Page 16 of Dark Witch: Entangled Fates

Margo didn't look entirely convinced that her friend was fine, but she allowed herself to be distracted as the screen filled up with a sweeping shot of the dining room.

"Wow, look at that," Margo breathed. "The place looks completely different every night. It's amazing what a transformation they can create with just the help of colorful lighting."

More than that went into decorating the ship's grand dining room and turning it into a space worthy of a gala, but she was right about the strategically placed colorful beams of light being the most impactful.

As the camera panned over the glittering tables and the array of immortals in their finest attire, Negal's thoughts drifted to the transfusion.

It wouldn't be enough for her to fall asleep for him to do the deed. As soon as he injected her, she would wake up from the needle jab, and he would have to explain what he had done and why.

Negal needed to thrall Margo whether he liked it or not, and the thought made his stomach twist with unease.

It was a betrayal of her trust, even though it was necessary.

Kian was not willing to compromise on the issue of letting any more people know about the miraculous healing powers of a god's blood, and even though Negal didn't answer to Kian, he answered to Aru, and Aru had promised Kian to guard the secret.

Besides, Kian was the Anumati heir's son, and even though he could never become an heir himself because he was a hybrid, he still deserved Negal's deference.

Mind made up, Negal took her hand and looked into her eyes. "Margo, my love."

She turned to him. "Yes?"

"Nothing." He smiled. "I just love looking into your eyes."

He reached inside her mind and gently wove the suggestion to sleep into her thoughts, his mental voice a soothing whisper against the edges of her consciousness.

"You're so tired, my love," he murmured aloud while making her feel her eyelids growing heavy, her limbs slacking and relaxing.

Nothing would rouse her from this slumber save a sweet kiss from her mate's lips.

He watched Margo's eyes flutter shut and a small, contented smile curve her lips. She looked so peaceful, so serene, that he was tempted to lean down and kiss her, but his kiss was what would wake her up, so he had to stifle the impulse and continue with his plan.

Retrieving the syringe from Frankie and Dagor's room, he tore the wrapping off on his way back to the couch.

Negal sat down, uncapped the needle, and positioned it against his inner elbow. By now, he was a veteran at this, and as he jabbed the needle into his vein, he didn't even flinch. After withdrawing about half an ounce, he took Margo's hand and moved the needle to the same spot on her inner elbow.

One quick prick, and it was done. Negal watched as the small quantity of his blood flowed into Margo's vein, and when there was nothing left, he withdrew the needle and pressed his finger to the spot. Then he licked it, sealing the tiny puncture, and was happy to see that the spot in Margo's inner elbow looked pristine.

With the procedure done, he collected what he had used and took it to his and Margo's bedroom. He couldn't risk anyone discovering the evidence in the trash bin, so he put the syringe back into its wrapping and stashed it in a pocket of his suitcase to discard later.

The transfusion was a small deception, a white lie told in service of a greater truth, but it still sat heavy on his chest.

Pushing the feeling aside, Negal returned to Margo's side. As his hand ghosted over her cheek in a feather-light caress, she stirred slightly at his touch, her lips parting with a soft sigh. He leaned down and brushed his lips against hers, the contact sending a jolt of electricity humming through his veins.

Her eyelids fluttered open. "Mmm," Margo murmured, her voice husky with sleep. "Did I miss anything? Has the wedding started?"

Negal forced a smile, hoping it didn't look as strained as it felt. "Not yet, my love. You dozed off for only a few minutes."

Margo lifted a hand to her face and rubbed her eyes. "That's strange. It felt like such a deep sleep. I've never slept so deeply for such a short time before."

A pang of remorse lanced through him, but he pushed it down, burying it beneath a layer of practiced nonchalance.

"Your body is going through a major change, and it needs rest, but you are fighting it because you are adamant about watching the wedding ceremony in real time. You know that you can watch it later, right?"

"I know, but it's not going to be as impactful as seeing it as it happens. I'm so curious to hear Onegus's vows. He's such an enigmatic guy."

Negal's jealousy flared. "In what way?"

Margo shrugged. "He's the chief Guardian, which I assume is like a general, but he looks and acts like a politician, charming and smiling and all that."

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