Page 30 of Shattered Magic

Vega closed her eyes and remembered ordering two shooters, being distracted by a man who was asking her about the dancer on stage. When Arkus had been occupying her, she hadn’t gotten any attention, so she thought the question was genuine. Now, she felt like an idiot.

“Yes. I remember the shots, and then everything went black.” She wiggled her fingers slowly, but he didn’t let go. She met his gaze again. “Why are you here?”

“You ran, and I found you. I understand your upset, but this form was chosen with you in mind. I recall that you found it pleasing.” He smiled.

Her stomach flipped. That night, she had been playing with AI and the ladies had been choosing their perfect guys. He was currently wearing the skin of the fantasy figure. Her body’s reaction had been violent and unmistakable. She hadn’t gotten aroused since Arkus took possession of her, so her reaction had been noticed.

She swallowed. “It is a very nice form.” There was no denying it. Her blood was still on fire from what she had been dosed with. She could smell her own heat.

“Thank you. You have had a rough night.”

“Yeah. Any idea when I can get out of here?”

“After Eon returns, they will tell you. Your body did not like the substance in your drinks.”

“Serves me right for trying for five minutes of freedom.” Vega tried to get her fingers free again, but he was holding the hand with the IV.

“I understood the impulse.” He smiled, and it was a stunning smile. “You did not know what picking up that charm would do.”

“Having it absorb into my skin was a bit of a surprise.”

He kissed her hand. “I know. I felt it when I rushed into you.”

She swallowed and whispered, “You have a great new body. He can handle your energy. Women will be falling over themselves to be with you. Why not just go and do that?”

“I have lived a life and sought pleasure, sought adoration, and sought companionship. It gets boring. I am seeking a partner, and I am seeing you.”

Vega felt a wave of sadness flow over her. “I can’t.”

He was undeterred. “Why not?”

“I am supposed to fulfill a family duty very soon. I am not going to be around very long.” She blinked away tears. “No sense in starting a future when you don’t have one.”

He kissed her hand. “I don’t understand.”

“My appearance is an anomaly. When the first child of my family is ready to be born, the anomaly must sacrifice itself hopefully to purge our line of the situation.” She used her free hand and found the bed control. She slowly sat up.

“There will be no sacrifice.” He continued to hold her hand, but the frown on his face was intense.

“Sure, there will. If I don’t, I will miss being included in the life-song of my new niece or nephew.”

He blinked. “Life-song? You are a dwarf?” He looked her up and down.

“You were in my head. I thought you knew.”

“Your people here are average-sized.”

“My family is either pleased to have me or not at all. Since you were inside me, they began reacting strangely to me. You never noticed?”

“No. I allowed you privacy with your family.”

“How generous of you. Well, yes. I am the only average-sized person in my family and my community, so I live in town and just send funds home.” She looked at him. “The shower was the first time I had actually been home in four years.”

“I didn’t realize.”

“Yeah, well, because things were going the way they were, I have been setting up my businesses and investments to continue on after my death.”

“Why death?”

---