The Blood She Betrayed by Cheryse Durrant

Author:Cheryse Durrant [Durrant, Cheryse]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 9780987271792
Publisher: Clan Destine Press
Published: 2013-09-27T02:27:26+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Max was confused. One moment Shahkara was on top of him, lips melting into his, the next she'd unsheathed her talons and retreated in fear.

`Shah, what's wrong?'

`Keep away!' The raw ache in her voice punched him in the gut. She looked so small and fragile, huddled into a protective ball.

`Did I do something wrong?' Hairs prickled the back of his neck. `Are we in danger?'

`I am the danger.'

`I don't understand.' He tightened the towel around his hips as he moved from the rumpled bed towards her.

`Get away or I will kill you!'

His feet braked against the carpet. `What?'

`I am half-Taloner, remember?' Her claws retracted.

His throat clenched and unclenched. `But you'd never hurt me, I know that.'

`Desire fuels my hunger for hearts. I keep it leashed, but I am weakest when I bed a man.'

Jealousy pricked him. She'd slept with others? Of course she had. In her kingdom, she probably had her pick of noblemen. `How many men… have you had?'

`One! That was enough. I loved him. He died at my hands!'

Bittersweet fear shivered through him. No wonder she'd avoided him. He wasn't precious about his life; he'd rather spend a single hour with her than a lifetime alone. But if he died, his death would burden her further by adding to her guilt. The only way he could protect her was by protecting himself.

A worse fear shrivelled his insides. How could he compete against the memory of a man she'd loved and killed? They'd forever be haunted by him.

`It's okay. We can work through this. Every relationship has its challenges.'

Her gaze burnt with defiance. `This is not a challenge, Max. It is an impossibility!'

`I will not give up on us, Shah. We'll find a way.'

`You would not say that if you had seen your lover's dead eyes after you ripped out his heart!'

Max shuddered, more from the raw pain of her voice, than the imagery, though that horrified him too. Nausea pitted his stomach. This curse had ruined her life, forced her to hunger for hearts and kill demons. Worse, she'd had no one to turn to, especially during her time of grief.

Max went to her and, squatting down, touched a finger to her cheek. `I think you're amazing.'

The sadness in her violet eyes was unbearable to. `I am not.' A sob escaped her lips. `I cannot fight this anymore. It is too hard and I am so alone.'

`You're not alone.' He shifted his weight to sit beside her on the carpet. `You'll never be alone.' Her warmth radiated against him as he bent an arm around her shoulders. She flinched, but did not draw away. Her glistening eyes blinked and a tear ran down her cheek. Another followed. She hiccupped and more tears fell. His arm gathered her closer and she did not resist. She curled up against him.

Her tears felt warm on his chest, but he had no real idea how to console her. Except to hold her close while she wept. He knew nothing could cheer her now.

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