All Chapters of Alpha Maddox's Mortal Temptation : Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

I must have fallen asleep again, because when I open my eyes it’s a little before midnight. Dragging a T-shirt and leggings on is a feat worthy of a thousand armies, and I barely manage.I haven’t fed in a week, and my body must be well enough to demand sustenance, because my stomach cramps painfully.I stagger downstairs, trying to recall if I’ve ever gone without blood this long before. The closest was when I first moved back to Human territory, before Anna found me an under-the-table seller I could afford.By the time I got my hands on a small bag it had been three days, and I felt as though my internal organs were feasting on themselves.Maybe it’s because my body is shutting down, but I stumble into the kitchen without noticing Lucien and Alex. I stop like a deer in the headlights, wondering why they’re huddled in front of a computer. It’s a bit late for a meeting.“Is Daisy okay?” I ask, and they both look up at me in surprise.“Daisy’s fine.”I relax. Then tense again. “Did Mal

I smile. His warmth is tinged with intense melancholia. This won’t end well, but so few things do. Why deny ourselves?“Yeah?” I take his hand, registering his mild surprise when my fingers slide past his knuckles, then close around his wrist.I hold his palm in both of mine, upturn it. The meat of it is fun to trace, full of calluses, scars littering the rough skin.A large, capable, fearless hand.I bring it to my lips. Kiss it lightly. Scrape it gently with my teeth, which has his eyes fluttering closed. He mumbles a few hushed words, but I cannot make them out.“If I really do this,” I say against his flesh, “I should avoid your neck.”“Why?”“It might leave a trace. People would notice.”His eyes shoot open. “You think I’d mind?”“I don’t know,” I lie. I doubt Lucien cares about what others think of him.“You can do what you want with me,” he says, and it feels like he means more than just his blood.My fangs graze his wrist. I’m teasing myself as much as him. “Are you sure?” I h

“You are so beautiful,” he murmurs into my temple.“I thought so since they gave me that first picture of you. You came walking down the aisle, and I was afraid to look. I hadn’t even smelled you yet, and I already couldn’t stop myself from staring.”A stray notion crosses my mind, sweet and terrifying and utterly unlike me: I wish I was your mate.I know better than to say it. I know better than to think it. Instead I feel his large hand close around my nape. “I really want you to feed, Seraphine.”Sinking my teeth into him is becoming second nature, his flavor lovely and familiar. I don’t let myself wonder how I’ll go back to chilly bags.I just take deep, blissful gulps, and when I hear his drawn out, vibrating moan, when his hand drags my wrist to his cock and closes my fingers around it, I’m happy and pliant and eager to please.He is hard, but also soft, and doesn’t want much. He guides my hand up and down once, once more, and beyond that, he has no instructions for me. My touch

Lucien doesn’t have the Machiavellian, manipulative skills of Father, but he’s nonetheless crafty at guiding the conversation where it needs to go without giving too much away.The governor’s wife is mostly silent. So am I: I stare at my risotto with mushrooms, which according to Anna are different from the fungus she once got under her foot, though I can’t really recall in what way.I lazily wonder why Humans and Weres keep throwing food at me, and listen as the governor informs us that he and my father are “great friends” who’ve been meeting in Human territory about once a month to discuss business for the past decade—despite the fact that Father visited me once per year when I was the Collateral; I’d love to be shocked, but I’d rather save the energy.The governor has never been in Were territory, but has heard beautiful things and would love an invitation (which Lucien doesn’t extend). He’s also going to transition to a lobbying position once Maddie Garcia fully takes over.Then L

Lucien leans back against the trunk of his car in what seems to be the official position of performative harmlessness—crossed ankles, relaxed shoulders, his best I-may-be-one-powerful-Were-but-I-have-no-intention-of-brawling-with-you air.I settle next to him as Malcolm and Gabi make their way to us, trying to ignore my heart pounding in my chest. I nearly startle when Lucien laces his hand with mine.“You’re trembling,” he says. “Are you okay?”“I don’t know why.” Except that I do. “I’m cold, I think.”He pulls me closer—the best he can do, since I’m already wearing his sweater. I’m immediately enveloped in that toasty warmth his body always welcomes me with, and the scent of his heartbeat is delicious in my nostrils. Lucien peers at me like he knows something’s off.I brace myself for . . . I don’t know. Seeing Lucien reunited with his mate is something that requires preparation from me. I’ve sunk way too deep into this thing between us.“I asked you to fuck it out.” Malcolm’s voice