Chapter 87 Charged blood
Aloria
As we step into our room after dinner, the weight of the travel and the day bears down on us both like a thick fog. I can still feel the lingering warmth of dinner, the laughter of my family echoing in my ears, but that warmth is overshadowed by the worry gnawing at my insides. River strides across the room, his movements fluid yet strained. I can’t shake the feeling that beneath his composed exterior, he’s still reeling from the encounter with the prince.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” I ask, crossing my arms as I lean against the doorframe, unwilling to let him brush off my concern so easily.
He runs a hand through his dark hair, the motion betraying a hint of frustration. “Aloria, I’m fine. Just tired from the journey and the injury. We’ve had a couple of long days.”
I can feel the lie hanging in the air, thick and palpable. “You’re not just tired, River. You’re… different. You still feel the effects of the electricity, don’t you?” My heart races as I take a step closer, desperately searching his eyes for the truth.
For a moment, he holds my gaze, and I see the flicker of vulnerability. But then it’s gone, replaced by a mask of indifference. “It’s nothing I can’t handle. You should be more worried about yourself. You haven’t.. fed in days.”
His concern for me, even when he’s in pain, only deepens my worry. “I know, but I’ve been focused on you… and youmwhere not really avaliable”
“Aloria,” he interrupts, his voice firm yet gentle. “You need to prioritize your own well-being. I can’t have you weak when we’re on the brink of war.”
The reminder stings, and I look away, my heart twisting. I know he’s right. The hunger has been gnawing at my insides like a relentless beast. With a sigh, I nod, letting him see my defeat. “Okay, you’re right. I am… hungry.”
A glimmer of something flickers in his eyes, a mixture of relief and determination. “Then let’s take care of that.”
Before I can question him, he’s already moving, reaching for a small dagger that rests on the bedside table. My breath hitches. “River, what are you…”
“It’s for you,” he says, his voice steady as he presses the blade against the skin just above his heart. A small cut opens, a droplet of crimson blood welling up immediately. The sight makes my heart race, and my mouth starts to water. “I know you need it, so come on.”
“This is still weird to me?” I admit, hesitating. “I don’t want to risk that I could hurt you.”
He offers me a reassuring smile, but it’s laced with a hint of something deeper… an understanding that transcends words. “I trust you and I need you strong just as much as you need this.”
I can’t argue with that logic. As he tilts his chest toward me, I lean in, my heart hammering in my chest. The moment my lips touch his skin, I taste the warmth of his blood, and it’s unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before… it is different… he tastes different. There’s a charge to it, a spark that ignites something deep within me. It’s rich, pulsing with energy, and as I drink, I can feel a wave of strength washing over me, filling the emptiness that had settled inside me for days. It is like his blood has absorbed some of the electricity.
I pull back, my senses heightened, and a shiver of electricity courses through me, leaving me breathless. “River… your blood… it’s different. It feels… charged.”
He raises an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion darting across his features. “Charged?”
“Yes! It’s like there’s a current running through it. It’s not just blood; it feels alive.”
He frowns, contemplating my words. “I don’t know what that means. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
“Maybe… maybe there’s someone we can ask?” I suggest, my mind racing with possibilities. “Someone who can help us understand what’s happening.”
But River shakes his head slowly. “I wouldn’t even know who to approach. This is all so far beyond my understanding, Aloria. We’re venturing into unknown territory.”
The uncertainty hangs in the air, thick and heavy, but I know one thing for sure: if there’s something unique about him, we need to figure it out. The stakes are too high to ignore.
River moves closer, breaking the tension, and I feel the heat radiating from his body. He cups my face in his hands, his thumb brushing against my cheek, and I can see the shadows of worry still lingering in his eyes. “For now, let’s focus on what we can control.”
I nod, my heart racing as he leans in, our lips connecting in a soft kiss that ignites a fire deep within me. It starts gentle, a tentative exploration, but quickly deepens as desire flares between us. I can feel the tension from the day melting away, replaced by the intoxicating warmth of his touch.
His hands slide down to my waist, pulling me closer, and I can’t help but respond, my fingers tangling in his hair as I deepen the kiss. Every caress sends sparks of electricity coursing through me, igniting every nerve ending, and I can feel the world around us fading away until it’s just the two of us, lost in each other.
“Aloria…” he breathes against my lips, the heat of his breath sending shivers down my spine. “You’re everything to me.”
The sincerity in his voice wraps around my heart like a warm embrace, and I pull him closer, wanting to feel every inch of him against me. “And you’re everything to me, River. I’ll always stand by your side.”
With a newfound urgency, our kisses become more passionate, more desperate, as we explore the depths of our connection. My hands roam over his chest, where the Cut has already closed, feeling the rapid beat of his heart beneath my palm, and I can’t help but want more. More of him, more of this moment that feels like a world away from the chaos outside.
As we lose ourselves in each other, I can’t help but wonder what lies ahead. The storm may be brewing, but in this moment, wrapped in his arms, I feel a spark of hope igniting within me. Together, we can face whatever challenges await us, and together, we will find a way to navigate the shadows that threaten to engulf us.
With the promise of the night ahead, we pull each other closer, surrendering to the whirlwind of emotions that bind us together as we fall onto the bed.