Page 60 of Claiming the Dhampir

Lorna laughed. “We didn’t have a fight, Elliott.”

“I could pretend to yell at you.” His suggestive grin was so exaggerated I was embarrassed for him.

“You could also pretend to be submissive,” Lorna countered.

Elliott actually blushed. Lorna’s triumphant smile made me realize there was more to that comment than the rest of us knew. That jealousy I’d tried to overcome reared its ugly head. I wanted to have those secrets with her, those special moments that only we knew about.

“We’ll talk about it later, little goddess,” Elliott promised.

Lorna’s desire blossomed, and I tried not to react. Damon and Kenrid both shifted in their seats, probably suffering from the same discomfort that I was. I’d had blue balls for ages, but nothing like what I’d experienced when I walked away from Lorna earlier. It certainly hadn’t gone away.

“Can we discuss what happened yesterday?” I asked, redirecting the conversation to something less sexual.

Elliott winked at Lorna, then crossed his arms over his chest. Kenrid just smiled, a mixture of his edgy smirk and the smile he reserved just for Lorna. Damon shook his head.

“During the fight, Lorna shared with me the intensity of your blood swap,” Damon said. “After your admission just now, I assume your combined magic was more than a typical vampire and dhampir union.”

I didn’t remember Lorna talking to Damon during our fight with the fae. We’d been so busy trying to hold up Kenrid’s shield, I must have missed it.

“It was so much more,” I replied. “Kenrid and Lorna can confirm, but I believe we merged our combined strength with Kenrid.”

The fae nodded. “Yes, I could not have created and held a shield that strong without them. I could see the magic—I mean physically see it.” Kenrid’s smile grew when he looked at Lorna. “My magic has been different ever since you left your mark, but yesterday was amazing.” He glanced up at me with a look of awe. “The strength you gave me was intoxicating.”

I frowned and looked at Damon. “Have you noticed anything different with your magic?”

“No, but I’m a creature made of magic,” he replied, looking across the table at Elliott. “Have you noticed anything?”

“Are you kidding, Damon?” Elliott asked. “After watching you tear down that shield at Alyssa’s and take every single magical attack they threw at you, you didn’t even look winded. You treated them like little bugs you could squish between your fingers!” He pressed his finger and thumb together, like we needed a demonstration. “Don’t get me started on what you did to the queens and their guard.”

Damon scowled at Elliott, then cut his eyes at me. He glanced at Kenrid and sighed. His expression softened when he looked at Lorna.

“I only use the amount of force needed to subdue my enemies,” Damon said. “What you witnessed is not the extent of my magical strength.”

My mouth fell open. He was absolutely the strongest among us, and he’d been holding back all these years. Why?

“You’ve always been scary, man,” Elliott said. “You’re telling us there’s more?”

Damon gave Elliott his full attention, fire flickering in his dark eyes. “My magic would seem limitless to you, because as I said, I am a creature of magic. Demons stay in the Underworld because the other realms are so far beneath them, they aren’t considered a worthy foe.” He mimicked Elliott’s earlier demonstration, pressing his finger and thumb together. “It would be like squishing a swarm of bugs. There is no honor in that battle.”

“Damn, I had no idea,” Elliott muttered.

That made two of us. And by the look on Kenrid’s face, it made three.

“I always assumed that demons stayed in their realm because they couldn’t maintain their demon form on Earth,” I said, even though it was more of a question.

Damon nodded. “Earth has very little magic. Being a creature of magic, the Earth realm drains most demons quickly. If he wanted to conquer this realm, Lucifer would send his higher demons, those who were less affected.”

“Like you?” Kenrid asked.

“Even if Lucifer decided to conquer Earth,” Damon replied, not answering Kenrid’s question, “demons have no desire to be here. Those strong enough to withstand the lack of magic don’t willingly give up the power they gain by staying in the Underworld. Lucifer gains nothing by coming to Earth.”

I didn’t know how to react to this new information, especially with Lucifer’s interest in Lorna. Damon’s revelations alluded to part of his past that he’d never shared. He might have to, though. I needed time to think about it.

“Have you noticed anything different with your wolf?” Damon asked, redirecting us back to the original conversation.

Elliott shook his head and started to speak, then stopped, and looked at Lorna. “My wolf quit bitching about sharing. I don’t feel any stronger or faster or whatever, but I also don’t have the urge to kill any of you when you touch her.”

I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my hands across my face. I already knew what Lorna did for me. How much stronger would our combined magic be with a true mated bond? I shivered at the thought.

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