Darkyn's Mate

"No," she said. "You're messing with me."

Darkyn responded by removing his hand from her body. He ran one finger along her lips. She felt a drop of warmth and instinctively licked it. Warm, sweet.

Him.

Her hunger became crippling. She wrenched away from him, desire and thirst making her head reel.

"Look in the mirror," he said, nodding his head towards the wardrobe. "You've got the demon marking already."

Deidre fled to it, needing something to bolster the defenses that were dropping too fast. She yanked the wardrobe open and turned to peer over her shoulder.

She had two markings on her back: One burgundy, the familiar Immortal mating tattoo, and the new one black, positioned directly beneath the original. Both displayed Darkyn's name. Shocked, she wasn't able to move.

"You will never have a chance with Gabriel, even when you win your deal." Darkyn touched her arm again, his cool energy making her snap.

"You son of a bitch!" she whispered. "I will never say those words!" Deidre slapped him hard. Darkyn's tongue flickered out to catch the drop of blood from the corner of his mouth.

She raised a hand to slap him again, but he grabbed her. Any control she had slid away. She struggled against him, not caring what he did to her now that he'd taken away her only real hope of leaving.

He kissed her. The taste of the blood in his mouth ensnared her instantly. She stilled, arrested by the flavor and texture. All conscience effort to think fled and was replaced by a new instinct, the primal need to feed. He released her. Deidre took his face in her hands, hungrily trying to taste more of him as she explored his mouth with fervor.

Only when every last lingering fleck of blood was gone did her ability to think return. She dropped back on her heels, staring up at him in surprise. Darkyn's dark eyes glowed. His fangs were out, his attention riveted to her.

"Blood bond," he said quietly. "The original bond from the time-before-time. Demons are the only who still practice it. Immortals and deities have mating marks. Demons have blood marks. I am both a deity and a demon, which means you have both. Insurance." He stepped away, towards the bed, peeling off his shirt as he went.

Deidre couldn't register what he said and how permanent he claimed it was.

"I know you are hungry. Come feed with me."

She drank blood! Horrified, Deidre started toward the door. She needed to run away, far away, until this nightmare was over.

Darkyn stopped where he was and lifted a hand. He slid a fingernail across the pad of his thumb.