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“Why? Are you going to ruin my life some more? You’ve already done that. I’m stuck in this hellhole with the most unimaginable parasite who doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”

Rhenn has me against the wall. He moves his hand over my shoulder, dragging his palm to cuff possessively around my throat. “Call me a parasite one more time, and I just might have to live up to that.”

“Go ahead. Just know while you’re doing it, it’s you who needs me. My blood feeds you.”

He tsks, shaking his head. “That’s where you’re wrong. My bite is the only thing keeping you safe amongst the other monsters out there.”

“Yeah right.” I struggle to get out of his grip, knowing it’s no use. He’s insanely strong.

“You think it’s by chance the shifters stopped cornering you, or the witches no longer want to play?” He brings his face to the crook of my neck, breathing in as he smells me. “You’re my blood source, little human. I own you, and the moment I’m finished with you, Fall Haven is free to do with you as it pleases.” His thumb brushes over my thigh, letting it rise dangerously high. “You should be thanking me.”

“Screw you. You don’t own me.” And why the hell would anyone care who or what he sinks his creepy teeth into?

“Tell me,” Rhenn croons, the corners of his mouth rising, “do you always radiate this much heat between your legs, or do you secretly enjoy this?”

I try again to shake him off, then sigh with defeat. “If you’re going to bite me, then bite me. I want to leave.”

“And if I don’t let you?”

“I’m sure you and the rest of your parasite buddies sit around thinking the world drools over you, but it doesn’t. My blood is the only thing you’ll ever get from me. So get your hand away from my thigh and lose the daydream of keeping me here.”

He grimaces, letting out a low growl. “I’ve warned you about that word.”

“Are you sure you’re not half dog? Because you really sound like one.”

His grip around me tightens. “You’re playing with fire, Vixen.”

“The big bad wolf doesn’t scare me.”

Rhenn darts forward, plunging razor sharp fangs into my neck. Heat immediately radiates around the punctures, burning the skin. I can feel the little strength I have left being drained out of me. He groans, sucking for far longer than he needs, all the while keeping his fingers wrapped possessively around me.

“Do you know what would happen if I took too much?” Rhenn asks, going in for a second round.

“Yes.” He would kill me. It wouldn’t take long. I already feel lightheaded.

He presses closer, removing his teeth and running his tongue along my neck, licking the sticky blood as it exits my body.

Death has never scared me. There were even times when I wanted it. But this doesn’t feel like dying. His mouth is warm, brushing over me in a way that should terrify me. Instead, my body shudders.

I rest my hands on his chest, breathing in while the room begins to blur.

This is it. He can end it all now.

Moving higher, my fingers thread through his hair, and a low groan falls from the back of his throat.

It makes no sense, the way I feel being this close to Rhenn. Even as he drains the very life from me, it’s like I’ve never felt more at ease. Though not his intent, he’s stripping away all the other bad thoughts—the ones I truly can’t bear—and he’s replacing them with something else.

So, I lied. I am scared of Rhenn, of the power he has over me. I’m scared of the way I hate him, and of the way I don’t.

His hands grip my waist, pulling me into him. A tingle rushes through my core, warming my cheeks and sending waves of heat to my lower stomach. My legs feel weak, even though he’s stopped drinking from me. Anger seeps into my bones, confused at my body’s reaction. Am I really so fucked up that I actually like this?

“Are you going to hurt me?” I ask quietly. The question seems to lack any sense. He has already hurt me. At least, that was his aim. Oddly, I find no discontent in what he’s doing to me. Only with the way he spoke to me.

“I want to,” he admits, tightening his hold.

I swallow, then lean into his ear. “You can’t. There is nothing you can do to me that hasn’t already been done before.”

Rhenn releases me then. I fall to the floor at his feet, having no strength left without his support. He starts to walk away, freezing at the door. A visible tension crawls up his spine, and I watch his hands form into fists. With a deep inhale, Rhenn turns, pressing his back against the doorframe and sliding down.