Darkyn's Mate

"Second lesson: you will do whatever it takes to win the deal."

"Like blood binding yourself for insurance," she said in frustration. "Or stripping Past-Death's power."

"Exactly."

She had to focus. There had to be a way. He'd told her she wasn't able to travel via portal when she was human. Yet she drew off his magic now. She was able to kill and call a portal from the human world.

"One."

Her gaze flew to him.

"Two."

Deidre bolted, silently willing a portal to appear as she sprinted into the fortress.

"Three."

A black cave yawned open before her. It was different than the other portals; there were no doors visible through this one, just a hole in the world. She flung herself through it, not caring what waited for her on the other side.

Deidre emerged in her room, a full second before Darkyn did. It took a moment for her to register the truth.

"Omigod! I did it!" she breathed. She hurried to him. "You lose. You have to stop hurting them." Praying she hadn't missed some term of the deal, she waited for his reaction. For a long moment, Darkyn was quiet. Deidre's despair began to form a new, along with tears. She started to shake, unable to bear the idea of more children dying or living with the creature behind it.

His cold smile scared her, until he spoke. "Done."

"Is this your insurance plan where you don't follow through because it's not binding?"

"I always execute my terms," he replied. "There will be no more attacks on human schools."

She waited another few seconds for a catch before letting herself believe him. Relief made the tears she'd been holding begin to fall. Deidre reached up to him and fluttered kisses across his face and neck. She nuzzled him there, smelling the blood so close to the surface. It made her hungry to taste him.

"Lesson three. If you win or lose, let it be on purpose," he said.

"You let me win?"

He chuckled as she nibbled timidly at his neck. "You don't need an invitation to drink, love."

At the amusement in his voice, she flushed. She nudged his chin aside but wasn't certain about biting him. His fangs were lengthening, and he lowered his head, nudging her back. Darkyn rested his hands on her hips and drew her into his body.

"I beat you," she whispered into the shared space between them. "Even if you let me. I'll take it." She pushed his chin aside with more force and kissed his neck before closing her eyes and letting her fangs sink into him.