---
Then his mouth sealed over the wound. And blood entered him. The first taste hit like light. Not metaphorical light. Actual bright shock through his senses.
Sekhmet's eyes widened against her throat.
Inside his mind, the system rang.
[Ding! SYSTEM Notification:
Foreign bloodline detected.
Warning: first consumption of angel blood recorded.
Blood Proficiency increased by 0.20%.]
For one dangerous heartbeat, his body forgot the rest of the ritual.
Angel blood.
The words struck through him harder than the taste itself.
His mind flashed white with disbelief even while his mouth remained at her throat. He took only a controlled swallow, then another, forcing himself to hold to discipline while thought detonated behind his eyes.
"Angel?"
He had always thought Lily was human.
