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

“I breathed the girl he drank from. Then Raoul almost saw me afterwards. It was too late by then anyway. I had no choice but to tell Jamie the truth. That night changed everything between us. We can only ever be friends to each other and we screwed that up. I would place all the blame on myself but he’s just as much at fault.”

She waited for Novus to say something but was only met with silence. She felt relief at confessing the truth to someone, but it was tinged with guilt and regret. The person she should be saying these things to was Jamie. She should tell him she couldn’t go back. That what he’d said this evening ruined her because she knew he was right.

This is wrong. You know it. I know it.

The words echoed around her skull.

“That’s not what I expected you to tell me,” Novus said finally.

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know, but it wasn’t that the two of you are together.”

“It’s not a relationship. We’re friends.”

He grinned, raising an eyebrow.

“Friends who fuck.”

“Novy!”

“What? That is what you’re doing.”

She swatted his arm.

“Do you have to be so crude?”

“You’re the one spreading your legs for a vampire. I bet that’s why you took so long to come down and see me. I clearly interrupted the two of you.”

“I’m leaving.”

She scowled, getting up and stalking to the door.

“Dani… I’m sorry. I’m not judging, just curious is all. Besides, I meant to talk to you about father coming, but this changes things.”

She paused, turning her head back to him.

“Don’t worry, I told Jamie we can’t see each other when father is here.”

“It’s more than that. The unrest is worse than he’s let on. Our family is respected, but there are still those who think the crown should’ve gone to Candace regardless of the circumstances of Gwilliana’s death.”

That was news to Dani. Candace had given up her claim. The last anyone had heard, Lucifer had made her his Queen.

“They want the crown to go to the Queen of Hell?”

“The fae are nothing if not stuck in their ways. You and I are young and weren’t brought up with the older beliefs.”

“So you think we’re in danger.”

“Maybe. I just want you to be careful. I am more at ease knowing you’re with him when you’re out.”

She always tried to stay safe. The look in Novus’ eyes concerned her.

“Why?”

“He’ll protect you, won’t he? If someone tried to take you or hurt you. And stay away from Raoul. He’s dangerous. He was Gwilliana’s right hand man.”

If she could, she’d never see Raoul again. He’d always creeped her out.

“Why would anyone come after me?”

“You’re his favourite, Dani. Everyone knows that.”

She swallowed as a shiver ran down her spine.

“I’ll be careful. Night, Novy.”

He gave her a sad smile.

“Night.”

When she got into bed, she found herself restless. Tossing and turning for half an hour was futile. She thought about calling Jamie, but his words gave her pause.

What would I even say?

Even so, she tugged her phone towards her, settling for a text instead.

Dani: Novus knows about us.

Chapter Eleven

Jamie read the message over ten times.

Dani: Novus knows about us.

There were many things her brother could know about them, but only one Dani would message him about after everything that happened this evening. He knows we’re sleeping together. He wanted to ask her. To confirm what he suspected, but he couldn’t. If he did, it would force a conversation he didn’t want to have.

What the fuck am I doing? I feel so many things for Dani I shouldn’t.

When she’d knelt at his feet earlier, she’d truly submitted to him. A part of him hated himself for needing it. The other half smashed through its barriers, arriving at the forefront of his mind. She’d given him power over her on a fundamental level. He controlled her pleasure and her pain.

Sickness coiled inside him. She had no idea what she’d inadvertently unleashed. Dani had a habit of pushing him and now, she’d gone too far. They couldn’t turn back. She was his. He couldn’t openly claim her as a vampire would. The shit storm from the vampire council it would create all but made it impossible. Yet, she was still his.

We were fucking kidding ourselves if we thought we could just be friends. I want her. Fuck do I want her.

Frustration bubbled up inside him. He wanted to lash out, hit something or someone. That wasn’t the way to deal with his feelings. What he really wanted was to go back to her. Confess everything. Make her understand he couldn’t let her go. That friends was no longer an option. And that he would do anything to have her by his side, their respective species be damned. He didn’t care she was fae or that she was a princess. He cared for her. Dani. The girl who set his world ablaze.

He stood up, teetering on the edge of returning to her. Even if she wanted to sleep, he’d hold her until dawn, just to be close to her. His phone buzzed, the ringing sound bringing him crashing back to reality. The reality that what he wanted wasn’t an option for them.

Checking the caller ID, he sighed.

“Gav,” he answered curtly.

“Bar. Now. No excuses. I need you.”

The line went dead before he had a chance to respond.

“Fuck.”

If he didn’t go, he’d have his brother over here giving him hell. He pulled on a coat before folding himself into the shadows. When he stepped out into the Manager’s Office, Neave and Gavin were talking in low voices.

“Nice of you to join us,” Gavin said.