Shattered Promises 02 - Fractured Souls by Jessica Sorensen (motivational books for students TXT) 📕

quivers and falls flat on her stomach, her head resting near Draven’s feet. “Then no deal.”

Laylen’s livid as he slants forward about to say who knows what, but I interrupt him.

“How do we know that you know anything at all?” I ask and feel Laylen go rigid beside me.

His lips part and I half expect him to shout at me to shut the hell up, but surprisingly he stays quiet.

Draven’s fingers seek the cigar in the ashtray. “When the Lord of the Afterlife makes a deal, the deal is unbreakable. Those are the rules.” He places the butt of the cigar into his mouth and inhales.

Laylen tips his head to the side, encountering my gaze. There’s an exchange between us, an agreement, like we’re asking each other what to do.

Laylen leans in toward me, keeping his voice hushed. “It’s addicting.”

Breathe in. Breathe out. “I know… if you don’t think you can do it, that’s okay… I’ll understand.”

“Not just addicting for me… I’ll always crave no matter what,” he clarifies. “But it’s also addicting for you, too.”

My forehead creases. “I’ll become addicted?”

“You could and then you would most likely end up at a place just like this.” He gives a fleeting glance to the woman on the floor. “Doing whatever just to feel the sensations the bite brings.”

Sensations? “But Aislin got bit and she’s fine.”

“Fine… but not great.” He contemplates. “Besides, Aislin is a Keeper and a Witch. She’s stronger in the sense of control and what she can’t do of her own freewill, she casts a spell for.”

I swallow hard. “I can be strong.” My weak voice contradicts my words, though.

He gives me a heart-wrenching look and then cups my cheek, leveling our gazes. “But your emotions are so new... I’m worried it might be even harder for you.”

“Is this the best way to find out if my mom’s alive?” I ask, refusing to give up so easily.

He strokes my cheek. “It is… but we can try to find another way.”

I press my lips together, deciding, but ultimately, it’s not even a choice. My whole life, I’ve had no one. It’s merely been myself, yet it was only a shell of myself. I want more. I want my mom. I want to know where I came from and feel like someone cares about me. I don’t want to walk around this world feeling so unloved. I also want to understand love.

“Do it,” I utter. “I want you to bite me.” I actually mean what I say, too. Maybe it’s because of my mom, out of curiosity, or maybe this is just the kind of person that I am—one who welcomes intoxicating, dangerous things.

Draven claps his hands and Laylen jerks away from me, rotating forward in the chair so he’s facing Draven.

“Very well played,” he says as he claps his hands again, puffing on the cigar. “Give him the sad eyes and show him your heartache.” He pauses, assessing us as a cloud of smoke envelops his face. “Although, I might say that they’re extremely lovely eyes so it’s not quite fair on Laylen’s part. They’re so intoxicating... Violet is such a unique color. You don’t see it that often, except for on Pixies and sometimes Fey.” He ashes the cigar, tapping it on the side of the glass ashtray.

“She’s neither,” Laylen hurries and says. “And will you please just get on with it.”

“Easy.” Draven puts out the cigar in the ashtray, spilling ashes onto the table. “She’s agreed to let you bite her. The time will come.”

“I don’t want to bite her,” Laylen makes it clear through gritted teeth. “What I want is to be normal.”

“Normal is overrated,” Draven remarks. “Now, please, feed on her. I’m dying to see it.”

The full reality of what’s about to happen starts to sink in. Laylen’s going to bite me and it’s going to feel… well, as far as I’ve seen good. Yet too good, almost to the point that I might become addicted to the feel of my blood being drunk.

“Tell us about Jocelyn first,” Laylen demands. “Or no deal.”

Draven shakes his head with a wicked glint in his eye as he traces the triangular symbol on his arm with his finger. “We’re not in Keeper’s land anymore my dear Laylen. You are nothing except an ordinary Vampire with a very unfortunate mark on your body that brands you good in the world of the bad.”

Laylen’s Adam’s apple bobs up and down as he swallows hard. “Fine.” His eyes reluctantly drift to me and, if it were possible, his skin looks even paler. “Gemma, I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have to do it,” I whisper at the sight of the discomfort in his eyes. “If you don’t want to. We can find another way or…”

I trail off as he shifts his body forward in his seat, bending his back and moving closer to me. My chest heaves ravenously as anticipation and fear collide inside me and I turn inward to bring myself closer to him. He maintains my gaze as he cups the bottom of my neck softly, yet at the same time with purpose. I wonder if he can feel my rapid pulse. If he can smell the scent of my blood in my veins. What he’s thinking. I wonder a lot of things, until he leans in so close I feel the heat of his breath caressing my skin, and then all thoughts are lost as a silence overtakes my body.

“Just breathe and try to relax,” he whispers, the pupils in his eyes expanding and taking over all of the blue in his eyes. His lips part, his breathing sharpens and his pointed fangs descend.

My mind tells me that I should be afraid, but my body won’t have any part of it, the prickle on the back of my neck stabs wildly, releasing an abundance of emotions. I lean into his touch, his hand tightens around the bottom of my neck and my knees press into his. I know Draven is watching