章 100: I don’t love you

"You're not going to hurt me," she said firmly, stepping closer. "I trust you."

I whirled on her, my voice rising despite my efforts to stay calm.

"This isn't about trust! It's about control, Zara, and right now, I don't have it. Do you even know what you're offering me? Feeding isn't some harmless exchange. It's dangerous, intimate, and I—" I stopped myself, shaking my head. "I won't do it."

Her jaw tightened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "You're running out of time," she said, her voice low but steady. "You're barely holding it together, Aaliyah. If you don't feed soon, you'll lose control completely. And then what? You'll attack someone in the estate? Elara?"

Her name hit me like a slap, and I froze, the fire inside me flaring in response. Zara stepped closer, her expression softening, though her determination didn't waver.