Once inside, I can see the toll the sun has taken on them. Dante's usual commanding presence is dimmed, his shoulders tight with tension. Nikolai, normally so full of energy and teasing, leans against the wall, rubbing the back of his neck with a strained expression. And Lila—always the calm, collected one—sits down, her eyes closed, breathing deeply.
They're too weak. The sun has taken too much from them.
My breath catches in my throat as the reality of what I'm about to do sinks in. Offering myself—offering my blood—isn't something I can do without fear. The memory of their fangs sinking into my skin, the rush of heat and pain, is still fresh.
But I'm not helpless. I'm not a burden.
Not anymore.
They need me now. I've slowed them down, but I can fix it. I can be their strength when they have none. With trembling hands, I offer my wrists. "You need to feed," I say, the words firm despite the pounding in my chest.
This isn't just for me anymore—it's for all of us.
Three pairs of eyes turn to me. Dante's brow furrows, Nikolai raises an eyebrow, and Lila just stares, as if trying to understand what I'm saying.
For a moment, the room is silent. The weight of my words hangs between us, and I can feel their hesitation. Dante's gaze flickers, uncertainty passing over his features as his hand hovers near mine. My pulse pounds in my ears, each beat a reminder of what I'm offering.
But I don't back down. Not this time.
"You need to feed from me," I repeat, my voice steadier this time. "You're too weak."
"Olivia," Dante begins, his voice low but firm, "we're fine. We don't need—"
"No, you're not fine," I interrupt, stepping closer to them. My hands are trembling, but I push the fear aside. "I can see it. You're not at full strength. You can barely stand in the sunlight, and if something happens, I'll be dead before you can even move."
Lila's eyes soften, but there's a flicker of hesitation. "We don't want to take too much from you."
"You won't," I insist, my voice firm now. "You've fed from me before. I'm still standing. And right now, you need to be at your best if we're going to survive this. You need to be strong enough to fight."
Nikolai pushes off the wall, his usual grin nowhere to be found. "She has a point," he says, his voice rougher than usual. "We're running on fumes here."
Dante shoots him a sharp look, but he doesn't argue. The tension between them hangs in the air like a heavy fog, and I know this isn't just about feeding. This is about Dante's pride, his need to protect me without relying on my help. But right now, that's not an option.
"Look," I say, stepping even closer to Dante, my eyes locking with his. "If you want to keep me safe, you need to be strong. You need to feed. You don't have a choice."
For a moment, I think he might argue again, but then something shifts in his gaze. His jaw clenches, and he nods slowly. "Alright," he says quietly.
I nod, my heart racing as I hold out my arm to him. Fear rises in me like a tidal wave, threatening to pull me under. I feel it in my trembling hands, in the rapid thrum of my heartbeat.
A part of me wants to pull back, to run, but I force myself to stand firm. I'm offering them my blood, my life. And even though fear grips my chest, I know it's the only way. If they can survive because of me, then the pain will be worth it.
They've already taken so much from me—my blood, my humanity, my sense of safety. But now, I have something to offer them willingly.
I can give them what they need to survive. This may be a sacrifice. But It's power. My power.
Two things can be true at once.
Dante's jaw clenches as his gaze flickers between my outstretched wrist and my eyes. His hand hovers near mine, but he doesn't move. I can see the battle playing out on his face—the need to protect me warring with the reality of our situation.
Finally, with a slow exhale, he gives in, his fingers wrapping around my wrist as if it's the last thing he wants to do. His eyes meet mine again, and there's a flicker of something—worry, maybe, or regret.
Dante's bite is slow, deliberate. His fangs sink in with precision, sending a jolt of white-hot pain through me, flooding my veins. My skin burns under their touch, but it's something deeper, something primal. Dante's lips brush against my wrist as he feeds, the slow pull of my blood sending ripples of heat through my body.
Every nerve is alive, hypersensitive, and the world around me fades until there's only him—only them.
The familiar rush of heat floods through me, my body reacting to the bite in ways I still don't fully understand. It hurts a lot, but there's something else—something that makes my heart race, something that makes me feel strangely alive as he feeds.
