Page 55 of Bitten By Desire

His stare answered as the black blade reappeared in his hand. Come willingly or else, he seemed to say.

You have the power, Pythia assured me.

I focused everything I had on the blood red glow of his hand where it met the hilt of his weapon, and when he let it go, I did, too, stopping the blast of power he’d meant to destroy the room with and turning it. Both telekinesis and mind bending worked together on the magic itself to force its compliance and guide it away, directing it toward the only part of the room not occupied with tired, wounded bodies.

The wall exploded, the entire building shaking beneath us as rubble shot like shrapnel all around. My instinct was to cover my head—to duck. But I couldn’t. Instead, I raised my own arms, bringing the dangerous rain of debris to a halt in midair. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared as I struggled to hold it all, trembling and swaying on my feet.

“Charlotte!” Julian yelled from somewhere that felt very far away as I finally released my hold, letting everything drop harmlessly to the ground. Then I followed, falling into strong, safe arms where I drifted away to the comforting scent of bergamot.

Chapter 19

The Incubus in my Care

I awoke to Julian, stroking back my hair as I lay in his lap in Hazel’s cottage. He smiled down at me, once again too pale, too soon. Each feeding lasted less time than the previous, just as he’d warned me about. I swallowed and went to sit gingerly, sore all over.

“How—” I didn’t know the right way to ask, but he understood what I wanted to know and pulled me into his lap.

“We did well,” he said. Though as I took stock of the room, filled with sore and beaten bodies, I doubted him.

“Everyone on our side survived,” he tried again. “Some were wounded, but Lydia has helped heal them with vampire blood. Daphne has gone back to her basement for healing, though. She didn’t want to stay far from it when she was hurt twice in such short succession.”

I nodded, then winced at the motion.

Let me heal you, love.

I appreciated him not doing it while I’d slept. He knew I’d turn it down when he was clearly in bad shape.

Not yet, I said, hoping that would prevent argument.

He traced the length of my arm, sending shivers through me as he sighed.

“Two demons survived and fled. A man and a woman. Four were killed. Twenty fae died as well. No survivors.”

My chest squeezed. Twenty-four deaths. All because people wanted me. I huddled closer to Julian’s cold body and spoke into his chest. “Bres survived. He escaped as well.”

“Perhaps he will think twice before coming after you again.”

“He doesn’t care how many fae lives he wastes. He wants to rule with the queen, and she wants me,” I said, fisting a handful of what was left of Julian’s bloody shirt.

“I believe the demons will take some time before they even attempt coming back to our dimension,” Julian said. “SHADE must be restructured. There is much work to do, but perhaps now a government truly in the best interests of all the supes can be created.”

I kissed his cheek even though the movement hurt like hell. Maybe I’d ask Lydia for a drop or two of her blood when he wasn’t paying attention.

“There’s a new vamp leader,” Sam said, appearing with an apple in his hand. He was shirtless, his muscled chest whole and unblemished. Werewolves healed fast, maybe faster than vampires. He took a bite and collapsed down beside us, chewing.

“Who?” I asked.

“Elizabeth Bathory,” Julian said coldly.

“Why is that name familiar?” I asked, wondering if a woman would at least be a decent change from the last two horrible liaisons.

Sam chuckled. “She’s famous even to humans for killing people and bathing in their blood back in the 1500’s.” Then he took another bite of apple.

I pressed my eyes closed and swore.

“She was created around the same time as I was,” Julian said. “Don’t worry. She did calm down later and is much more discreet now. I’ve spent some time with her, but I would not trust her, just the same.”

“That’s future me’s problem,” I said. Then I looked around again in alarm. “What time is it?”

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