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

she looked at Jamie, he was smiling behind his glass.

“We’ll see about that.”

Her blood pounded in her ears. She raised an eyebrow at him to hide her embarrassment at her traitorous response to his flirting.

“I’m not kissing you. Friends don’t kiss.”

“Who said it was going to be me?”

He sipped his Jack and coke.

“Just as long as we’re clear.”

But you kind of want to know what it’d be like to kiss him, don’t you, Dani?

Shut up, brain! I’m just curious about vampires. That’s it.

“Come on, I spy a free table.”

He grabbed her hand, tugging her away from the bar. She tried not to trip up in her low heeled ankle boots. He pulled out a high stool for her. She sat, placing her drink on the table. He sat next to her, so close, their thighs brushed against each other.

“So, tell me, why have you been kept under lock and key for so long?” he asked.

“My father is overprotective of his youngest daughter and I’ve only just come of age.”

That wasn’t the whole truth, but she wasn’t about to spill all her secrets to a vampire she’d only just met. Some things didn’t need to be public knowledge. Not now. Not ever. Her father had made sure of it.

“How many siblings do you have?”

“Two brothers and three sisters. Theodus is a prick, Belladonna and Peony are married and Verbena prefers to be at one with nature. I’m close with Novus though, he’s about the only one who isn’t pretentious and understands the restrictive nature of our status amongst the fae.”

Jamie pressed closer, his thigh firmly against hers. She tried not to read into it. He reached up, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.

“Not a fan of most of your family?”

“Not the overbearing members, no. Tell me about yours.”

He raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of his drink.

“Mine?”

“Yes. How does the whole vampire sibling thing work?”

He shrugged a little, leaning back in the high stool with his arm draped across the back of hers.

“Those who share the same sire have a bond of sorts. I’m the youngest of Yvonne’s children. Who knows how many she turned before she met the final death. I just know Gavin and Jack.”

I can’t help but think there’s a story behind her death.

Jamie’s expression had hardened when he mentioned his maker’s name.

“What are you hoping to get out of this little arrangement?” he said, changing the subject entirely.

“What do you mean?”

He leant forward again. Her pulse spiked.

“How far down the rabbit hole do you wish to fall? I can show you the darkest recesses of the supernatural world.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine.

“I can see why Neave said you don’t stay out of trouble.”

“And you’re avoiding the question.”

She looked away, unable to take the intensity of his eyes any longer.

“I want to see what’s what. It doesn’t have to be dark, just real.”

A part of her wanted to see exactly how dark the world was, but the other half was wary. What if I’m not prepared for all this? I’ve barely spent any time away from the fae. The allure of Jamie’s promises to show her more were far too appealing to pass up.

“We’ll start light then.” His hand fell on her knee, causing her to jolt. “How about I take you dancing?”

“Dancing? I only know formal fae dances. What kind are you talking about?”

“You’ve never been to a club? Oh, Dani, you really are innocent.” His fingers traced a line around her skin just above her knee. “I’m going to enjoy corrupting you.”

His eyes glinted with mischief, trouble and undeniable heat. She almost couldn’t breathe. This was going too far. She removed his hand from her leg, flushing.

“You can corrupt my view of the world, but I am off limits.”

He grinned, leaning back again.

“Of course, we are friends. Now, tell me more about Novus, I want to know why you’re so close.”

Chapter Three

Jamie sat in the Manager’s Office tapping away on Neave’s new tablet with the laptop discarded beside him on the desk. His phone buzzed.

Dani: Novus is out. What are you doing?

He grinned. Dani. He’d not heard from her in a few days. He was beginning to think she might have gone off the idea of spending time with him.

Jamie: Working :( you all alone then?

Dani: Sorta. Bored?

Jamie: Perhaps. You can always entertain me.

He dropped his phone back on the desk when she didn’t immediately respond. Neave popped her head around the door.

“So… I need your help with something,” she said.

“Does it involve heavy lifting?”

“Maybe.”

He got up, tucking his phone in his pocket. It buzzed as he followed Neave out of the room. When they reached the soundproofed room in the back, Jamie was confronted with two very bloody men. The smell immediately assaulted his senses, causing his fangs to pop out. He hadn’t fed yet.

“These two don’t want to talk,” Neave said, leaning against the counter.

“I see.”

Jamie walked over to them slowly, his eyes landing on the first man. His right eye was swollen shut, blood dripping from his lip and there were several abrasions on his forehead.

“What did they do?” he asked.

“Caught trying to fuck with Gavin’s business dealings, but they’re just the lowlife scum hired to do the real culprit’s dirty work.”

Jamie cracked his knuckles before doing the same to his neck. He grabbed the first man, hauling him to his feet. He stared down at the bloody man with one swollen eye before baring his fangs.

“Tell me, little man, do you think it’s fun to play games with vampires?”

He didn’t even look