Hey guys. This is a general heads up/content warning.

This chapter contains an explicit sex scene. If you are reading this , you are consenting that you are at the age of 17 and above as per the guidelines.

Here is a quick link to the content guidelines if anyone needs a reminder: https://support.wattpad.com/hc/en-us/articles/200774334-Content-Guidelines

Thank you

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A dull ache in his neck and back brought Cyrille to full consciousness. The rock-hard abomination of a mattress was too small to accommodate his frame. As he became more and more alert, the more aware he was of the aches and pains in his body. It felt like there was glass in his knees and shoulders. Instead of getting up and stretching the kinks out of his body, he tightened his grip around the woman in his arms.

Kate was curled into him, her head on his shoulder and her legs tangled between his. In the tiny space, she had no other choice than to be right up against him. Her chest rose and fell in slow, deep breaths, and her heart was beating in a steady rhythm in tandem with his own. There was a soft, peaceful look on her face.

Pulling her closer and breathing in her scent, he reached deeper through their new bond. This one was mutual and a thousand times stronger than the one before. Through it, he could feel her essence entwined and resonating with his. Pure, unbridled joy filled his heart when he felt the honesty and happiness within her. She was his. He was hers. Mates. This was more than he could have hoped for.

He'd taken mates before, sometimes multiple over the years. Relationships came and went over the endless millennia, and he had committed to all of them, of course. But Kate was different. She didn't know the love and support of a legion, and he couldn't wait to show her. He had no idea what life had in store for them, but he was ready for it all.

Muttering unintelligibly, Kate shifted in her sleep and untangled her arm from around her waist. Cyrille gingerly picked up the regrown limb, lacing her fingers between his. Incredible. That had to be some kind of record. She barely had any magical signature the night before, even after consuming the soul supplement. Her skin was soft and slightly paler than her already pallid complexion, and it was mostly free of any creases. She would be stiff for a while, but he doubted that she would let that get in her way.

A low vibrating came from the pocket of his discarded jeans. They were a good two feet out of his reach, and he silently cursed. Slowly, he extracted himself and rolled to reach for the pocket and hoped he wouldn't wake her up. It didn't work. Kate wrapped her arms around his shoulders, then her legs around his hips, and clung to him like a backpack. "Where are you going?" she grumbled, still mostly asleep.

"Just getting my phone," he chuckled.

"Stay here. Keep me warm."

His laugh came out as a bark this time. "It's nearly thirty degrees in here, kitten. I think you'll stay plenty warm."

Cyrille tried to pull away again, but her grip tightened. He could have gotten up anyway; her insignificant weight wouldn't exactly hinder him. But then her lips found the back of his neck and started a slow pattern of licking, kissing, and nipping. A moan curled around the room, partially out of frustration, the rest from pleasure. She rubbed against him, ensuring that he felt every inch of her. His cock sprang to attention, and he let out another moan. Gods, how did she have so much power over him? She wasn't even using her magic, and he felt such an uncontrollable lust for her.

Feeling his resolve crumbling, Kate shifted to lie on top of him and continued the assault on his neck. He threw his head back into the pillow and hissed, giving her even better access to the sensitive flesh around his throat. His fingers dug into her hips, trying to hold her still. "It could be important..." he groaned.

"Avarice," she whined, and he started to shake. She didn't try to command him. She didn't need to put any real power into his name. He absolutely loved it when she called his true name. It drove him wild to hear it in her voice.

Cyrille gave in with a heated snarl, sitting straight up and pushing her down onto his erection. Her cry of pleasure was muffled by an equally brutal kiss. Their tongues battled for dominance, neither knowing if they even wanted to win and both happy to let the other take control. The hard ball of his piercing rubbed sensually against her tongue, and fire danced through her veins. An orgasm rocked through her, clenching like a vice around him and making them both scream and groan.

She wanted more. Her need for him was only heightened by her first climax. Kate shoved hard against his chest, and he collapsed back into the thin mattress. Then, bracing herself against his hard body, she started to ride him hard and fast.

