From the Ashes

Chapter 29 ~ A Moment of Trust

Morana sat in silence, not knowing how much time passed while she considered her options and what Tarion had shared with her. Despite his protests, she was certain he needed what she had to offer.

Like she had said before, she wasn't going to risk him killing one of her friends from Rehema's village either. Morana rose quietly. Tarion had drifted further from her and now stood beside the altar. She approached him without even a whisper of sound.

"Trust goes both ways," she murmured. "We need to learn to trust each other fully."

"I can't trust anyone with this, especially not myself," came the gruff response.

"But what happens if you wait too long and lose control? What if we're attacked and you're weak enough to let our enemy have the advantage? When we face Astaroth, are you going to help me fight him with less than your full strength? That will only ensure our failure. If we're going to succeed, we have to overcome this."

Slowly, Tarion faced her, his brows furrowed. "We?"

"You told me you would take these steps with me because you know what it is to walk them alone. I don't know what it's like to walk the path you have, but I know that you've walked it alone for too long. Let me help you."

Morana stepped closer to him so that he couldn't avoid her eyes even by looking down. "I will let you feed from me. I'd rather you accidentally harm someone who's willing than terrorize another person and give yourself even more guilt to bear." 

Tarion shook his dark head roughly. "No. I can't. If I lose control and hurt you..."

"It will be my own fault for offering."

His features twisted in despair. "Morana, you don't understand. I can't promise not to hurt you. The smallest taste of your blood was intoxicating. It took every ounce of control I had not to attack you and gorge myself after you freed me. I would never forgive myself if that happened, regardless of the circumstances."

"I understand that you don't trust yourself, and until you do you'll never be able to control yourself. You want me to trust you? This is me trusting you."

"Please don't trust me with this," he rasped.

"You haven't hurt me yet, and I don't believe you will now. Not unless you're suddenly blinded by madness and hunger, and the best way to avoid that is for you to feed before you get to that point."

Morana drew a steady breath and squared her shoulders. "I trust you won't try to hurt me. Take what you need this time, and then we'll figure out how often you should feed in the future so we don't have to worry about this."

Tarion just blinked and took a step back. Morana narrowed her eyes and she pasted a coy grin onto her lips. "Your concern is sweet, Prince, but don't worry about me. There must be females who dream of things like this." Tarion's lips tightened, a muscle in his jaw flinching.

She relented, her smile fading. "I don't want to force you, but I also don't want you to take unnecessary risks. If you say no again, I'll drop it and not bring it up anymore, but please consider what I'm saying too."

His gaze hardened, almost becoming a glare. She refused to look away though, and finally, Tarion answered. "Are you sure about this?" Morana gave a firm nod. He swallowed audibly, his eyes falling to her throat. "I can take it from your arm, wrist, or anywhere really, but the neck is easiest."

Morana tugged her hair back into a loose braid and tossed it over one shoulder. A slight movement below caught her attention and she found his hands trembling at his sides before he curled them into fists.