Page 32 of Claiming the Dhampir

My head snapped up at my mate’s panicked voice. Surely, she wasn’t talking to me.

No. Kenrid lay sprawled on the floor next to her with blood oozing from a deep cut on his head. Brance kicked another male fae in the stomach and blasted him with the same spell he’d thrown at Nathan. The male fell to the floor beside Kenrid, his hair and clothing smoldering.

Lorna stood over Kenrid’s unmoving body with her knees slightly bent and her fists up and ready to fight. A swell of pride pushed aside some of my fear for her safety. She was obviously scared, but she was brave, and she wasn’t backing down.

Neither was Brance. I should’ve realized he’d used that attack on Nathan as a distraction to get to Lorna. This whole thing was a trap for Lorna. Brance must have been the one to issue the contract to find her.

“Come with me and I’ll let them live,” Brance said, extending a hand to Lorna. He was only a couple of steps from her. He could have her in his grasp within seconds.

She snorted. “Yeah right. Damon’s going to kick your ass.”

I wanted to be thrilled with her faith in me, but I hated how close she was to Brance. I was fast, but I worried I wouldn’t be fast enough. Any magic I used would also hit my mate, unless I could get closer.

“He can’t reach me before I get to you.” Brance turned to face me with a smug look. “Isn’t that right, demon? I’ll teleport us both out of here and you’ll never see her again.”

A swell of shifter magic pulsed next to me—Elliott shifting to his wolf. Tendrils of my magic trailed along the floor toward Brance and Lorna. They were too far away, though. I wouldn’t reach Lorna before Brance took her. He couldn’t take her back to Fairie, but I had no idea what other realms he could access. I doubted he would stay on Earth.

“What do you want?” I asked, trying to stall. I needed to find a way to get Lorna away from him.

“Her!” Brance exclaimed, snapping his fingers at my mate. “She is my ticket back to Fairie. The queens have already agreed to rescind my exile if I can deliver the dhampir.”

I took a moment to consider his words while my magic inched closer. Or rather the queens’ words. Brance in his desperation must not have understood what they’d told him. The realm’s magic wasn’t controlled by anyone. The queens had no say in who could enter. They thought they controlled who they exiled, but they really didn’t. The Fairie Realm was just as magical as the Underworld. The Realm decided who was unworthy.

I shook my head.

“They can rescind whatever they want, but that doesn't mean they have any control over the magic governing Fairie,” I said. “Do you really think the realm’s magic would listen to your queen?”

“But—” he whispered, but I could see him thinking it through.

He glanced at Alyssa, who’d managed to crawl to the door. She leaned against the wall, hugging her knees and glaring at Brance.

“You’re a fool,” Alyssa said, her voice grating. “I never should’ve listened to you.”

“They told me if I delivered the dhampir, I could reinstate the research,” Brance insisted, dropping his hands to his side. “That’s always been done in the Winter Kingdom. The research must be done in Fairie. Where else would they do it? They must have a way to get us home.”

He once again straightened his spine and turned to face Lorna. I knew he’d never change his mind. He would never see reason. He would never give up trying to get back home. Lorna must have seen it as well. She closed the space between herself and Brance, then cupped his face with her hands.

I took a step toward her, gripping the fur on Elliott’s back. His body vibrated with each low growl rumbling through his chest. I understood his anger and frustration, but I had a hunch about what Lorna was doing.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

Her magic tickled my senses despite the distance between us. She was trying to use her newly found ability to manipulate Brance’s mind. Brance leaned into her touch and closed his eyes. It looked like Lorna might get into his head and convince him to stand down. I only needed him distracted for a moment, which she’d given me. I wouldn’t wait to see if she succeeded in breaking through his mental barrier.

Chapter 11

Lorna

Ipictured a view of the Cascade Mountains covered in a blanket of fresh snow. I imagined the smell of aged pine trees and crisp, clean air. I forced myself to hear water trickling through a half-frozen stream. All of it from memories of my childhood home. Then I projected it into Brance’s mind.

Brance’s breathing slowed and his eyes slid shut. His shoulders sagged with what I hoped was relief, maybe even a sense of peace. Not that I believed he deserved peace after what he’d done to Kenrid and Nathan. No, I just needed him distracted so that my demon could kick his ass!

Sure, it would have been nice to take down the asshole by myself, but I wasn’t delusional. I’d just discovered that I could project stuff. Brance had probably been practicing magic since he’d been born. All that experience paid off for him a few seconds later.

“Get out of my head!” Brance bellowed and slapped my hands away from his face.

I’d hoped to keep him distracted just a little longer, but I shouldn’t have worried. Several hundred pounds of fur barreled in between me and Brance.

My wolf.

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