Cyrille stared up at the majesty that was this woman. His woman. The gold had completely taken over her eyes, and they were a shimmering haze of pure lust and desire. The desire for him. He ran his hands up her body, so much stronger already, up to her taught nipples. She groaned and whimpered as he started rolling them between his fingers.

Unable to stop himself, he jerked his hips up to meet hers. She just felt so fucking good. Reaching up, he grabbed the back of her head and dragged her down to crush her mouth against his, relishing in her cries and moans. "Cum with me, Katalin," he hissed against her lips.

As the pleasure of his orgasm crashed through him, he lost track of his words. Kate's back arched up, and she screamed. Her eyes rolled back, and her whole body went rigid. She was the picture of absolute perfection. A moment later, she collapsed on his chest, panting.

Gently, Cyrille started rubbing her back to soothe her trembling and pressing a kiss to her forehead. Her face was flushed from the mix of the summer heat and their lovemaking, and they were both coated with sweat. Yet, despite all that, he just wanted to roll her onto her back and take her again. He highly doubted he would ever be satisfied.

His phone was ringing again. Someone was really trying to get a hold of him. Before he could move, Kate whimpered and started grinding her hips against him again. "Sorry, kitten," he groaned and lifted her off his lap. "Later, I prom-"

Kate's eyes snapped open, and her whimper turned into a hiss. Dainty fingers morphed into deadly talons and tore at his chest. Gripping her wrists, Cyrille flipped them and slammed her back against the bed, using his weight to hold her down. When she continued to struggle, his grip tightened, and he snarled. "Enough, Caedes!"

She flinched, and her entire body shuddered under the power of her name. Her hands shrank back, and she sucked in rapid, shallow breaths. Finally, Cyrille released her hands and leaned down to press his forehead against hers. "Breathe, my love," he whispered. "Calm down. Breathe with me."

Their eyes met, and for the first time, he felt the pitch-black rage bubbling within her essence. It chilled him to the core. How had he never noticed it before? He forced himself to take a deep breath, guiding her along until they were in tune with each other again.

After the third breath, the gold shrank back to her irises, and she looked away. "Sorry," she muttered.

"It's alright," he shifted to lay beside her, brushing the strands of hair out of her eyes. "What happened?"

Her jaw clenched, and she avoided his gaze. "I don't know," she said after a minute. "I... I could feel that you didn't want to stop. But you were choosing whoever was calling you over me, and I... I just..."

The words died in her throat. She curled into herself and started to shake. Cyrille chuckled softly and used a finger to tip her head back again. "I stopped you from getting what you want. You got angry."

"For nothing," she shivered. "I have never felt like that before."

"I think there is a touch more of your mother in you than you thought." He stroked her cheek thoughtfully. "When I first asked what kind of demon you are, you said succubus immediately. Why not tell me you're mixed blood?"

She was quiet and still for a moment. Then, she sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest. "I didn't think I inherited anything from her. I only ever presented with typical succubi magic. Except when..." she hesitated. Not wanting to push, he waited patiently, taking her hand and brushing his lips across her knuckles. "Except when David and I... I was just... so hungry... I couldn't stop."

Cyrille nodded slowly before rolling away and getting out of the bed. Kate watched him open two cupboards before finding a glass and pouring the soul supplement into it. He sat back down on the edge of the bed and cupped her chin. "When you're strong enough, I am more than happy to feed you any time you want. I won't make you hunt if you don't want to. I don't know enough about Wrath's creations to say whether or not you would be able to hold back from killing if you did. Either way, we are going to have to work on that temper of yours."

The corner of her mouth twitched up, and her eyes flicked down to the fading claw marks on his chest. "Sorry," she said again.

"There's nothing to apologize for. You weren't ready to be done. If I could, I would have fucked you all night until you couldn't move an inch."

Cyrille kissed her hard and swept his tongue over hers before pushing the glass into her hand and getting up. He left her to gag on the soul goop and squeeze into her tiny shower. It could hardly even be called a shower as it was almost too small for him to move his arms.

The water ran ice cold, and that was perfect for cooling his libido. A younger or less experienced demon wouldn't have been able to resist her. He rubbed his chest, wincing against the pain. No permanent damage had been done, but what was concerning was how a part of him hadn't cared. A small but loud voice wanted to respond to her attack by fucking her again.

