Blood Curse (Pulse #8) by Kailin Gow Read Free Book Online Page B

entering Nereti's headspace, of becoming Nereti, of reliving her world, had been anathema to her – the very idea had made her sick, made her gorge rise with impossible nausea. At first, she'd wanted to run away and throw up into the desert sands at the very idea. But things were different now. Kalina found herself aching, longing, to return to the dream; she found herself anxiously wanting to go back to that world. A world where she could at last know the pleasure that she so eagerly sought, the pleasure that had for so long eluded her. She craved Octavius; she craved his flesh, she craved his body; she craved his manhood inside her. And at last, inside the body of another, she had known that incredible feeling: that feeling of fullness, of completion, of hunger sated, of thirst slaked, of desire fulfilled and yet made new again. She had felt that which for so long she had longed to feel – the hunger that had been denied her. Until now.
              She didn't admit it to Max or to Justin or to Jaegar. She didn't admit it to anybody. How could she? How could she admit that she was not only surviving, she was enjoying her dreams of Nereti and Nereti's life? The very thing seemed impossible. She hated Nereti; she despised her world; the very sight of Octavius, his eyes blazing, his lips pressed between Nereti's legs as she arched her back and howled with pleasure, broke her heart in two. And yet the pleasure kept her coming back – the pleasure of feeling Octavius’ hands, fingers, lips, tongue, mouth, his hard body against and around her. That pleasure kept her addicted to the world of her dreams. Even when awake, Kalina found, her body still shuddered and shivered with aftershock, with the glow of pleasure sustained even after the moment of orgasm. Even when awake, she could smell Octavius on her; she could smell that heady mix of must and perfume that marked the moment of their union. It felt good – too good. She was addicted to such a pleasure, such a feeling. All she wanted was for it to last forever.
              What's happening to you, Kal?
                Once she had been a normal sixteen-year-old girl, a girl like every other. A girl in full control of her faculties, of her mind, of her body. Once she had been so strong. She'd gotten straight A's; she'd been a runner, capable of making her muscles do her will. But ever since the Life's Blood had awakened within her, she'd become another creature entirely. One whose needs, wants, wills, were secondary to her desires, her lusts, the demands of her body. All she could think about now was sex – of her hunger, of this need for satiation. It was like a drug…this addiction.
              Can't you be stronger, Kal? Can't you just get over it?
                She had to fight through this desire. She had to fight through this pleasure. She had to use her mind and not her body, to figure out what Nereti was up to, to stop her before more Carriers were slaughtered or drained dry by Nereti's vampire army. She had to work harder – to be better . She had to regain control over herself.
              Still, she shuddered beneath Octavius’ tongue, Nereti's body and her own fusing as one. Still, she screamed with delight when Octavius thrust into her, spreading apart her thighs and making her take all of him on. Still, she moaned his name over and over again.
              And then one day, at last, she received an image – an image as clear as a photograph. Nereti and Octavius were lying in bed together – she and Octavius were lying in bed together – and they were talking idly of the plans they had for one another.
              “The vampires are not all one,” Nereti was sneering. “They have not yet all united under my banner. They are not in accord, with one mind. This troubles me.”
              “They will come, my Queen,” Octavius murmured. “I swear it. They will come and worship you,