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

“You all deserve to get staked,” the man spat.

Jamie snorted, rolling his eyes and throwing him back to the floor.

“Not sure how much you’re going to get out of these two, Neave, even with my help.”

“Jack’s not here to do his dirty work anymore and I can’t get hold of Akeno.”

“Is this the real reason he asked me to come home?”

Neave shook her head. He rolled his eyes, pulling out his phone. Dani sent him a picture of her crossed eyed, sticking her tongue out. He held back a smile.

Shit, she is far too cute for her own good. I’d have sent her one back if I didn’t have to deal with this crap.

He wanted to see her again. The fae girl piqued his curiosity.

Jamie: Very funny. Now who’s the bored one?

He placed his phone on the counter and shrugged out of his jacket, hanging it on a chair.

“You know my rules. I won’t glamour or kill them,” he said to Neave.

“I know.”

He rolled up his sleeves, walking over to a table on the side and selecting a hammer. These two were going to wish they’d squealed before Neave asked him to step in.

“You fancy holding him down whilst I break his shins?” Jamie said to Neave.

“What?” the second guy said, his eyes going wide. “No. No. No.”

Neave walked over to the man, taking his shoulders and forcing them to the floor.

“It’ll go better for you if you don’t struggle,” she said.

“Please, I have a family.”

“You should’ve thought of that before you fucked with vampires.”

The sickening crunch echoed around the room. The man screamed. He’d been so focused on Neave’s face, he hadn’t noticed Jamie holding his leg down.

“Stop,” said the first man. “Just stop.”

“Are you ready to talk?” Jamie asked.

He shut his mouth, glaring at the vampires. Jamie grinned and Neave just looked resigned. Jamie took the second man’s foot and twisted it around until it was at the entirely wrong angle. The man screamed, sobbed and begged them to stop. The first man flinched at the sound, a tear running down his cheek.

By the time they’d got something out of the first man, the second one was brutalised beyond recognition, but still alive. Blood coated the floor. Jamie was barely holding back his true nature. He needed to feed, desperation entered his grey eyes. Neave handed him a glass. She’d slit open the first man’s wrist whilst he’d watched Jamie hurt his friend.

“I don’t want that shit,” Jamie said.

“You need it.”

He looked down at the blood filled glass.

“No, I really don’t.”

“Drink it and go clean yourself up. I’ll deal with this mess.”

He continued to stare at the blood, the ache in his throat becoming more pronounced.

“Look, we all have our demons, Jamie. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but one day, that shit is going to eat you up. You need someone who makes it go away. We both do, but mine fucked off four years ago.”

Jamie looked away, chugging the contents and slamming the glass down on the counter, clenching his fist. The man’s blood tasted like crap, but he immediately felt better. Neave was the only person who knew how he struggled with his nature. They were similar in that respect for very different reasons.

“I’m sorry about Rowan. I know what he meant to you.”

“What’s done is done. I fucked it up royally. I doubt he’ll ever come back.”

Neave’s expression was hollow, her eyes a little glassy. This wasn’t a conversation they should be having right before she killed and disposed of two humans. Jamie put a hand on her arm, giving it a squeeze. He’d still been around when Rowan was in the picture. He’d never understood Neave’s fascination with shifters, but the dragon had been good for her.

“Doesn’t matter,” Neave said, shaking her head. “You should go, I know you don’t want to see this bit.”

Jamie nodded, slipping from the room, but gave her one last glance before he disappeared. Her expression hardened as she advanced on the men. He heard the snap of both their necks before the door shut behind him. He slipped into the staff room, stripping out of his blood soaked clothes, which he chucked in the washing machine before stepping into the shower.

I wonder what Dani is doing now. I kind of want to see her after that shit.

He liked talking to the fae girl. She wasn’t a part of the vampire world. It was refreshing, especially since he wasn’t trying to sleep with her. Friends. He didn’t have many of those. She was smart if a little shy, but it was clear she had another side to her. A darker side. One itching to come out and play. And he intended to tug on its strings and drag it out into the open.

When he was done in the shower, he snagged a change of clothes. Neave was waiting in the corridor when he strolled out. She handed him his phone and jacket.

“It’s been blowing up.”

He nodded at her, taking it back into the Manager’s Office. He sat down and looked at the messages.

Dani: A little bored, yeah.

Dani: It’s a pity you’re working. I could do with some company.

Dani: I guess you’re busy. I’ll leave you to it.

Dani: Okay, look, I have no friends except Novus, but he’s my brother. I’m lonely. I feel like you understand that.

Dani: I get it. I said something weird and now you don’t want to talk to me anymore. I’m such an idiot. Sorry!

He shook his head. She had read him correctly; loneliness was something he understood all too well. Instead of texting her back, he rang her. She answered on the fourth ring.

“Hi.”