Sweet Cravings Read Free

snapped, “Look, we’re not vampires . This guy…he drugged me good last night, and I hallucinated and passed out. Now he’s taken me to his druggy pals! For Christ’s sake! What is wrong with people?”
    The man turned to me again and grinned so I could see that his two canines—what I would call fangs on a dog or a cat. “See, I’m a vampire. You’re one too, now.”
    “You can get your teeth sharpened at weird shops in L.A.”
    He chuckled lightly. “Then can a store do this?” In a flash, both of his hands turned into monstrous black claws that were larger than a bear’s, and then returned to normal.
    I was at a loss for words. This was too unreal. Was he going to tell me that Bigfoot and unicorns were real, too?
    “I’m Sang.” He pointed to himself, and then to the woman. “That’s Lune.”
    “Lily,” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “Why are your eyes red? Do you have contacts in, Sang ?”
    He rubbed the side of his head. “No, these are genuine. Lily, huh? That’s a cute name. Like the flower.”
    I grumbled, “Thanks,” and steadied my hands on the sides of the coffin to lift myself up, but I became light-headed and weak. I was about to flop back down when Sang wrapped his arms around me and hauled me up against him.
    “Hey, are you okay? You just slept for five days straight; you shouldn’t push yourself.”
    Five days straight? I realized how tired I was, and instead of protesting to let me go, I let myself relax in his embrace, and as stupid and embarrassed as I was, closed my eyes.
    “Lily, I’m gonna put you on my bed,” Sang said softly into my ear, and I was lifted bridal-style and set onto a pillowed surface.
    The bed creaked and dipped, and I craned my neck to see Sang crawling next to me.
    “What are you doing?”
    “Trying to make you comfortable. Now, just relax and calm down.”
    I had so many questions bubbling in my mind, but I was so weak and decided to ask them later. I squinted my eyes and surveyed myself from the neck down. I wasn’t in my clothes. I was dressed in a filmy white gown with belled sleeves and lace hems. It was pretty and fit me quite well, and I could only imagine how expensive it was.
    “Where are my clothes?” I huffed, annoyed that these people had stripped me while I was unconscious and dressed me like a Barbie.
    Lune came beside me and brushed the hair from my face. My forehead was damp with sweat. “They were covered in blood, so I went out and bought you this. They’re clean now, but I didn’t want to disturb your sleep. Sorry.”
    “Oh, thanks.”
    Suddenly I was gripped by a searing pain in my head and clutched at the sheets until my knuckles flushed white. My whole body was like a heavy block of lead, and my throat began to burn again, as if I’d eaten a hundred jalapeno peppers and then swallowed fire.
    I thrashed out, and my jaw ached. My entire being was on fire, and I was being torn apart from the inside, my head crushed by an enormous, invisible pressure. Sang clambered on top of me, and I could see the panic on his face. I groaned and lashed at him to get off, but he let my nails rake across his cheek and beckoned for Lune to do something. She bent over my head and pinned my wrists to the bed while Sang straddled my legs with his. His face hovered inches from mine, and his deep black hair tumbled down around my head like a curtain.
    My thoughts were incoherent and jumbled, and I growled like some starving beast as a riveting hunger strangled my mind, my body, and I bucked against their hold.
    Sang uttered kindly, “Lily, listen to me. You’re being overtaken by the hunger. This is a sign of your finished transformation into a vampire. I know it hurts, and I know it’s uncomfortable, but please, bear with it. Look…I want you to drink my blood. Right here.” He patted the side of his neck. “I know it sounds revolting and disgusting, but from now on you need the blood of humans, former humans, or human-like creatures to