Page 31 of Bewitched By a Vampire

Night wasn’t sure it had ever been warm when it came to females. He couldn’t remember his brother ever being swept up in the same collision of emotions Night was experiencing, teetering on the verge of falling for someone.

He eased his grip on his knee and tried to relax, affecting a calmness he didn’t feel at all as he thought about what he needed to do. Getting Lilian away from the house would be a good start, but what if the demon had already seen her here? What if he targeted her while she was alone and vulnerable?

No, he couldn’t let her go. Until this threat had passed, he was keeping her with him.

“When Bastian returns, we will all head north,” he said, his decision made.

Grave’s eyebrows dipped low. “All?”

“Myself and Bastian,” Night said, a little too quickly judging by the suspicious look Grave gave him.

That look became knowing.

Night silently cursed again.

This was not going well.

Even Snow looked as if he had pieced things together and was questioning his sanity.

Night tried to think of an excuse, something that sounded reasonable and would throw his brother and cousin off his scent. Grave suddenly bent forwards and clutched his chest, his lips pulling taut in a grimace as he growled.

“What’s wrong?” Snow and Night said in unison.

Grave stared down at his hand.

He was still for a full minute, his expression etched with confusion and pain, and then his jaw flexed and he screwed his eyes shut as he tightly gripped the front of his black shirt.

Night jumped as Grave launched to his feet.

“Where is the nearest portal?” Grave growled.

Snow stared at Grave through wide eyes.

Night recovered more quickly, concern filling him as he looked up at Grave and sensed his fear. “Brother… what is wrong?”

“I think the demon prince might have my mate.” Grave cast him a worried glance, his brow furrowing as he continued to hold the front of his shirt as if his life depended upon it.

“Then we can take my car and we will be at the nearest portal in—wait.” Night’s face slackened as he stared at his brother. “Mate? You have a mate?”

“I do not have time for this, Night,” Grave barked.

“He has a mate. A phantom, apparently.” Snow almost sounded amused, but then his tone and expression turned grave as he slid a look at Night. “Ask him about his little habit of going incorporeal.”

“A phantom? Incorporeal?” Night shot to his feet now, emotions colliding and tangling inside him. Fear clashed with anger, the thought that his brother had kept him in the dark about this cutting him deeply. He had thought they were close, but Grave had a mate Night had known nothing about, and it hurt. “What the fuck is going on? How long have you had a mate?”

Who had managed to thaw Grave’s icy heart? Night almost wanted to meet the female, because she had to be something special. Hell, she was a phantom. His brother must have been mad to get involved with one.

He stared at Grave, seeing the fear in his eyes—fear for this female.

Grave gritted, “I do not have time to explain myself, Night, and nor do I need to.”

“I don’t even know why you bother pretending to have siblings when you want nothing to do with us,” Night spat and stormed away from him, regretting his words the moment they left his lips. He stopped a few strides away and looked back at his brother, his eyebrows furrowing as guilt churned in his stomach and he tried to muster an apology.

That guilt only worsened when he saw the stunned look on his brother’s face.

Night dropped his gaze to the wooden floor. “You didn’t deserve that.”

“Perhaps I did,” Grave murmured, his voice strained and low, thick with emotion Night was sure was about his mate being in danger rather than Night’s outburst. His brother crossed the room to him and placed his hands on Night’s shoulders. “I have not been a good brother. Neither of us have, but I can only make excuses for myself. If I keep things from you, Night, it is only because I want to protect you.”

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