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

me happy, Jamie. You know that? For the first time since…”

She faltered, remembering the last time she’d really felt happy. The time before her mother had died. That night gripped her heart. Her face fell.

“Since what? Dani, are you okay?”

She shook her head. The memory burnt into her skin. The knowledge the same thing could happen to her ruining her happiness.

“No,” she whispered. “I need to tell you something.”

He pulled her up into sitting position with him and held her, stroking her hair.

“You can tell me anything.”

She buried her face in his chest, trying to stem the tide of emotion.

“My mother died from the same condition I have. She’s why I have nightmares. I couldn’t save her. I was only eight years old. I was walking in our gardens on our estate and I found her on the floor. She was convulsing violently as the magic consumed her. I screamed for help, but no one came. Next to her lay a dead human, completely drained of energy. I don’t know how she slipped up or what happened. All I know is I saw the light in her eyes fade. She died in my arms.”

Tears fell down her cheeks freely, soaking Jamie’s shirt.

“I couldn’t save her,” she sobbed. “And I’m scared the same thing will happen to me.”

He clutched her tighter.

“I’ll never let that happen to you,” he whispered, kissing the top of her head. “Never.”

“How can you be so sure?”

He pulled her face away from his chest, cupping her cheek. He wiped away her tears with his thumb.

“You’re mine to protect and cherish.”

His tender expression melted her on the spot. Beneath all of Jamie’s flirting and troublemaking, he was kind and caring. He treated her with respect and was always there when she needed him. Now more than ever she knew keeping Jamie by her side was the most important task she had to accomplish. She’d let nothing and no one stand in her way.

Jamie carefully began to remove the rest of their clothes and lay her back down on the bed. He stared down at her with nothing but affection in his eyes.

“I’ll always come for you, Dani. Whenever you’re in danger or you need me. Always.”

He kissed her with tenderness and stroked her skin with the gentlest of touches. She let Jamie worship every inch of her. This was sex, not fucking. Sex between two people who felt forbidden things for each other. Both of them would go against their people, their rules and regulations just to be with each other. Dani held those words back. She wasn’t ready to tell Jamie about the blood bond she wanted to perform yet.

They lay in each other’s arms for the longest time afterwards, just savouring the silence and the companionship between them. Dani had exposed her darkest secrets to him. And one day, she knew he’d tell her about the only time he’d killed another being. When he was ready.

It was only a couple of hours before dawn when she finally made it home to her father’s London townhouse. Yawning, she opened the backdoor and slipped inside. Going into the kitchen, she realised all the lights were on.

That’s weird.

When she looked into the dining room area off the kitchen, she knew why. Sitting at the table with Novus was their father. His expression was dark. She stood in the middle of the kitchen staring at them.

“Dandelion,” her father said, his voice simmering with anger.

“Father.”

Her hands trembled at her sides. Why was he angry with her?

“Where have you been?”

“Just… out.”

“Have you or have you not been in ObliVion this evening?”

Her world dropped out from underneath her. Who told him? How had he found out?

“I…”

Her father pointed at her.

“You have defied me in the most fundamental way possible, Dandelion. How could you associate yourself with a vampire? And worse, you allowed him into your bed. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Chapter Sixteen

Dani’s eyes went to Novus immediately. He looked sad and resigned. He shook his head softly. She knew he hadn’t told their father. He would never betray her. It was someone else. Someone who’d been at ObliVion this evening.

“Who told you?” she asked.

“So you’re not denying it?”

She stood taller. Her convictions about her and Jamie only grew stronger. He told her he’d go against the Vampire Council for her. She’d go against the fae for him.

“No. I would not insult you like that.”

“You have already insulted this family by involving yourself with a vampire, Dandelion.”

She flinched at his words. It wasn’t meant as an insult to them. How could she help the way she felt? How could she let go of someone who made her happy and brought her peace? Who understood her in all the ways her family never did. How?

“Who told you?”

“Raoul.”

Clenching her fists, she bit back a violent curse. That meddling piece of shit. I fucking hate him.

“Gwilliana’s lapdog?”

Her father’s green eyes flashed with rage.

“Do not insult our former queen’s associates. He is loyal to the crown.”

Loyal only to himself and his own schemes more like.

Dani had never liked Raoul. He was one of the common fae folk and had always punched well above his weight. She never understood why Gwilliana put up with him.

“He is meddling in affairs he knows nothing of. You want to know why I’ve been in ObliVion and with a vampire? Fine.”

She walked towards the dining room table and slammed her hand down on it, leaning forward. Her father’s scowl deepened and Novus’ eyebrows shot up.

“You have kept me under lock and key far too long. Always so afraid I’ll get into trouble because of