71. The Night Howlers

Athena's POV

"Say nothing," he whispered, his eyes glinting in the moonlight as he laid me down on the cold, hard slab.

I felt weak and vulnerable, my body exposed to the harsh elements, but there was something in his touch that made me feel safe, even as I sensed danger lurking all around us.

The wind howled, whipping my hair around my face as he bit into his wrist, drawing forth a few drops of his dark, viscous blood. With a steady hand, he brought the wound to my lips, and I felt a strange, almost primal urge to drink.

As the blood trickled down my throat, I felt a sudden surge of strength, my senses sharpening as the world around me came into sharper focus. But even as I felt my powers returning, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something mysterious and dangerous about this man, something that I couldn't quite put my finger on.

With each drop of blood, I felt a deeper connection forming between us, a bond that defied explanation and seemed to transcend time and space.