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"You don’t need this Talk to me"

"If I tell you, will you promise to let me help you?"

"Yes"

"No , but if it helped Eli, then I illing to honor any proht me back to the couches We sat down next to each other

"Where to begin?" He sighed

"Let’s start with the real story Why wasn’t Hank able to turn athered

"Your father is a Heelian"

I had no idea what that even meant Surely he didn’t mean another species? "Heelian?"

"They’re kind of like us They’re against vao, they disappeared Most of them were killed by va about Heelians is that they’re easily aggravated When they get too angry, it’s like an overload for their system" Eli mimicked an explosion with his hands "And most of the time it’s unstoppable"

The couch creaked as Eli tilted his body towardsa ood feeling for me

"Your father ca on the outside of the safety border and they fell in love Vampires came for him, but he and your mother escaped"

Guilt struck my chest as I recalled Eli’s dad was the one who suffered for it I droppedmyself to look him in the eyes

"Heelians can harness the power of the sun"

My gaze ain That didn’t make sense How can someone harness the power of the sun? "Is that what stopped Hank fro h your blood, it counteracts the venom- to an extent"

"So my dad and I are the only ones left?"

Eli nodded "We think so"

"Why did Hank want me?"

"Well, Heelian blood, your blood, er than they already are… temporarily Hank must have found out about you later on and decided to coainst Lucian"

"Why would Lucian risk another vaer than him? Why sendhim as his very oer station Your father is older than you and a full blood, therefore he’s stronger than you, er If someone kills you and takes your blood, it doesn’tas Lucian"

The new information swirled aroundheadache

"Why can’t Lucian just send--" I paused and thought about my father’s name What was it? I don’t think Mum ever mentioned it, nor did I ever think to ask

"Mithras," Eli added

Mithras? I wonder where that naed inwhat your parent’s name is

"Aleksandrov told me that Mithras is addicted to vampire bites He’s delusional, much like the woman you sahen you first arrived here He wouldn’t be much help"

The wo and hued me to bite her, and when I did, she moaned in ecstasy

I was bitten by a vampire once It was a horribly painful experience and not soain I shuddered at the thought of va anywhere near my skin

"Hey, it’s okay" Eli’s voice pulled hts His smooth thu until the roo" I sniffled

"It’s not your fault"

"It is… al that has ever happened in your life was because of e, waraze froht of the floor lareen color

"None of this is your fault" He tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear and I bit my bottom lip out of nervousness

I always feel out of control when I’ out of control Slowly, I pushed my face closer to his; he didn’t pull away His eyes rested on my lips as I released the botto theainst mine Eli’s soft lips see my heart race and the butterflies in entle, so cautious

The intensity of our kiss increased as our breathing becaed Only Eli could make me feel like this I inhaled sharply as he pulled hs The cool skin of his hands ran underthe contour ofin its wake I ran h his short, soft hair as he trailed his kisses fro my collar bone

"Eli?" I panted

"H more kisses to my throat

"I-I’ve never done this before" My cheeks burned with e it would make me feel less embarrassed The kisses slowed as they ca firmly onto my waist

"I know" He smiled "I can tell"

I flushed "How?"

"I feel your body tense when I touch it It’s a foreign feeling and your body is confused"

I exhaled in embarrass My skin still tingled fro withdrawal symptoms from his kisses

"I want to do this with you," I muttered I love you, my subconscious added, but the three words fell silently into the back of my mind I was ready to say them but I doubt Eli was ready to hear the it with his thumb

"No, you don’t, not like this Your first time should be with someone you can be with, someone who is allowed to spoil you and ht my hand to his lips and kissed it softly I closed my eyes; the kiss seemed too private to watch He wants me to be with someone who is allowed to spoil me and make me happy Little does he know that someone else could buy me the world, the stars, and the moon, but it still wouldn’tin his presence

"I should go," I whispered, openinghis

"That’s a wise decision" He slea hied net againstto pull me closer

Damn you, hormones