Page 118 of Destined to Fight

Ginna was still in the room sipping on a glass of whiskey.

“What do ye make of all this?” he asked her.

“Honestly, I’m dumbfounded. I’m angry as hell with her, but I know that’s not what you’re referring to. How in the hell was she able to stop time? She obviously wasn’t even trying to do it, and not only that, but it sounds like she managed it for a good thirty seconds at least. Something isn’t adding up.”

“Aye, something is off. The fact that she was able to use so much power that it nearly killed her doesnae make sense either. She shouldnae have access to that much without bonding.”

“Right. I’m going to reach out to a few friends and see what they can make of everything. They might have some insight. In the meantime, Eric will talk, and then we’ll be under constant assault by people wanting access to Kelly. The wards on this house won’t be enough for long. We’re going to need more people. Living smack-dab in the middle of humans won’t keep them away when they find out what she did. They’re not going to give a shit about breaking the law if they can get their hands on her.”

He ran his hand through his hair. “Aye, we’ll have to hire more guards. Among other things.”

“You know, if someone told me thirty years ago I’d be training the next timekeeper and she’d stop time before her bonding, I’d have bet them millions it wouldn’t happen. This shit is absolutely insane. Not to mention the two of you, a mage and a vampire in a relationship. Then, you add on the fact that you swap blood and have all that telepathy shit going on. All of this is completely fucked up, and if the Council ever finds out about you two, they’ll shit themselves.” She shook her head slowly in disbelief. “We’re all likely to end up in dungeons before this is over.”

“Aye, we are. Let’s just hope we can keep what’s going on between us from them.”

“Amen to that. Speaking of, you might go give her more blood before she’s too far gone. She doesn’t look good.”

He nodded and stood. “Goodnight, Ginna.”

“Night, vampire.”

After downing a couple more bags of blood, he went to his room and found Kelly fast asleep. He nudged her gently and sat down next to her, but she didn’t stir.

She slept harder than just about anyone he’d ever known, and he felt bad for waking her up.

“Wake up, lass. Just for a minute. Ye need to take more of my blood, and then ye can go back to sleep.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Kelly, wake up.” He shook her shoulder a little harder this time.

“Okay, okay.”

He’d learned she didn’t like being woken up, no matter the time of day, so he tried to make it quick. His fangs tore through his skin with ease, and he placed his wrist to her mouth. Her response to his blood was almost immediate, and she latched onto his wrist with hunger.

A part of him was concerned about the level of hunger she showed for his blood. It was similar to a young vampire in bloodlust, just dulled down to a human level.

There had to be more to what was going on between them, but he was at a loss as to where they would find answers.

Kelly continued to pull at his wrist, his blood apparently doing nothing for her appetite. If she kept up at this rate, he’d need another two bags of blood just to replenish his own energy.

When he thought she’d had enough, he gently placed his hand on her shoulder. “Lass, that’s enough. Yer going to drain me again.”

He watched her face as she fought her body and pulled away from him. She looked like it pained her to pull back.

He licked his wrist to heal it and brushed her cheek with the back of his hand before he stood.

“Sleep well, lass.”

He saw the turmoil on her face as he turned to leave the room. Their link was weak at best. He wasn’t sure if it was because he’d cut her off from his blood or because he was leaving the room.

Either way, a pang of guilt hit him. First he’d fallen for a human, and now a potential mage who seemed to be lusting after his blood. He sure knew how to pick ’em.

Leaving the room, he called out to Connor to meet him in his office.

Connor was there waiting by the time he made it down the hall.

Kade summarized his concerns regarding Kelly’s powers and the need for increased security. “I dinnae ken where to start. I’m good at business, but this is strategy and investigations.”

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