyes turn fully violet as they widen.

“Your magic. Selene, it’s incredible.”

My lighter violet essence stretches out beyond his darker red-purple, dancing among the trees, wrapping around limbs, and seeping between leaves.

“It’s been building in me. I don’t know what to do with it.”

Phoenix takes my hand in his, leading me farther through the woods.

“Our magic is dangerous and wild, just like the connection and desire between us. It’ll take time to learn to control it.”

“What can our magic do?”

“You can kill with it.”

My breath catches.

“Don’t be afraid of it. It’ll be useful against demons. You can withdraw lifeblood from any being. You’ll be able to will your magic to extract blood from their bodies, and they’ll bleed out.”

“That’s gruesome.”

“It is, but you’ll be thankful if ever attacked again.”

“I believe that. What else can blood magic do?”

“It can give energy to spells, darker spells. It