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Chapter 318 - Craving Blood

"What if I blame it on you?" Kaden suddenly asked her in a soft voice.

Lina turned her face, but he pressed their bodies closer. He had her against the wall now. She had nowhere to go. He squeezed her waist, causing her to wince. He realized he had placed too much strength into his hold. This was strange, he wasn\'t like it before. Suddenly, Kaden stroked the spot with his thumb.

Lina could feel her heart begin to wane. The more she tried to deny it, the more she wanted him. So, she faced him.

"What if I told you that what you said to me in the garden destroyed the little hope I had left in me?" Kaden questioned.

"Then I would say I\'m glad we destroyed each other. You broke my heart in our bedroom, accused me of something I didn\'t do, and mistrusted me despite your promises," Lina boldly told him.

"Many won\'t like the new you," Kaden said. "You\'re no longer an immature woman."

Lina\'s eyes flashed. "I know what I want now."

"Indeed you do," Kaden agreed with a firm nod. "But does that have to change you for the worse?"

"I—"

"The Lina I know wouldn\'t lie straight to my face. She\'s brave. She tells me how she feels. She doesn\'t lie to herself either," Kaden stated, dropping his hands from her. If she wanted to go, she could.

"I…" Lina was unable to voice it. She was unable to admit to herself that she wanted him. That she craved for his adoration. Only his caress could put her heart at ease. Only she felt comfortable around him.

Lina was certain she wouldn\'t mind sleeping with her face on his lap, despite how easy it would be for him to kill her right then and there. She had never had that kind of trust in anyone in her life, not even family.

"I\'ve turned into a scaredy-cat. I had nothing to lose five years ago and now, I have everything to lose. My reputation, my name, the hard work I\'ve built, I—" Lina cut herself off.

She didn\'t want to admit that actually, five years ago, she did have something to lose. Something that meant the world to her. Something that she felt she couldn\'t breathe without. Him. She couldn\'t confess that to him now. Instead she whispered,"I\'m afraid to be in the same dark space of mind I was five years ago, when I left."

"I saw the lengthy therapy bill."

Lina pressed herself tightly to the wall, to create some distance between them. This was everything that her therapist recommended her not to do. But little did the strict doctor know, exposure therapy worked the best for Lina.

"I\'ve caused you more internal harm than external, and for that, I can never forgive myself. Just as I can\'t take your memories without your permission. But you\'re not a saint either, Lina. You\'ve messed with my entire life and livelihood. You took my heart with you and just expect me not to behave heartlessly?"

Kaden roughly grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look at him. She needed to know. She needed to feel the impact of her words. She needed to understand how much harm she had done to him. So, she did.

Lina gathered the courage to look him dead in the eyes. Topaz against ruby. He could barely speak. Her eyes held the secret to the universe and he was filled with sins.

"What has gotten into you?" Lina whispered, as if saying something forbidden before an altar. "You\'re never this harsh with me, words and actions alike. You… you used to—"

"Something shifted that night in the garden. Take responsibility, dove. Take some damn responsibility for this," Kaden forcibly pressed her hand to his chest.

Lina could feel her entire body go still. There was a beat, but faint. She worriedly reached up and touched his face. His skin was cold as ice. Letting out a shaky breath, she realized what the issue was.

"I\'ve caused you to lose your humanity. I… I was the one who caused you to be emotionless?" Lina muttered in disbelief.

"They say the King of Wraith once suffered this eternal curse and only his beloved taught him compassion," Kaden said, grabbing her by the wrists and shoving her hands off of him.

Kaden was suddenly repulsed by the human touch. The warmth on his frigid skin felt uncomfortable. Hurt by his rejection, she deeply frowned, hugging her hands to her chest. She glanced away, as if ashamed.

Lina saw something in the corner of her right eye, but before she could see what it was, she was already speaking.

"I do not believe in such cheesiness," Lina deadpanned.

"Well start believing, Lina."

"Stop it!" Lina suddenly shouted at him, her emotions reaching an all time high. "Stop calling me by my name, it\'s not meant for you to utter it!"

Kaden was floored by her sudden outburst. She was breathing heavily, her eyes wild and wide.

"You gave him a nickname," Kaden deadpanned. "But not me."

"I did give you one, I called you Eden, I—"

"How many times did you call me that?"

Lina clamped her mouth shut. She glanced over his shoulder to look anywhere but him. He always knew her best. He grabbed her jaw, his fingers sprawled, pressing into her skin. He turned her face to look him in the eye.

Lina could feel her heart shatter. His eyes were bleak as eternal nights. There was no hope. No light. There was only despair and desperation. He was a starved man and she was the only water that quenched him.

"You hated the name Eden," Lina whispered. "You told me—"

"I like whatever comes out of your mouth, Lina." Kaden lowered his head and slid his free arm around her. Without warning, he yanked her towards his chest.

"I like the feel of your body on mine." Kaden cradled her head, small and soft. He hugged her tightly, unable to let go. He heard her breath hitch.

Fuck. Kaden had never felt more whole than he did in the entire five years they were apart. She felt so good in his arms. Their bodies molded against each other perfectly. Even through the fabric, he could imagine her skin on his. She was so damn perfect for him that he was beginning to lose his sanity.

"People pick what they love and hate about you. And fuck me, I love everything. You do not understand. This obsession I have for you, this possessiveness, when you\'re not here, my hands itch to grab you." Kaden could never share her.

In the five years, Kaden realized he was a greedy man. Far, far much greedier than he had anticipated. To the point where Kaden realized he no longer wanted kids. They\'d steal her attention. They\'d steal her love. They\'d steal everything that belonged to him, kisses, hugs, smiles, and alike.

"Won\'t you give yourself to me? Won\'t you devote yourself to me?" Kaden begged. "Won\'t you forgive me? You\'re all I need, dove."

Lina\'s eyes watered. Her ears were pressed firmly against his chest. She could finally hear it clearly now. When he uttered her nickname, his heart raced faster. His fingers in her hair were no longer the texture of icicles. In his arms, woven tightly against his body, she knew this was where she belonged.

"I swear I won\'t do it again. You will not believe me. You don\'t even have to give me a chance. Let me be your shadow, at the least. Let me be near you."

"You\'re down bad," Lina laughed, but the sound was broken and half a sob came out at this point. Tears slipped from her eyes. She wept to herself, burying her moistened face into his shirt.

Kaden tightened his grip on her.

"Please, dove," Kaden murmured.

This was the begging and groveling that Lina wanted. This was all that she wanted to hear. One last chance. A declaration that the past wouldn\'t be repeated. She was terrified.

"This is a dangerous leap of faith," Lina croaked out.

"Do it with me and it will feel like paradise."

Lina swallowed hard. She felt Kaden\'s lips brush against her neck. Her body jolted at the familiar feeling. His mouth was slowly turning back to warmth. His humanity was returning. She understood exactly what this meant.

In the entire world, there was only one woman who could make Kaden feel something. The only one that\'d turn the immortal tyrant into a human. As human as a Pure-Blood craving blood could be.

"W-what is that…"

Lina\'s breath hitched when she felt something sharp scrape against her skin. She rapidly shook her head, frightened that this was seduction to take a bite out of her.

"Dove…" Kaden tightened his arms around her, his throat suddenly parched. She smelled as inviting as flowers and sweetness. She smelled like everything good in the world.

So, Kaden took a bite.