As the blood from her boyfriend’s neck ran down Camille’s through from her greedy fangs, she couldn’t help but already miss the taste. The particularly woody sweetness that she couldn’t allow herself to taste anymore if she wanted to protect him from herself.

Alexander hummed a waltz as he ran a hand through her short hair. She withdrew her teeth from his flesh, and instead lapped at whatever escaped, until it scabbed over again. He shivered, but didn’t move away. Even if he should have.

The metallic scent of blood was still caught in her nose, suffocating the floral cologne he wore because he knew she liked it.

Love was always dangerous, but more for them than any. How could he not see her for what she was? How could see her ravenous, rabid hunger, and still kiss the same lips that licked blood off them?

“What are you thinking about?” Alexander said lowly to her, still stroking her hair.

“Nothing, really,” she said. “Mm. You, actually.”

He laughed softly. “Yeah? How?”

“I love you,” Camille murmured into his neck. “I wish I could keep you forever. Carry you with me. Graft our hearts together.”

“You have me,” he replied so earnestly it made her undead heart hurt, and she knew that if she didn’t get up now, she’d never leave him.

“I have to go,” she murmured, squeezing him like he was sand in a tornado.

“When will I see you again?” Alexander’s gaze was scrutinizing, mouth pulled into a sad smile. Maybe he recognized the softness in her eyes for what it was— grief.

“I don’t know.” Camille’s mouth grew taut. “Soon.”

As she walked out the door, they both knew well that she was lying.