He led me out into the pale moonlight, his hand in mine. It was time he showed me the next stage in my transformation, and I felt nervous. But excited too. I wanted to please him and make him proud.

“It’s important you understand this is the only way for us to survive, lover.”

I nodded. I understood. “What is it?”

Xipe stepped behind me, placed his hands on my shoulders and nodded towards a lone man by the harbour.

“He’s the way for you to survive,” Xipe murmured. “You’ve fed on me, but you can’t always do that. You’ve got to feed on humans too.”

Air hitched my throat and I took a step back. “No,” I whispered.

“Yes, Frej. That’s how it is. You have to do this in order to survive. You’ll get used to it, I promise.” His hand ran down my back and around me, ending on my stomach, pressing me back to him. “You’ll even enjoy it. It won’t be unpleasant.”

“But… He’s a human being.”

“They’re beneath us, Fakkel. they’re beneath you.” His hot breath danced along the side of my face and I leaned against him. “He’s yours. Now go.”

He released me and took a step back. I wanted to make him proud, but… I didn’t want to kill anyone. I hesitated and looked back at him.

“Go, lover,” he said encouragingly.

I clenched my fists and looked back at the man by the water. He was in the middle of mending fishnets, probably wanting to be ready to go at first light. I slowly walked out on the little wooden bridge and the man lifted his head, looking up at me.

“Good morning,” he said and smiled at me. “I thought I was the only one who’d be out this early. Especially with the night frost still nipping the cheeks.”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered and stopped right in front of him. I knelt down beside him and he looked a little suspiciously at me. “It won’t hurt.”

He smiled, the wrinkles around his eyes digging into his skin and nodded.

“I promise it won’t hurt,” I murmured softly and leaned forward. The man moved his head to the side, giving me space. Which was odd, because why was he letting me do this?

I slowly sank my teeth into his throat and the skin burst, letting loose the blood running beneath it. I moaned and bit down harder, swallowing hard in the rhythm of his pulse, giving into the gnawing hunger I hadn’t even realised I had felt.

“Frej,” Xipe murmured right in my ear and took the man from me. “He’s dead, lover.”

I released him and sharply exhaled. I looked up at Xipe and he smiled. He gently ran his thumb over my lip and then brought it to his own mouth. He let go of the man and his body slumped forward into the water. The deity then grabbed my hand and hauled me back to my feet.

“You were brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. How did you know to use a compulsion on him?”

“A what?” I asked a little dazed.

“You used a compulsion on that human. Made him do whatever you wanted. Made him believe whatever you wanted.”

“Oh,” I murmured. “I just told him it wouldn’t hurt.”

“And he believed you. He died a peaceful death, Frej.” He kissed my cheek and we started back to the guest house. “I’m very proud of you, you know.”

My heart fluttered, and I couldn’t stop a goofy smile from forming. Xipe smiled back at me and kissed my cheek again.

“You were magnificent.”

“Stop,” I breathed and pushed him a little.

“Never,” he murmured and stopped me, just so he could kiss me properly.