Blood Magic (After Dark Book 7) by Sarah Bailey (ereader for android txt) 📗

“You need to be taught a lesson.”

“Who needs a lesson?” Novus asked, strolling into the room.

“Dandelion.”

“Don’t call me that,” Dani said, throwing a cushion from one of the dining table chairs at Theo’s head.

Novus caught it as he walked over to her and placed it back down on the seat.

“Stop winding each other up. Honestly, it’s like being around five year olds.”

“Theo might be fifty, but he acts like a baby every time I bring up his ex-fiancée.”

Dani imitated crying with her hands. Novus smiled at her.

“Oh yeah, she prefers angel dick to Theo’s tiny prick. Can hardly blame her.”

“Both of you can fuck off,” Theo said, stalking from the room.

Novus sat down next to her, giving her shoulder a squeeze.

“You know winding up Theo never ends well.”

“Who cares? Serves him right for being a fuckwit. Are you here to lecture me?”

He stole her spoon and dug into her breakfast. She slapped his arm before taking it back.

“Staying out all night with a vampire is playing with fire,” he replied, his voice low.

“I’m in one piece, am I not?”

“My beautiful daughter,” she heard her father’s voice booming from behind them.

Dani got up, flicking Novus’ ear before going over to her father and kissing his cheek. When she looked back at her brother, he was rubbing his ear, scowling. He hated her doing it.

“Hello, Father.”

“How are you faring alone with your brother? I hope you’re not getting up to mischief.”

“Novy is the one you should be worrying about.”

Mitah smiled at her, his green eyes lighting up.

He should really be worrying about what I’m getting up to, but best not to let on that I’m out partying with other supernaturals.

“My little Dandelion, I never have to be concerned about you.”

“No, you don’t.” Yes, yes, you really do.

“Now, I only dropped in to say hello. I will see you for dinner this evening.”

He stroked her cheek before turning away. Dani loved her father, but he wasn’t half blind when it came to her. She reminded him of her mother. And the thought of how much she missed her mother made her chest feel tight.

She would’ve understood my need to be free.

Chapter Seven

Creeping around in dark alleys was so cliché for a vampire, but Jamie had business to conduct. At times he wished he’d never gotten involved in this shit, but at others, he just didn’t give a fuck.

His contact was late, but it hardly surprised him given the short notice. It gave him time to think and thinking wasn’t in his best interests right now.

I can’t get the thought of Dani with her legs spread wide and my head between them out of my mind. Shit, I want to fuck her again and in ways she might not agree to.

That night had plagued him for two weeks. They hadn’t seen each other since. Dani was in the doghouse with her brother because she’d stayed out all night.

He had no idea how he was going to feel when they did finally meet up. He still had a craving for her blood. She really shouldn’t have let him taste her. Especially not whilst magic pumped through her veins. The taste of that and her made him crazy. Memories flooded him again.

Dani on her stomach with him running his tongue down her back. Her breath coming fast. Her fists clenched in the sheets. Her moaning his name.

He slammed a fist into the wall. The bricks cracked underneath his knuckles. He watched the grazes heal over after a minute before shaking out his hand.

“Bad night?” came a voice a few feet to his left.

“You’re late.”

“My apologies.”

The woman came into the light, her red eyes glinting. Working with demons was hazardous at the best of times, but he knew this one well.

“Did you bring it?”

She held up an envelope. He tugged out two vials of liquid from his jacket pocket. They exchanged their items quickly.

“What made you leave Prague?” she asked.

“You know I don’t talk about personal stuff, Selene.”

“You’re a little terse this evening. What’s gotten into you?”

He hated the fact that Selene knew anything about him at all. There was simply nothing he could do to change that.

“Nothing. Are we done?”

Selene looked him over before holding the vials up to the light. Her eyes flickered.

“Yes. I’ll be in touch.”

He stepped back into the shadows without saying goodbye and was within the walls of his flat soon after. Sitting down heavily on the sofa, he put his head in his hands. Not only did he hate himself for what he was involved in, it reminded him of things best left forgotten.

There was a faint knock at his front door. He moved and checked through the peephole. The last person he expected to see stood outside, fidgeting. He opened the door, raising an eyebrow.

“Before you say anything, I know turning up unannounced is stupid, but I have problems sleeping sometimes and you said you weren’t working tonight.”

Dani stared at him with those intense blue eyes of hers, full of hesitation. He stepped back, sweeping an arm out. She walked in, looking up at him.

Damn, if she’s not a sight for sore eyes. His fingers itched to touch her.

He shut the door and followed her into his open plan living space. She stood by the coffee table.

“You can sit down,” he said.

“You’re not mad?”

“Why would I be?”

“Well… I mean we haven’t seen each other since, you know.”

He walked towards her, wanting to cup her face, but knowing it’d be a bad idea.

“We don’t need to talk about that night.”

“We