How could things possibly get worse?

Old instincts buried deep within Leo made him summon a vampire sedative, which he stealthily tucked away into his windbreaker’s pocket as he remained crouched at Percy’s side. If his sister, goddesses protect him, or any of the other Grimheart family knew he hadn’t the heart to turn a bloodsick vampire away, they’d have hexed him right there. 

Leo had studied vampire biology well enough to notice the signs of bloodsickness. Not to be mistaken with blood poisoning, which slowly rotted them from the inside.  Very few witches had the powers to compel vampires with their blood, but some knew ways of manipulating their own blood and magic to literally make a vampire so ill with the need to feed, they literally drank themselves to death.

Unfortunately, the only cure was fresh blood with powerful healing agents strong enough to break the trance and flush out the old from his system. It wasn’t like Leo could just summon up Vespera to help save the poor vampire detective either.  Not that she’d even consider helping him and likely laugh right in his face before suggesting Leo just put him out of his misery.

Honestly, Leo didn’t even have anyone available to provide such blood to the detective cradling his head between his hands. He had no clue how long the blood had been in his system either, but judging by how he was already losing grip on reality around him, he didn’t have much time left.  Until those predacious instincts took full reigns and he lost himself entirely to his bloodlust.

“Leo.” Percy rasped his name, lips trembling as they desperately tried to hide the growing fangs behind him.  Likely resisting the urge to bite him and drain him dry of every ounce of blood.  

Leo let one hand precarious drift to cradle the side of Percy’s face.  “Who did this to you?” His thumb traced along the tender skin of his cheek, lowering to his strong jawline, halting ever so hesitantly near his lips.  

“I-I don’t want to hurt you.” Pain glistened in his darkened crimson eyes, his pupils dilated slightly more than usual.

“I know you don’t.” It hurt Leo to see him so miserable, so unlike the vampire he’d come to find rather charming.  “Bloodsickness is a fatal magical curse.  The only possible cure is a blood strong enough to weaken its hold on you enough for you to snap out of its trance.”

A single rosy droplet slipped down Percy’s cheek.  “I understand what you must do.  It’s okay.  I’ve lived a long enough life as it is, Leo.  I’d rather die like this than as a bloodthirsty beast.”

Leo tilted his head with a sad, disbelieving smile.  “That little faith in me, detective?  After I brought you back from the brink of death once already?”

“Please.” Percy grimaced. “I can’t- I won’t hurt you. But it’s so fanging painful.”

“I know it is.” Leo gently tilted Percy’s chin upward to properly face him. Fingers teasing the lower seam of his blood-stained lip. “That’s why I want you to stop resisting your urges.”

“Leo.”

“Not sure if you’re aware, but Hunter’s blood can control vampires and the Grimheart bloodline is notorious for it.” Leo lifted his hand, and with a gust of magic tinged wind, sliced a small cut in his index finger. “This is a family secret, so I’m trusting you, okay? Remember that.”

Against Percy’s wishes, Leo used a little magic to coax his lips apart and dribbled those drops of blood from his finger into his mouth. The commanding spell rolled off Leo’s tongue with ease, despite never having used it himself. 

Both his sisters had done their best to ensure he was prepared to fight any vampire that might ever want to take advantage of him. If only they could see him now using such blood magic…

“I’m sorry.” Percy croaked. 

A sharp pain lanced through Leo’s arm like a viper strike. He winced at the sudden invasion of his fangs piercing his delicate skin, but that pain ebbed to a gentle soreness that dissolved into a pleasurable sensation that seeped into his veins. 

Leo tangled his fingers in Percy’s hair with an involuntary whimper. Although it hurt initially, Leo was pleasantly surprised by how nice it felt for Percy to take his blood. He’d endured mandated blood donations with sharp needles but never actually experienced a vampire’s fangs in him. He’d heard horror stories. How excruciating it was. How it left one so weakened afterward. 

Yet none of that happened for Leo. 

It shouldn’t have ached so much when Percy eased his fangs out of his arm. Honestly, Leo was tempted to pull him back to him as he licked the blood so seductively from his lips, glowing crimson eyes never leaving his gaze. 

“Feeling better?” Leo sputtered out.  

The way Percy gazed upon him sent a rush of heat to his already flustered face.  It was one thing to allow him his blood, but another entirely to admit how good that had felt.  And honestly, it had only been a mere bite to his arm. Leo could only imagine what heavenly pleasures would come from a bite to the neck, or perhaps elsewhere…

Such libinous thoughts crossed Leo’s mind as he bit his own lower lip.  With Percy staring straight through his soul, warmth crept up his neck as he shifted on his feet and hoped the scent of his own arousal wasn’t too noticeable to the vampire detective.  It was embarrassing enough to be so close to him, to think of how willing he was ready to go when Percy had his fangs buried in his arm.  

Venom addiction was a serious medical condition in witches.  Leo had never quite understood its potent effects before, but now he certainly did.  How they craved the sharp sting on the initial penetration, how that dull pain remained even as pleasure seeped into his veins, enough that it nearly weakened him in the knees just to ruminate over.  

“Always saving my sorry fangs, aren’t you, doc?” Percy’s hands found their way around his waist, steadying him when he swayed.  Those gorgeous crimson eyes could’ve hypnotized Leo right then, but he clenched his thighs together in a poor man’s effort to hide the tent that had sprouted in his pants, only further embarrassing him despite knowing it was a natural response.

“Sorry,” Leo whispered ever so softly as he buried his face against the vampire’s broad shoulder.  

“Whatever for?” Percy asked.

“You know what,” Leo hissed, his cheeks burning.

“You’ve never given yourself to a vampire like this before, have you, Leo?” Percy hands snaked up his windbreaker, ice cold against his heated flesh, and he couldn’t resist leaning into his touch with a low groan.  

“Never,” Leo murmured.  

“A measly bite on your arm already has you unraveled.” Percy traced slow, sensual circles along his hips. “Imagine if any other vampire had sunk their fangs into you.”

“Do you think I’m so powerless that I’d let any bloodsucker bite me?” Leo asked, surprised by his own sharp retort.  “You should be beyond grateful I even did this.” A tightness welled up in his throat, but he swallowed down those anxieties as his body trembled against the vampire’s.  “Because I could have let you die.  Instead, I-I-”

“I know.” Percy’s hands fell away from his hips, and Leo shivered at the loss.  “I appreciate you more than you could ever know, Leo. You’ve never had a vampire’s venom in your veins before, and it’s unfortunate that your first had to mine.”

“Why is it unfortunate?” Leo’s heart pounded in his chest, roaring in his ears as his hands nestled around his shoulders. “I quite liked it, you know.”

Leo had always been a late bloomer in life.  

Even his magic had awakened later as a child, far beyond when most his age wielded their powers. He’d never allowed another person to get so close to him before.  The way he’d guarded his heart under lock and key hadn’t granted him many romantic endeavors in the past.  Even now, he hesitated to let Percy close.

To let a vampire get this close to him… To allow him to feed directly off him so intimately and not desire to push him away… Leo surely must’ve lost his crystal balls to do such a thing, right?

Yet as he stared into those mesmerizing eyes of his, Leo couldn’t find himself willing to let Percy go.