He held her for a moment then swept her up in his arms. Deidre clung to him, no part of her capable of resistance. After a moment, she felt him place her on the bed. She rolled onto her stomach, weeping. Her heart hurt too much for her to stop. Even the scent of his blood barely impacted her senses.
The bed shifted under the weight of Darkyn's frame as he settled in beside her. Deidre was rolled onto her side. He placed the bloody thumb to her lips. Its effect was immediate.
She swallowed the few drops. She was able to breathe deeply again and her weeping turned to a trickle. Too exhausted to move, she closed her eyes as he pulled her into his body. He was warm and solid at her back, the only thing capable of grounding her in the nightmare of a world she lived in.
"Drink," he ordered in the low purr.
Deidre opened her eyes. He'd torn his wrist for her to feed. His other arm wrapped around her while his breath was hot against her ear. She fed, ensnared by his scent, until she was soothed then tucked her head in the crook between his neck and shoulder.
"I'm yours, Darkyn," she said the words in a hushed voice. This time, they felt true. This time, there was nothing else standing between her and her destiny.
"You accept your place by my side."
"Yes," she murmured.
He nudged her onto her back. She went, meeting his dark gaze. The soulless, ancient intelligence there was as fathomless as the night sky. Even if his features were young and his body lean, he wasn't able to hide what he was.
"You feel pain," he said, studying her features.
"Yes. I hurt." Tears raced from the corners of her eyes. She didn't try to hide them this time; Darkyn had stripped her bare. There was no hiding from her mate.
Deidre touched his face with trembling fingers. His jaw was roughened from a five o'clock shadow. The quiet purr that only emerged when they were alone rumbled gently in his chest. He seemed content to study her. She was afraid to know what he thought, if he was counting the ways he could manipulate her now that there were no more barriers.
"You have always been vulnerable to me," he said, amused by her thought.
She sighed. "You don't understand."
"I have studied human nature for the entirety of my existence. I cannot exploit it, if I do not understand it."
"You want me to hurt. Isn't that what you do?" she asked, wiping her tears.