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He presses it to my lips. I want to turn away. Everything in me screams to not do this. This is the line I swore I’d never cross, but then I look at him. Theo. The one who could have killed me. He could have escaped, leaving me down here. He’s done none of those things. That has to count for something.

I close my eyes and drink. His blood feels like it explodes through my chest, ripping through the pain. My body arches, muscles seizing, and for a second I think I’m dying for real, but then I breathe. Everything suddenly feels lighter. The pain fades and the warmth in my body comes back. The world sharpens.

My head clears, like a storm lifting, and I draw in a full breath. I sit up. Theo’s hand is already there to catch me, but I don’t fall. I feel strong. Like my body’s humming with something that doesn’t belong to me.

‘You’re okay,’ he breathes. ‘I’m sorry that this happened to you, but you’re okay now.’

I nod slowly. ‘I feel … like I could run a marathon.’

A breath of a laugh escapes him, but it’s quiet. ‘That’s the blood. It heals fast.’

I meet his gaze, and he looks at me differently than before. Like he can somehow feel this connection too. Like we both just crossed a line we weren’t supposed to.

He doesn’t look away, rubbing his fingers down his head. ‘I don’t feel too good.’

He’s still kneeling beside me, still holding my hand, but his grip slackens, and I see the colour drain from his face. His shoulders sag. He sways slightly, like he’s fighting to stay upright.

‘Theo?’ I ask quietly.

He blinks slowly, lips parted, breath shallow. ‘I’m fine. Just … light-headed.’

‘You’re not fine,’ I say, already moving closer. I touch his cheek and his skin is startlingly cool. ‘Is this because you gave me so much when you were already weakened?’

‘I’d say so.’

I swallow, staring across at him. He just saved me. This vampire, who has no ties to me at all, just saved me, and has weakened himself further in the process, when he isn’t even back to safety yet.

Shifting, I pull my hair around to one side and tilt my head back, exposing my neck to him.

His gaze flickers up to mine.

‘Cupcake—’ he starts, and I roll my eyes.

‘Enough with that stupid nickname. Hurry up and take the offer before I change my mind,’ I say, moving closer. My heart’s hammering. Not from fear anymore, but from what I’m about to offer. What I want to offer. My mind can’t quite keep up with the speed of events, but this feels like the right thing to do, as crazy as it sounds.

He hesitates. ‘You hate what I am.’

‘I thought I did,’ I admit. ‘But now I’m not so sure. You’re not the monster I thought vampires were. I wouldn’t be breathing right now if you hadn’t—’ My voice breaks and I inhale shakily. ‘Let me do this for you.’

He hesitates, jaw tight, eyes full of conflict. ‘It’s not just feeding. It can be intimate. You might feel things. I might feel things.’

I nod, not completely processing his words, but I understand enough. ‘That’s okay.’

He hesitates.

‘Theo,’ I say quietly, not recognising myself. ‘Do it.’

He stares at me for a long moment, as if waiting for me to change my mind, before moving closer. His hand finds the side of my neck, fingers trembling slightly.

‘It won’t hurt,’ he says softly, breath tickling my skin. ‘Just breathe.’

I close my eyes. His lips brush my skin, warm and soft, before there’s a sharp bite. A flash of pain, and then a whirlwind of heat, sunshine, fresh air, and … desire? My breath catches at the realisation that I want to feel him drink deeper. I want his fangs in my neck. More importantly, I want his hands all over me.

As he drinks from me, something passes between us. I can’t quite explain what, but it feels as if a thread is slowly being woven between two souls who should never have crossed.

His arms are around my body, holding me in a strong but gentle cradle. I melt into him, blood still singing beneath my skin where his fangs pierced me. The world narrows to the press of his chest against mine and the rhythmic thrum of his heartbeat syncing with my own. Or maybe that’s my heartbeat reverberating in his chest now – there’s no line between us anymore.

I feel him everywhere. In my breath. In my veins. Humming beneath the surface of my skin.