Page 44 of Awakening the Dhampir

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Kenrid replied, drawing my attention. “I have a couple theories based on what we just experienced, though.” The fae rubbed his hand over his new mark. “It feels … unusual.”

Damon knelt beside us and extended his hand toward my chest. “May I?”

“I’m pretty sure I liked your hands all over me a few minutes ago,” I replied, trying really hard to hide my fear. It looked to me like we did more than a mating thing.

Damon smiled, then traced the Norse symbol with his finger. “This is a demonic rune of protection. The Norse Warriors modified it to create Aegishjalmur, the Helm of Terror,” he said, then pulled his hand away.

I had no idea what he was talking about. Maybe after I got over my mini panic attack, I’d look it up.

“Do you recognize the other symbol?” Damon asked.

I shook my head and realized he was probably talking to Kenrid. The fae leaned toward me, tracing what I called the Eye of Horus. If I weren’t so freaked out, it would’ve excited me to have their hands on me again.

“Yes, it’s a fae protection rune designed to see danger before it strikes,” Kenrid replied, pulling his hand back. He glanced up at Damon. “I’m guessing this doesn’t normally happen for demons.”

“No, it does not,” Damon confirmed. He placed a hand over the little bird on his chest. “This must be Lorna’s. I agree, it feels unusual. I’m not sure I could explain it even if I had to.”

How were they not worried about having a magical tattoo on their chest? Both men looked lost in thought but not at all afraid. Unlike me. I was bordering on the edge of overwhelmed. Terrified, actually. I’d barely wrapped my mind around this mate thing, and now I had two magical runes etched on my skin. Sure, they sounded like protection runes, but I didn’t even know what that meant.

I had to assume my dhampir was just as ignorant because she didn’t even offer a snarky comment about sitting naked on the floor.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Damon said, probably hearing my heart slamming against my ribs. “My magic has always wanted to connect with you. This just confirms my need to keep you safe.”

“Exactly,” Kenrid said. “I think these are just a physical manifestation of our claim. It’s unusual, but it feels right.”

Both men turned their focus to me. I swallowed hard and tried to replace my fear with their curiosity and acceptance. It didn’t work very well.

“What does yours feel like?” Kenrid asked.

I looked down at the two symbols and tentatively covered them with my fingers. They were warm, and the outline of each rune was slightly raised on my skin. They didn’t hurt, and I could sense both Damon and Kenrid’s magic in them.

I must have said all that out loud because Kenrid smiled. “I can feel your magic, too. Fae who find their soulmate can always feel each other, though. So, I expected it.”

“Demons are the same,” Damon added. “The only way I would not feel you is if one of us left this realm.”

“So, we’ll always be able to find each other?” I asked, feeling pretty good about that part. If someone else did manage to kidnap me again, my guys would find me.

“Yes,” both men replied at the same time.

“We should get going,” Damon said, rising to his feet.

My eyes were automatically drawn to the bird on his chest. “Will it still be there when you change to your demon?” I asked.

Damon grinned and took several steps back. “Let’s find out.”

I’d never actually watched him change from demon to human. He’d always done it when I was distracted by something or someone else. I eagerly kept my eyes glued to him. A dark, foggy haze circled his body and blurred his form, making it impossible to see. I frowned when the haze dissipated, and a demon replaced the man.

I couldn’t see the little bird on Damon’s dark scales until its eyes blinked several times. It was kind of eerie to see a pair of lavender dots shining against his scales like that.

Damon grinned, showing his fangs. I shivered at the reminder of his bite and my naked body.

“I’m going to take a quick shower,” I said, scrambling to my feet and making a mad dash for the bathroom. It made no sense for me to suddenly be bashful, but I was. Or maybe I was skirting the edge of shock.

Chapter 16

Lorna

Less than an hour later, we were back on the road. Once again, Damon’s demon was sprawled out in the back seat and would be until dawn. I sat in the front with Kenrid, tapping my fingers on my thigh. One of the local pop-rock stations played the latest tunes on the radio, the volume loud enough to hear but not blaring.

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