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

seen her in skimpier clothes, she’d never looked more beautiful and alluring to him.

When her light blue eyes fell on him, she broke out into a delightful grin. Transforming all her features from concerned, to vibrant and excited.

Fuck me, that girl is stunning. And she’s mine.

The last time they’d seen each other, he’d claimed her. Whilst they were still only friends, Dani was his. No other vampire could touch her. And no one else could find out what he’d done. Gavin would banish him for such an action not to mention the shitstorm it might create amongst the fae court. The Vampire Council would likely step in.

Dani approached him at a slow pace. He could see she was itching to run into his arms and kiss him senseless, but this wasn’t the time nor the place.

When she finally stood next to him, he smiled.

“Hello, my little fae friend,” he said, his voice low.

Her eyebrow arched up.

“Who are you calling little?”

He stood, towering over her.

“Are you not little?”

She blushed furiously and looked away. He picked up his drink, knocked it back before placing the empty glass on the bar.

“Come,” he told her, nodding to the bartender, a vampire by the name of Wes who had several piercings, including one in his right eyebrow, and platinum blonde hair.

Dani followed Jamie through the staff door and down into the Manager’s Office. He leant against the desk, his arms crossed over his chest as she looked around. She’d never been back here before.

“I wasn’t expecting you,” he said.

Her eyes met his, heat swirling in those blue depths. She strode towards him and placed her hands on his chest.

“I missed you,” she whispered.

He dropped his arms, wrapping his hands around her waist and pulling her against him. Her body moulded to his perfectly.

“And I you,” he told her before he leant down and claimed her mouth.

Dani tasted so sweet. He wanted more. So much more. A fire started in his chest, burning down his body until he was rock hard and throbbing. He released her mouth and nibbled her ear. She squirmed against him.

“What are you doing here, Dani?”

She let out a small sigh and rested her head against his chest as her arms curled around his back.

“The trouble with the fae is so much worse than my father led me and Novus to believe. Theo knew, but we clearly weren’t important enough to be told the truth until he had to show a united front amongst the Farlane clan.”

He clutched her tighter.

“I’m sorry.”

He knew there was unrest in the community, but Dani’s body was tense against his. Normally she relaxed right into his hold. Something was bothering her. And he needed to make it better. Needed to soothe her fears. The connection between them intensified the moment he claimed her. And it would only strengthen the moment she let him taste her blood. He wanted that. The need made his throat tight and his fangs popped out.

For fuck’s sake, now isn’t the time.

“I’m here because I need your help.”

“My help?”

She nodded against his chest.

“I need to speak to Candace.”

Jamie froze. Why on earth would she need to speak to the Queen of Hell?

“She needs to denounce the fae throne in front of the court. I fear if she does not, the Creekside clan will start a war amongst my people. You must know what happened in the US.”

He’d heard rumours, but the fae tended to keep their affairs under wraps. Dani shouldn’t be telling an outsider about any of this, but they were each other’s confidants. And she said she needed his help.

“And how do you expect me to help you with that?”

“I need to get a message to Hell. I have no idea how to do that, but I thought maybe you would.”

A sick sense of dread washed over him. Dani knew about his association with a demon. Selene. He could not ask her. Not when it would give her even more power over him. And yet, Dani was trying to prevent a war for her people.

“Dani…”

She looked up at him.

“I’m not asking you to talk to that woman about it, Jamie.”

How did she know he was thinking that exact thing?

“I just thought you’d be able to point me in the right direction. You know the community. I don’t.”

He relaxed immediately. That was something he could help her with. Perhaps he’d ask Neave. There was no way he’d bring such a thing to Gavin. He’d tell Jamie to stay out of fae business.

“I’ll see what I can do.”

He reached up, tucking a stray hair behind her ear. He wanted to help her because Dani meant everything to him.

“Thank you.”

Her blue eyes shone with appreciation. It warmed him from the inside out.

“What are best friends for?”

Something flickered in her expression. It was gone before he had time to ask her why she looked so hurt, sad and conflicted. But he’d seen it.

“I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Hmm?”

The sudden change in her demeanour bothered him. She seemed to curl in on herself a little.

“The last night we saw each other… you said…”

She closed her mouth and took a step back from him. His hands fell to his sides. The sudden withdrawal made him wary.

“I know we’re friends and it’s wrong even if it feels right,” she whispered. “But you told me I’m yours. It wasn’t just something you said in the heat of the moment. What did it mean, Jamie?”

Then she didn’t understand. Did she not know? Surely her tutor taught her about vampire customs. He rubbed the back of his neck. What if she didn’t like what he’d done? What if she thought it wasn’t right considering they