Friction (The Frenzy Series Book 4) by Casey L. Bond Page A

we can be at The Glen by daybreak.”
    “What about more meat?”
    Tage chuckled. “Well, this is pretty much all we could find.”
    “This is it?”
    “You know how far we walked to find the coyotes? Well quadruple that.”
    I did the math; my calves still burning from it.
    Tage turned to Porschia. “Maybe you’re right about traveling at night. Let’s take the kill to the guards and then we can split.”
    Lightly grabbing Porschia’s upper arm, I bent in to whisper to her. “Mercedes is worried about you. She has a bad feeling. Maybe you should wait.”
    Tage growled at me for touching her but I stood my ground. Porschia looked from my hand to my eyes. “Mercedes doesn’t need to worry about me. Tell her to take care of Roman.”
    “His fever broke and he’s resting. We saved him a few vegetables for when he wakes.” I took a deep breath and let my hand fall away. “Have you fed?”
    “I just ate part of the deer, so yes,” she answered shortly.
    Shaking my head, I asked her again but more directly. “Do you need to feed from me?” Looking to Tage, I added, “Both of you?”
    Tage smiled. “How nice of you to offer.” He stalked forward slowly.
    Porschia placed herself slightly in front of me. “Numb him first.”
    Tage’s smile fell away. “You don’t trust me, kitten? I’m hurt.” He stared at me. “Really, I am.”
    Tage did numb my neck before he drank, but wasn’t easy about any of it. When Porschia told him it was enough, he jerked his fangs out and wiped the corners of his mouth where my blood was pooled. I clasped the wound tightly, and though it was already healing from the second swipe of his tongue, it felt like the blood might burst free at any moment.
    He looked to Porschia and though I knew it killed him to do it, he said, “I’ll take the deer. Feed yourself and I’ll be right back.” He probably wanted her to snap and drain me while he wasn’t there to stop her, not that he would have if he were standing beside her. He’d probably cheer her on.
    She nodded and watched as he lifted the carcass and sped away.
    When she finally looked at me, she stared at the wound he’d made. “I’m sorry we have to feed from you.”
    “I’m not.”
    “You’ve always offered yourself. Why?”
    “Because I care about you.”
    “Cared,” she corrected. But she was wrong.
    “No, Porschia. I still care for you. That never changed. It never will.”
    Her lips parted and she stepped forward slowly, lacing her fingers behind my neck and drawing me toward her. Before our lips could brush, she forced my head to the left and licked a warm path up the column of my throat. She drank slowly, fisting my shirt as I held her waist tightly to me. If she wasn’t a night-walker, I’d have snapped her in two.
    Tage’s reappearance made her stop. I don’t know if it occurred to her before that to stop, but I wouldn’t have stopped her. If she needed it, it was hers. I was hers.
    She sealed the wound and stepped backward quickly. “Thank you for feeding us.”
    My head tingled, but I nodded and steadied myself on the trunk of an old oak. “Are you okay? Did I take too much?” she asked, rushing to me as I teetered. I smiled. Porschia was still mine, to a point.
    “I’m fine. Honestly. Go. I’ll tell the others. Just come back as soon as you can and don’t go near The Manor Roman keeps talking about.”
    She looked to Tage, who ticked his head in the opposite direction. “You have some blood on your lip, kitten. Let me get that for you,” he said, smiling in my direction before kissing her long and deep. I wanted to be a night-walker in that moment. I wanted to launch myself at his throat and tear him apart, one chunk at a time.

 
     

     

    Perhaps there was a reason that I was called Tage. Like the fact that Tage rhymed with RAGE, because that was what coursed through every inch of my body—white, hot, tear-his-face-off rage.
    “Can I feed you?” What an asshole. Surely Porschia knew