When he finished showering and walked backward out of the shower stall, Kate greeted him holding out a clean, threadbare towel for him. He took it and shamelessly watched her naked body move under the stream of water. His desire was turning into a full-blown obsession. One that he would generally be happy to indulge. But this sudden lack of control on his end was... concerning.

"Would you..." she hesitated, looking down at the bottle of conditioner in her hand and a troubled look marring her beauty. "Would you still want to know what my mother is... even if it ruined everything we have?"

The towel fell to the floor. Cyrille stepped back into the shower and slammed one hand against the wall beside her head, cracking the tile. She flinched away, but his other hand grabbed her chin and forced her to look up at him. There was doubt and fear dancing in those eyes he loved so much. "That will never happen," there was an edge to his snarl, and his tone threatened to fracture. The very idea that her breed would make him consider leaving was sickening, and he wouldn't stand to let her think that way. "You are mine. I am yours. I don't care if she turned out to be the virgin-fucking-Mary!"

Kate's eyes fluttered. It was hard to tell if she was starting to cry or not with all the water. Then, wrapping her arms around his neck, she lifted herself up to kiss him. She put everything she had into that kiss. She didn't have the words to express how she felt about him. She wanted to. She tried to. But every time, the words died in her throat before she could even say them, just like every time she tried to tell him all the things he deserved to know.

Cyrille pulled away, hissing in frustration and his eyes going full black. "The things I would do to you, kitten, if we had the space."

A giggle escaped her throat, and the corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk. "I guess this place is a little small," she teased. "Maybe we could find something bigger for... for us?"

The smirk turned into a full, brilliant smile, and he kissed her again. "Anything you want."

This time he didn't stop. His hands traveled down her body, holding her close as if trapping her against the wall wasn't enough. Her body flushed hot again as he dragged her out of the tiny shower stall and back out to the kitchen. Before she could do or say anything, he spun her around and shoved her down over the sink. He was hard, and, gods, she was ready for everything and anything.

Bracing one hand on the counter, Cyrille leaned over her, pressing his body flush against hers. His free hand came around her hips, jerking her up onto the tips of her toes. His mouth brushed across her neck, and his hot breath made her shiver in anticipation. "You have no idea how much I crave you," he growled huskily, grinding the ridge of his cock against her. "Thank you for being mine."

At the tender declaration, heat rushed to Kate's cheeks but could only manage a whimper in response. She was half-blind by her own need for him. To feel him in her.

Just as he angled his hips, there was a clatter of his phone falling out of his jeans. It started to vibrate loudly against the floor. What came out of Cyrille's mouth could hardly be recognized as words.

Kate slumped against the sink, sucking in a deep breath as the same rage that overtook her the first time bubbled dangerously close to the surface. She didn't hear him answer the damn thing. An inviting, bitter smell filled her senses, and she stared into the sink. The shards of the venom vial were still there. Some of the shimmering, magical liquid hadn't made it down the drain.

Every single muscle went stiff, and she didn't dare move. In her current, wildly horny state, she wasn't sure if she was strong enough to resist again. It was all she could do to stop herself from reaching out and cutting herself on the glass. Just a small taste wouldn't... that would be fine... right?

"Cyrille," she whispered.

Gods bless that demon because he understood immediately. He was there in a flash, turning the tap on full to flush the sink clean. Then he wrapped his free arm around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. Kate shuddered with relief and pressed her face into him, listening to his steady heart and breathing. He started combing his fingers through her hair as he listened to the voice on the phone. It sounded like a pissed-off Celeste, but she couldn't make out any actual words. "I'll be there soon," he finally said before hanging up and tossing the phone into the chair. He cupped her chin and tilted her eyes up to his. "I'm sorry. I have to go."

"Don't be," she shrugged and reached into the bathroom for a dry towel. In their lust, they hadn't bothered to dry off, and they were dripping all over the floor. "I'll be okay."

He made a disgruntled sound. "I don't like the idea of leaving you alone right now."

"Can I-" she hesitated for half a second. "Can I call Danika?"

Cyrille blinked, and the panic started to rise in her throat. "Of course, you can," he chuckled. "You don't need to ask my permission to see your friend."

