The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“How could I not?” he asked. “I will always find you. No
matter what.”
My heart squeezed as I cupped his cheek. “But when
that bolt struck me, and I was lying there? I thought I would
never get to feel you hold me again. That I would never feel
your kiss or see your stupid dimples.”
He grinned, and the dimple on his left cheek appeared.
“You love my dimples.”
I drew my thumb over the indent. “I do.” Dipping my
head, I placed my lips where my thumb had been. “What I
felt when I woke up earlier, when I was…hungry. I’ve never
felt anything like that before. That need? It was terrifying,
and I…” I briefly closed my eyes. “You know exactly how
that feels. You were driven to that point time and time again
when the Ascended held you. I don’t know how you dealt
with that.” My eyes met his. “You said I’m strong, but you…
you are the strongest person I know.”
“I hate that you had to learn what that felt like. I knew
that would happen, especially if you Ascended. I should’ve
—”
“You were there. You would’ve let me keep feeding.”
His gaze continued to hold mine. “I would have given
you the last drop of blood in my body if that was what you
needed.”
My breath seized. “You can’t do that. You shouldn’t have
let me drink for as long as I did. You had to be given blood,
didn’t you?” I remembered the conversation now. “You…you
fed from Naill.”
“I did, and I’m fine. My blood replenishes itself quickly,”
he said, and I wasn’t sure if I believed him or not. His chest
rose with a deep breath. He placed his hand over mine,
lifting it and placing a kiss to the center of my palm. “Are
you still hungry?”
“No. I don’t feel that way now. All I feel is you.”
“My blood—”