Page 53 of Bitten By Chaos

I wanted so badly to wipe it off his face, but I simply folded my arms and nodded. “Not on purpose. I’m not a methodical killer like you.”

Dad shrugged. “You’ll recover after a period of chaos. The curious thing is that the mixture seems to soften the vampiric impulses. From what I can tell, you still have the benefits of strength, speed, immortality, and well, fangs. But you will no longer need as much blood to survive, and the violent instincts may lessen over time, as well. I value my instincts and would hate to see them lessen.”

Did that mean that whatever was happening to Julian and me with the mating bond would subside too? Maybe the control and subservience wouldn’t be the end of us. My pulse increased as hope fluttered in my chest and newly beating heart. Naturally, Dad misinterpreted my sudden emotional change.

“If anyone else deserves this gift, it’s you, Charlie,” he said softly, pride shining in his eyes. “You and I? We have the brilliance it takes to wield this kind of power. Together, we can change the course of history.”

“You are delusional,” I said, shaking my head. “Elsa will decapitate you if you try to take the glory from her.”

My father laughed. “She won’t know or be able to stop me once I’m done. See, I’ve already procured the samples needed.” He strode toward the same cabinet and reached through the back, apparently an illusion. His arm disappeared briefly until he pulled out two people from behind it. Both were clearly glamoured into what appeared to be a submissive, sleep-walking state.

I swallowed hard as Lydia tensed beside me. The fairy I did not recognize, though my heart hurt for her, a slight, young-looking girl with gossamer wings and golden eyes. But the witch…the witch sent my blood to boiling, and all I saw was scarlet as my fangs extended fully.

My own sister—his daughter–stood there with his grip on her arm, staring straight ahead at seemingly nothing.

“You fucking monster.” I screamed the words as I lunged. Removing her from his poisonous touch was my first and only concern as I pried his fingers off her, snapping each one with ease.

I held Zoe to my chest and growled at the man I used to call father who stood clutching his wounded hand in shock.

“She is your firstborn child,” I said around my fangs. Tears flowed from my eyes as I trembled in an attempt to focus on these women and their wellbeing before dealing with the monster now cowering before me. Violent tendencies lessen? Not yet, they hadn’t.

“And her life would be worth something as a sacrifice, Charlie, like yours already is. Like ours are.” He pleaded silently, and I stepped backward as he moved toward me, not wanting to be in the same space as someone like him.

“You will leave Zoe alone,” I ordered, threading my magic through the words. “No more kidnapping and draining innocents. You will not come near me or those I love again.”

Without another word, I motioned for Lydia to grab the fairy, and I steered us and Zoe through my own portal to Hazel’s newly regrown cottage.

“Char? What happened?” Hazel ran toward us from the kitchen sink and grabbed Zoe’s hand. “Zo?”

“Zoe, wake up,” I said, and she gasped, coming back to life. I turned and did the same for the fairy, whom Lydia escorted outside, trying to calm her down.

“What happened?” Zoe asked, looking from me to Hazel before sitting heavily on the loveseat.

Karma climbed into her lap in cat form, mewing and rubbing against her.

“What do you remember?” I asked, sitting beside her.

“The doorbell rang, and Hazel was still asleep.” She tilted her head at me. “Was it you?”

“No.” I opened my mouth to tell her what happened then closed it again. Our father had left me with the horrifying responsibility of revealing just how evil he was.

Hazel’s hand fell on my shoulder, and the feeling of comfort washed over me. I glanced up at her and frowned.

“The important thing is you’re okay now, and we have some food to test with Murphy at the Rusty Shifter in half an hour. Sometimes it’s best to take a breath before going too far down the rabbit hole, eh Karma?”

The cat in Zoe’s lap burst into bunny form and jumped into his witch’s waiting arms.

Chapter 18

Magic, Blood, and Mates

The chaos my father warned of seemed to involve a combination of raw and intense emotion as well as further bouts of accidental magic when it came to making love to Julian. When I accidentally conjured a maple tree, growing through the roof of the bedroom as we swung on a dangling tire, I think Julian was as amused as I was mortified.

With a chuckle, Julian dropped backward to hang by his knees, outstretched fingers barely grazing the ground.

“Hey, Monkey Man, that’s not funny!” I called, leaning over to try and force him upright. But with a single tug, he had me upside down, clutched against his body as we swayed back and forth. Finally I gave in and started laughing as well at the absurdity of it.

With a wave, I sent the tree and swing away, and transported us back to the collapsed bed we hadn’t attempted to fix yet. Julian pouted as he loomed over me.

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