Page 101 of Last Gift: Supernatural Battle

“Indeed?” the king remarked.

My brows shot up. “That’s a large advantage.”

“It is?” Andie said.

Wild answered, “They use their blood in battle to work magic. We’ve guessed that their blood is used for the strongest of their spells or when they feel the match is too even for guaranteed success.”

The Luthers’ strength could be huge for our alliance if demon magic failed to work on them. If we could harness that, then we could neutralize and weaken the demons considerably. Though building enough trust with the Luthers for them to donate their blood—which a magus could use in any manner of ways—would take time. Or might never happen.

“Huxley, Spyne,” I said. “Bring forward our findings, please.”

By the time they’d inched to my side, both magus were sweating. Either my bond with Wild made me impervious to the king’s power, or I possessed the power needed to remain upright. Each of the grimoires couldn’t wait to be out of there. Wade was on the ground again, and Hairy wasn’t in a state to help, though he was still standing.

Andie smiled as she glanced back at Wade. “He keeps demanding to come in here. He’s sure exposure is the key to beating the effect on him.”

Basilia snorted and glanced back. “It’s hard for humans to be around my father-in-law. I remember it well.”

She was still human when she’d first met King Julius, then. I’d have to tell her about meeting Wild’s parents one day.

I floated one of the black, leather-bound tomes up to the king, who took it carefully, and then I passed the other copy to Andie. “These books will automatically update as we add to the Mother copy.”

“Handy trick,” Princess Basilia said, craning to see inside Andie’s copy.

“Invaluable to our clan, and our kind,” stated the king. “This is a gift.” He lowered the book. “I have not been into battle for some time, Magus Queen. I hunger for victory, yet I am too old not to respect the cost. Much thought must be given to how Luther, Vissimo, and magus will fight alongside each other. This has never been done, and we will see it done right.” He scanned the six of us as Kyros returned ahead of ten other Vissimo, all carrying stacks of books.

The king regarded the six of us again. “Yes, you will all see it done right.”

If he knew something about the six of us, he wasn’t sharing.

Huxley and Spyne had almost run to the Vissimo carrying the books. Their grimoire magic glowed brightly as they hovered their hands over the tomes.

“There’s more here than we have,” Huxley said excitedly.

“A lot more,” Spyne agreed.

The king’s brows rose ever so slightly. “I would gather these men are the affinity you call grimoire.”

“Yes, King Julius. We usually don’t let them out, for obvious reasons.”

“He is very beautiful,” Queen Titania remarked, looking at Spyne.

The king regarded Spyne. “Are you in the mood for company in our bed, my queen?”

That reached Huxley through his excitement. He paled, looking up at the king, and I heard Wild’s low laughter in my other ear.

Huxley didn’t fear much competition from a human, but a king and queen were another deal.

Spyne’s cheeks colored, and even I felt jealous at others looking at him. If I didn’t have his approval, who was I? What if he liked the queen better than me?

Wild’s curious gaze was on me, and I tried to refocus.

“I propose that we form a strategy team for the alliance,” Princess Basilia said. “Once a plan is formed, we can train together.”

“I second this.”

Andie nodded. “I’m in.”

“We need a better way to get in touch,” I said. Portals weren’t an option as only a magus could operate one. Human tech to save the day. With some magus alterations of course. I summoned an old phone and floated it to Basilia. “If you lift this from the cradle, I will answer.”

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