"Tony," I said, looking deeply into his eyes. "Thank you." He held out his arm, wrist up. Under much pressure I tried thinking ... food ... food, blood ... drop teeth. But within my mouth were only my normal teeth. Pressure. It was just too much pressure. I began to panic. "Smell the blood beneath my skin ..." Tony's voice floated in my head. This was so embarrassing … I placed my lips against his wrist, and the scent of him wrapped around me. I had taken his blood once before, and my body recognized him as food. My teeth lowered sluggishly, but they lowered. Behind me I felt Paul sigh in relief. Mimicking Tony's move, I allowed my teeth to scratch and break his skin lightly. Tony watched me intently as I enclosed the wound with my lips. My tongue briefly lapped at the salty liquid—a