"Even though she's a vampire?"

He shrugged and reached for his clothes. "She's met her soulmate. Your magic will have a significantly less effect on her than before." He paused with his shirt in his hands, a thoughtful look on his face. "I should warn Raphaël, though."

"Danika isn't with him, is she?"

"Who? Aarón? Of course, she is."

Kate scowled and pushed past him to get to her clothes. Her hands were shaking so hard she couldn't get the clasps of her bra done, and she swore loudly. Cyrille batted her hands away gently and took hold of the straps. "Have you figured out how to split soulmates yet?" she snapped, looking over her shoulder at him.

He raised an eyebrow. "I have been with you nearly every moment since you asked," he reminded her patiently.

"You said you would!"

"I also told you not to get your hopes up." He caught her shoulders, stopping her from storming away again, and pushed her to sit on the bed so he could look her in the eye. "Maybe you should speak to Danika about it first. She may not want to break the bond."

"Even more reason why it should."

"Why? They are made for each other. Maybe it isn't what either of you expected for her, but he is good for her, and she for him."

"Choice," she spat back at him, her eyes and temper flaring. "She deserves to choose whether or not she wants him."

"If I learn how to split them, and she chooses him anyway, then you would be putting them both through significant pain for nothing."

"No. Not nothing."

It was his turn to scowl, and he fought against his own rising temper. "I want to understand," he spoke slowly but couldn't keep the frost out of his tone. "But I see nothing but wasted time and needless pain if I do this."

After a calming breath of her own. "The night we met, I was at Tentation with Danika so she could feed, and I could get high. She met the Alpha King the same night. If they weren't soulmates, you and I would have still ended up here. I would have tried to eat you, and you would have let me run away. I would have agreed to kill him for Harper, you would have stopped me before I went too far, and you still would have fed me. Nothing changes for us.

"But everything would change for them. Danika would have gone home with someone else, the Alpha King would have taken those two Courture omegas as mates, and neither of them wouldn't have known any different.

"Growing up, we've never had a choice. I was taken away from my mother, and she was raised by a fanatical cult. We had to run away to get free. Since then, our 'choices' have been centered entirely around survival. The only real choices I've ever had were getting high and you. I wanted to give myself to you, but I didn't have to. Even now, I could walk away. You wouldn't be happy about it, but you would let me. You've given me the resources to choose what I want.

"Danika doesn't have that. I know her. Even if she did run into him at the club, she never would have seen him again if some ambivalent, unfeeling magic hadn't decided they were made for each other. Everything she feels for him is just an illusion."

"Sometimes, the illusion of love is enough for people," Cyrille said gently.

"And the illusion of choice is better than no choice at all."

His gaze was intense but soft. "I will look into it. After I speak to them about it."

"But, if he knows he won't-"

"Katalin," there was a sharp crack to his voice that silenced her complaint. "If Aaron is half the man I know him to be, he will not stop me. He deserves a choice as well. You are concerned for your friend, but this does not just affect her. If soulmates can be split apart, then it is a decision they will have to make together. Without interference from you. Do you understand me?"

Her glare slowly turned into a pout. "Fine."

"You're adorable when you're being stubborn," he chuckled, and she flushed. His phone started to ring again, and the laugh turned to a sigh. "Stay out of trouble tonight, please. And call me if you need anything."

"Don't have a phone, remember?" she bit her lip, holding back a moan.

He muttered another curse. "Just, don't do anything dumb, okay?" Then, grabbing her chin, he kissed her hard one last time. "I'll see you later."

~

Hey guys!! I'm back!!

(again)

Thank you so much for sticking with me through all the crap in the last year. I'm really hoping to get back on a regular schedule with Blood Lust now that the move is finished. I have SO much more time now to write now. 

On that note, I think I've finally cleared out the writers block and you can see the results of that in Arctic Song (I think my dumbass called it Winter Song in my first announcement). Anyway, go check it out. It's VERY different from the Ancient Blood Series, but I'm having a lot of fun with it. I was aiming for sassy and spicy and as much humor as I could cram into it. I really appreciate your feedback so please remember to vote and comment to your heart's content!

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