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Irritation bubbled up in my chest. I grumbled and poked my head out from underneath my blankets and pinned Griffin with an annoyed stare. “I am very busy. Thank you very much.”

Griffin just chuckled and ruffled my hair, making me blush. “Okay, buddy.” Griffin pulled his hand away, his attention returning to the phone call. “Send me the details, and I’ll make sure it gets done.”

I sighed in frustration, knowing that I wasn’t going to get out of this, no matter how hard I tried. “That was Charles. His patrol partner’s mate is pregnant. Everyone else is busy. He needs our help getting her food.”

“Why do I have to do it? It’s not my job. Can’t someone go get her a blood bag or something?” Griffin just laughed before climbing out of bed.

“It literally is your job, Si. Remember, it’s good to help others. The coven takes care of one another as a family. Besides, she’s not thirsty; she wants a sandwich from the deli. I know it’s hard, and your sloth nature is telling you to ignore me, but I also know you can be my good boy when you really want to.”

My heart did a weird flippy thing, and I felt myself reach out underneath the blankets towards Griffie. When he grabbed my hand, I felt calmer, and the idea of running an errand with Griffin by my side was sounding less and less terrible. Especially when he called me his good boy. Griffie also age-regressed like me, but he was more of a middle than a little. Because of this, whenever we were regressed, Griffie usually took on a big brother role for me. Make no mistake, though, he craved having a Daddy just as much as I did. I needed guidance and structure, but Griffie needed someone who would pamper and spoil the shit out of him. Okay, maybe I wouldn’t mind being pampered and spoiled as well.

Everyone in the coven got to choose a job that fit their talents and interests. For me, that was extremely difficult. Other than sloths, sleeping in, and playing with my toys, I couldn’t care less about anything else. . . well, except Griffie. When it was my turn to find a job as a member of our coven, I failed almost every one I had tried. I felt useless, but coven master Grant had ruffled my hair and said that he was proud of me for at least trying. Ever since that day, I’ve been the coven’s appointed errand boy. I mostly got sent on last-minute grocery store runs. I hated it, but at the same time, I didn’t. I hated doing anything, but at least I could do this quickly. Since it was nowhere near as demanding as a real job, I accepted it.

Griffin rubbed soothing circles on the back of my hand, making me wish I could always hold his hand. I poked my head out from under the blankets and gasped softly when I was met with Griffin’s beautiful green gaze. “I can be good, Griffie. I don’t want to, but I will. . . for you.”

Griffin’s eyes sparkled with pride. “I know it’s hard, Si, but I’m proud of you. All we have to do is run to the deli a few blocks over. If you’re good, we can come straight back home, and I’ll put on your favorite movie.”

Excitement coursed through me as I whipped the blankets off me. “The one with the sloth?” I loved sloths.

At first, it had started as a way for my parents to cope. The witch didn’t give many details on the curse, but they knew that I’d be born with the sin of sloth. One day, Griffin showed up at the nursery and gave my mom a stuffed sloth, hoping it would help her feel better. My mom loved it. I couldn’t help but recall the look of pure happiness on her face every time she told the story, and it made me smile. After that, both my parents and Griffin started collecting sloth-themed things for my nursery. They comforted my parents and Griffie, but they became my comfort too. Even as a small child, Griffin was so caring and thoughtful. I’d always be thankful for him. He not only helped my parents but supported me in my obsession, always gifting me sloth-related goodies. He was the best.

Griffin giggled and stepped forward to fix the hood on my sloth onesie. “Yes, Si, the one with the sloth. Do you want to wear your onesie outside?” For Griffin and me, our day was just getting started, but the rest of the world was going to sleep. I didn’t care what others thought about me. I loved my sloth onesie, and no one was going to make me care enough to take it off. If others had a problem, they could look elsewhere.

“I want to wear my onesie. It’s bad enough that Charles is making me run an errand. If I’m going to be miserable, I’m going to do it while I’m comfy.” Griffin just chuckled and ruffled my hair.

“I figured, but I thought I’d ask anyway. Come on, Si. Let’s go.” I grumbled in annoyance but took Griffin’s outstretched hand and threaded our fingers together.

Our coven house was basically a huge hotel, but every room was a fully functional apartment. Downstairs were several businesses, each one owned by a member of the coven. We had several boutiques, a cafe, and a bakery.

When we took the elevator down and through the lobby, I began to feel more tired and sluggish than usual. Griffie kept my hand in his as he led us down the back alleyway. It was late out, and the streets were practically bare, but even so, we preferred to stick to the alleys. It felt safer that way. As we kept walking, my body grew heavy, and the urge to fall back asleep became overwhelming. The only thing keeping me up right was Griffin’s hand.

