Blood & Thorns: A Paranormal Reverse Harem (Shadows Descent Book 1) by Eve Newton

Author:Eve Newton [Newton, Eve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Catin Publishing
Published: 2024-10-17T00:00:00+00:00

22

VIOLET

I jolt awake, a scream dying in my throat. Cold sweat plasters my hair to my forehead, and my heart races so fast it makes me lightheaded. The nightmare clings to me, its tendrils of fear wrapping around my mind like a poisonous vine. I gasp for air, feeling as though I’m drowning in the lingering terror of my dream.

Nathaniel’s voice echoes in my head, clear as if he were standing right next to me. I’m coming for you, little flower. His words are a sinister caress, a promise of horrors to come when he finds me. I can almost feel his icy breath on my neck, his fangs grazing my skin.

I shudder violently, wrapping my arms around myself in a futile attempt at comfort. The room feels too small, too exposed. The walls seem to close in, and shadows dance in the corners, taking on menacing shapes. I glance at the window, half-expecting to see his face leering at me from the other side. But there’s nothing there except the late afternoon sun, sinking below the horizon. The normalcy of it feels wrong, compared to the turmoil inside me.

The guys aren’t back yet. Worry gnaws at me, competing with the ever-present craving for my sire that’s now reaching a fever pitch. It’s like an itch under my skin, a hunger that can’t be satisfied. I hate it. I hate him. But my body betrays me, longing for his presence, his blood. The dichotomy of my feelings—the revulsion and the need—nearly tears me apart.

With shaking hands, I reach for the potions Professor Eldon gave me. The glass bottles clink together as I fumble with the stoppers. The liquid burns going down, acrid and bitter. Almost immediately, my stomach cramps violently. I double over, a cry of pain escaping my lips as I curl into a ball, waiting for the potion to take effect. It feels like my insides are being twisted and wrung out.

Time passes in a haze of discomfort; minutes that appear longer. When I can finally stand without doubling over, I stumble to the shower on unsteady legs. My reflection in the mirror is a stranger—pale, haunted eyes, dark circles like bruises, hair a tangled mess.

The cold water is a shock to my system, but it helps clear my head. As I stand under the spray, my thoughts turn to Flint. The memory of his touch, his scent, the warmth of his body next to mine, floods my senses.

I need him. It hits me with startling clarity. It’s not just want or desire—it’s a bone-deep need that I can’t quite process. He makes things better, makes me feel better just by being near. It’s like he has some magickal ability to calm the storm raging inside me, to quiet the constant battle between my mind and my vampire instincts.

Caine, as well, though in a different way. They’re like anchors in the storm of my new existence, keeping me tethered to sanity when everything else is trying to sweep me away.

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