First off, thank you so much for your sweet words! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed my work so much. I’m so sorry this took so dang long to get done but I really hope it was worth the wait and that you enjoy it.

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Asahi

Entering the room, Asahi stops in his tracks, eyes glowing. Much as he wants her forever, he’s steadfastly refuses to lead her into eternal darkness, but there’s something about her tonight that’s more enticing, more inviting…more tempting to take as much as he can.

A beat of her heart passes and then he’s there, drawing her up into his arms, cold fingertips caressing down her cheek to tentatively touch her throat.

“May I?” His voice is low, seduction curling around his words. As many times as he’s taken from her, he always asks.

She blinks, nodding before she realizes she’s moved.

His mouth opens, fangs extending and he bears down upon her neck. She flinches at the penetration, fingers gripping his bicep, her nails digging indentation into his pale skin. Asahi sucks firmly, drawing a deep dredge of her blood, moaning at the taste.

“What did you do?” he asks, words muffled by his lips refusing to lose one drop of her.

“Wha…what do…you mean?”

“Your blood,” he explains, licking his lips and meeting his eyes to hers. They’re fully dialated, the whites turned red in his literal blood lust. “Something’s different about your blood tonight.”

She shakes her head, unable to understand what he means and her pulse, faint as it is, reveals no treachery.

Maybe his beast is merely making know its own desires; it wants her forever as much as he does.

Ushijima

She’s always been special to him, ever since she alone withstood staring into his eyes and keeping her wits about her. From that moment on, he’d wanted her by his side. Someone, particularly a mortal, with that much strength could only be a positive he figured.

And he hasn’t been wrong.

But tonight, his thirst feels stronger, almost insatiable so he locks himself away from her, waiting for the urge to pass. He’s drained plenty of others dry before, but her he wants continuing on, living in the sunlight where he’s no longer able to be. If he goes to her now, he doesn’t know that he’ll be able to stop.

“Wakatoshi?” Her tone holds concern. “Are you ok? Were you injured in the fight?”

Ah yes, the hunters, the foolish brats who thought they’d best him. He’d won, of course, there was no contest and much as he wants to grab hold of a good excuse, he won’t lie to her.

“It’s nothing.” Ok, maybe a white lie. “I’ll be fine by tomorrow, just go to bed.” He tries to keep his voice even but he knows she can detect the faintest nuances.

“Toshi, please,” she insists, voice right outside his chambers, “let me help.”

Ushijima feels his fangs bearing against his will, the smell of her overpowering him even with the heavy stone door separating them. Unable to withstand any longer, he wrenches open the door, eyes narrowed, focused like a beast that’s spotted its prey.

“Waka…toshi?” she squeaks, falling back against the wall.

“I need you,” he rasps, surging forward to draw her close. “I want you.” He dips his head, inhaling her scent. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop,” he confesses before sinking his fangs into her skin.