“Si! Silas!” I shook my head and looked around, realizing we had completely stopped walking. “Si, are you okay? You’re more sluggish than usual-” Griffin’s words came to an abrupt stop, and he let out a long, exasperated sigh. “Silas, when was the last time you drank blood?”

A frustrated groan tore from my throat. I should’ve known that’s what was happening. As vampires, we needed to feed off the blood of another living being. Most mated vampires choose to drink from their partner. However, for children and those who were unmated or preferred non-vampire blood, we had a blood bank. Since human diseases didn't affect us, the bank offered diseased human blood that couldn't be used for medical purposes. We also had animal blood, but very few vampires would drink it willingly. The days of us directly feeding from humans without their consent were long gone, and had been since long before I was born.

Even though I had never drunk blood from anyone other than Griffin, I hated the blood bank. To survive as a vampire, we have to feed at least once a week if we are drinking human or animal blood. If our main diet was vampire blood, then it’s more like every two to three days. Apparently, vampire blood isn’t as effective since it’s so similar to my own blood. It might seem pointless to consume vampire blood, especially with its weaker effects. Despite this, most vampires loved drinking from their mate for pleasure or to strengthen their bond.

I hated the taste of the human and animal blood that was provided at the blood bank. I’d always thought something was wrong with me. I was a vampire who hated the taste of blood unless it was Griffin’s; how fucked up was that. I hadn’t always fed from Griffin; it wasn’t until that fateful day nearly forty years ago that I had fed from him for the first time. Griffin and I had been walking downtown late at night. Much like tonight, I had become very weak and almost passed out. Griffin had reprimanded me, then tilted his head to the side and brought my mouth to his neck. That night, when my fangs broke the delicate skin of his neck and I tasted his blood, was the first time I had truly felt like a vampire in my two hundred-plus years of existence.

The only downside to drinking from Griffie was that it made me horny, so fucking horny. Every time my fangs slid into his flesh, it took everything I had not to hump against him like a desperate animal. Sadly, every vampire had a fated mate, and if Griffin and I were meant to be, we would have known already. So every time I had the urge to drink from Griffin, I held back and told myself I’d be good and go to the blood bank; I didn’t have to torture myself. I did try, I really did, but every time I thought of going to the blood bank and trying to drink that disgusting stuff from a pouch, it made my stomach turn.

“Hello! Silas!”

My head felt fuzzy. When I attempted to look over at Griffin, it was almost as if I was underwater. He looked nearly sick with worry. Oh yeah, he had asked me a question. “Sowwie Griffie. I haven’t fed since the last time you let me drink.” I looked down in embarrassment, preparing for a lecture. I should have known better because, as always, Griffie just grabbed me by the back of my neck and shoved my face into the crook of his neck.

“You wouldn’t have to feed so often if you’d just go to the bank.” I opened my mouth and let my fangs drop.

“I know, but you just taste so much better. Can’t help it.” Griffin yelped in surprise when my fangs broke his skin. Griffin let out a long groan as I took the first big gulp of his blood. As always, his blood and the sounds he made as I drank from him were delicious and had my cock hardening in my onesie.

Normally, with our enhanced hearing, we’d hear anyone before they even approached us. However, with my senses being dulled from the lack of blood and Griffin being distracted with my fangs deep in his neck, we didn’t hear it until it was too late. “Holy shit! I can’t believe I’ve finally found you. I can’t lose you again!” Griffin stiffened under me, and I pulled my fangs free as gently as possible before whipping my head around to face the intruder.

It was almost pitch-black outside, and the alleyway was poorly lit. Thanks to my vampire senses, I could see the man as he began sprinting down the alley, heading straight for us. His hair was almost all white and unkempt, like he had been running his hands through it over and over again. His eyes were wild with determination as he barreled right for us. Griffin and I were frozen in shock. The man couldn’t hurt us, but his crazed demeanor and strange words made us pause.

As the man got closer, my blood began to feel like it was boiling, and my whole body felt like it was on fire. My mind whirled as my gaze stayed fixed on the man running straight for us. There was a singular word that kept repeating in my mind.

Ours.

I didn’t understand it. My body felt hot all over, and my cock was hard as steel, and my fangs itched with the need to drink and claim. OURS. Confusion filled me, and my chest began to ache. I took a deep breath and looked at Griffin. When my gaze met his, his eyes were bright red and glowing, sending another wave of heat throughout my body. The word became louder and louder until it became impossible to ignore.