My breath comes in shallow gasps as my vision blurs at the edges, the pull of my blood from Dante's bite sending waves of dizziness crashing through me. My knees buckle slightly, but his grip on me tightens, steadying me. I feel every pulse of my heartbeat, every tug of his lips, as if he's drawing not just blood, but something deeper, something essential from me.
Nikolai is next, stepping forward with a grin that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "You're a lifesaver, sweetheart," he mutters before leaning down to bite my other wrist. Nikolai, on the other hand, is all hunger—his bite rough, urgent, like he's holding back a tide of need. I have to bite my lip to keep from crying out as the pain surges through the already lingering heat.
When Lila's fangs sink into my neck, it's different from the men. There's no rush of hunger, no urgent pull—just a steady, almost soothing rhythm. Her touch is soft, reverent, and I feel an overwhelming sense of calm washing over me.
As Lila feeds, the tension I didn't realize I was holding in my chest slowly unravels, like a knot being gently loosened. Her touch isn't just sustaining—it's healing. It's like she's not just feeding, but grounding me, tethering me to something I didn't know I needed.
I feel my pulse quicken, my skin burning with the heat of their feeding, but I don't pull away. The heat doesn't fade—it builds, growing stronger until I feel like I might burn from the inside out.
As they take their last pulls, I feel it—something clicking into place. That bond, that thread that ties me to each of them, humming just beneath my skin. It's not just physical; it's deeper than that.
I can feel Dante's strength returning, a steady, grounding presence that anchors me to this world. I feel Nikolai's energy surge back, a rush of life that vibrates through the bond, like an electric current passing between us. And Lila—her touch is like cool water over a flame, soothing, but with a quiet power that makes me feel safe, protected.
As their strength flows back into them, I feel something else take root inside me—something new, something that feels like home. I've never belonged anywhere, never felt this tether to anyone. But now… I feel it. The bond hums through my veins like a lifeline, tying me to them in ways I never thought possible.
Our connection is more than just blood. It's like I can feel their emotions, their relief, their gratitude. And for the first time, I understand—I'm not just an outsider in their world. I'm part of it.
It scares me, but it also grounds me. I'm not alone anymore.
Maybe not ever again.
But what does that mean for who I am?
For who I used to be?
Am I still me, or have I become something else entirely?
When it's over, the room feels like it's swaying. I blink, trying to focus, but the edges of my vision blur. My limbs feel like they're weighed down with lead, every movement slow and deliberate.
A wave of dizziness hits me, stronger than I expected, and for a moment, the world blurs around the edges. My legs feel like they're going to give out beneath me, but before I can fall, Dante's hand grips my arm, steadying me. I lean into him, my breath shallow, trying to hold on to the sense of strength I'd felt just moments ago.
I don't regret it. They're stronger now, I can feel it—their movements steadier, their eyes clearer. They're at full strength again, and that's what matters.
My knees wobble again, the room tilting ever so slightly. Before I can steady myself, Dante's hand is on my arm, guiding me to sit down. The world around me feels distant, like I'm walking underwater, every movement heavy and slow.
"Thank you," Dante says quietly, his hand resting gently on my arm. "You didn't have to do that."
I shake my head lightly, a small smile tugging at my lips despite the dizziness. "I did. If you're going to keep me safe, you need to be strong."
Nikolai chuckles, his usual grin finally returning. "She's right, you know. We'd be dead weight without her."
Dante's voice is low when he speaks, the tension that had been winding through him now replaced with something softer. "You've given us more than just blood," he says, his hand lingering on my arm. "You're not just someone we're protecting, Olivia. You're our strength too."
Nikolai's grin returns, though it lacks its usual playful edge. "Don't tell her that too often, or she'll think she's running the show." But there's a warmth in his voice, a sincerity that's new. He winks at me, adding, "But seriously, sweetheart… thank you."
Lila sits beside me, her gaze softer than usual, and for the first time, I see something vulnerable in her eyes. "You did more than just help us, Olivia," she whispers, her fingers brushing over my hand. "You've bound us together in a way that's stronger than anything else."
Lila sits beside me, her eyes full of concern. "You're alright?"
"I'm fine," I say, though my voice is softer than before. "I just… need a minute."
And as I sit there, surrounded by the three of them, I know that no matter how dangerous things become, I made the right choice.
They need me, just as much as I need them.
And together, we might just survive this.