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Ash tilted his head. “Then what made you ask that?”

I grabbed the cloth, pressing on his wound as I wrapped his hand in gauze. “I woke up with a sweet taste in my mouth, but I don’t remember eating anything.”

His voice softened. “Sweet taste?”

Shrugging, I taped gauze in place. “It’s not a big deal. Forget I asked.”

“Maybe it’s just your blood,” Zeke said, looking at Ezra.

Ezra’s eyes narrowed.

“It really isn’t a big deal. It’s not like I’m gonna drink infernal blood again, so it doesn’t matter.” I looked at each of them, trying to understand why they looked either uncomfortable, pissed, or confused. “I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t. I just know human blood tastes like copper.”

“All blood tastes metallic,” Zeke said, a grim look on his face. “It’s why I don’t like it.” He motioned to Ash and Ezra. “They put it in alcohol because blood enhances the flavor.” His gaze slid to Cyn, but he said nothing more.

“Then why are y’all acting so weird?”

“Taste his.”

I spun around, staring at Ezra. “What?”

“Taste Ash’s blood.”

My mouth dropped. “Are you insane?”

Cyn glared at Ezra. “Yeah. What the fuck?”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Ash said.

As Ezra rose to his full height, I took a hesitant step back.

“What’s with you?” Cyn looked from Ezra to me. “She doesn’t need to drink anyone’s blood.”

“You all know the conditions for candied Shyrlivi blood,” Ezra all but spat. It was the most emotion I’d heard from him since he appeared in my home.

Zeke’s eyes widened. “But she’s human!”

Cyn’s face screwed up. “Wait. Did her blood taste that way to you?” He looked at Ezra.

Ezra ignored Cyn, repeating his earlier command, voice severe rather than malicious. “Taste his blood.”

“That’s enough,” Ash barked.

If I didn’t intervene, it looked as if Ash and Ezra might fight. I didn’t want to cause a rift between them. I envied their brotherly connection.

“Stop!” I turned and grabbed Ash’s hand, lifting it in front of my face. Before I could overthink it, I ran the flat of my tongue over where fresh blood remained below the gauze.

I froze at the sound of Ash’s groan, my eyes widening as I stared at him.

Had I hurt him? He didn’t sound pained.

“Sorry,” he mumbled. “Caught me off guard.” He cleared his throat and stepped around to the side of the counter.

Ezra eyed him before looking at me. “Well?”

I turned toward him. “What?”

“What did it taste like?”