14

We stood on the docks, panting.

The moon glowed silver over everything, making the moment feel almost surreal. I could feel Leila literally all around us.

She approved.

Of course, she did.

She gave him to me, so of course she approved. Plus, I'd made it past my eighteen birthday. That was the only thing we were really waiting for here.

I'd asked to see her many times to confirm we weren't doing something wrong, but she had yet to appear or speak. Instead, I just felt it. I felt how right this really was.

My neck throbbed where Teddy had marked me as blood seeped from the fresh bite.

He had really bared down.

I could feel how much he held back even then.

Together, we pressed our entwined hands against the wound, trying to stop the bleeding.

We just stood there panting. I wasn't sure what to say.

"Il saigne encore (It's still bleeding)," he said softly.

"I know," I replied, looking up at the moon. "It'll take a few days to heal completely. It's not a full moon, so it won't sto