Chapter One
[Bryson's POV]
“Hey! Are you okay?”
It hurts.
Everything hurts.
“What's the hell were you thinking stepping out like that?”
Everything hurts from the tip of my head down to my toes.
“Listen here, you drunkard, if you think you can sue then I…”
Why is this day going from bad to worse?
“What happened?”
“What's going on?”
The voices fade in and out, mixing with the sound of sirens that are fast approaching.
People are gathered around me. Their hands working to try to keep me awake, but despite their efforts, I feel myself slowly give in to the sweet voice coaxing me to just close my eyes and go to sleep.
Maybe this was for the best. I mean, what was the point of continuing to try when my luck was so damn bad?
From constant failures, accidents, and now even betrayals, I just couldn't find it in me to keep pushing.
But what about your dream? The small voice in the back of my head asks me. What about becoming something after always struggling?
Who says I will?
I can’t ignore the voice of negativity that is always with me. Always accompanying me as I try my damndest to get somewhere only to be knocked down.
Isn’t it better to just stop here?
All I have to do is close my eyes and let death claim me.
I was already dying. That much was obvious from how the pain from being hit was fading and my eyes were begging to close.
“Move aside!”
The deep voice reverberates through those of the onlookers who continue to surround me and with it comes large, warm hands that gently roll me onto my back.
“Hey,” it pushes as a bright light dances in front of my eyes. “Stay with me here.”
Why? I think as those large hands that feel so warm against my cold body start to do their job. Why should I stay?
“Just hang in there,” the voice pushes and despite wanting everything to just go ahead and end, I feel the slightest trickle of hope.
The world around me fades in and out after that.
Here and there, I can feel myself being lifted and placed on something and then I watch the sky above me move until I’m being loaded into what I know is an ambulance.
Once I’m inside, the one who was trying to keep me here on this earthly pain, says something into a walky-talky that I can’t make out and when I feel the vehicle I’m in jerk to life, those same hands touch my cheeks.
“Hey,” the deep voice rumbles as the hands pat at my cheek. “Open your eyes.”
I don’t know why, but I want to do what that voice is commanding me and when I do, I feel my breath hitch and my eyes widen.
Hovering above me is a man who looks almost like a god.
Not those angelic ones with golden glow around them and fluffy white wings, but one that would exist in a gothic fantasy novel.
He’s gorgeous with his bushy black hair, chiseled pale face, and strange crimson eyes.
He’s watching me with those eyes. They’re filled with curiosity and hunger and when he leans in close and inhales deeply, I know I should be afraid but I’m not.
“Are you with me now?” The god asks as I stare like a fool. “Maybe you’re not.”
His lush lips twitch into a frown as he stares at me and as he does, I feel myself being sucked into those eyes that I know shouldn’t exist and yet, they’re here looking at me now.
“I usually don’t sire without permission,” he murmurs as I just stare. “But how can I let someone who smells this good go?”
As he speaks, he brushes a finger along my cheek and when he lifts it to his mouth, I see blood.
“And tastes this good,” he rumbles, his eyes brightening as a look of hunger and need forms on his handsome face. “Who knew that I would get so lucky?”
Lucky?
Tastes good?
Smells good?
What did he mean by all of that?
He was talking like some creature that enjoyed drinking blood, but that couldn’t be possible, right?
No.
Things like that existed on television and in books. They didn’t exist in this mundane world that was the same day in and day out, and yet…As he opens his mouth, I get a momentary glance at sharp canines.
“You…” I rasp finally finding my voice. “You’re…”
“Oh, you’re awake.” He chuckles, smiling a smile that makes my heart beat erratically. “How is your pain?”
My pain… Was he really asking me something like that after what just happened?
“On a scale from 1-10.”
“You…” I repeat, trying to find the right words for what he could possibly be. “You’re…”
“Use your words, handsome.” He chuckles. “Or are you too enthralled by my beauty?”
“Yes.”
The word leaves me before I can stop it, but it is the truth.
He’s gorgeous and even though I know I should be questioning his sanity, I just can’t seem to find it in me.
“That’s good,” he murmurs, his face coming closer to mine. “Because I have an offer that I’m sure you can’t refuse.”
“An offer,” I repeat as the ambulance rattles, causing the man’s face to come so close to mine, I feel his lips brush against my cheek.
“That’s right,” he breathes, his breath cold and icy, nothing like it should be. “I want to offer you a chance to survive this accident.” He continues. “But in return there’s something you must do.”
“Wh-what is it?” I ask, suddenly feeling like I’m in a trance. “What is it that you would have me do?”
For a moment, the man doesn’t speak as he just stares at me, his tongue escaping his mouth to run along my bloody cheek and when he groans and his eyes roll into the back of my head, I feel my dick throb with need.
“Become my thrall,” he murmurs, his voice low and dangerous. “Promise your life and loyalty to me and I will in return make all your wildest dreams a reality.”
