What he said

Mallory wiped the blood from her fingers after drinking from the hare, the iron tang still lingering on her lips. It was peculiar how, the moment the warm liquid touched her, it seemed to wash away the guilt and hesitation that had clung to her like shadows. She murmured, 

"They taste different."

"And which one do you prefer? There's still human blood to consider," Hadeon replied, his gaze fixed intently on her as she licked each finger clean, savouring the remnants. If it were possible, the darkness in his already intense eyes deepened as he took in the sight, and he added, "What a pretty sight it seems to be."

It took Mallory a moment to comprehend his implication, her hand instinctively dropping to her side as a blush crept across her cheeks.