Page 58 of The Veil of Blood and Magic

An icy shiver trickles into my blood as I study him. I grew up fascinated by the stories about sirens—how they use theirhoneyed voices to manipulate emotions, bending others free will. How they can partially shift into a more animalistic version of themselves when provoked, kind of like how I can with my fangs and speed. But it was the nightmarish stories of being captured by a siren’s voice while you willingly walked to your own death that stuck with me.

I’ve felt Jagger’s influence before. It’s powerful, and I’m not certain he was using his full strength when he tried to lure me under it that first night we met. He’d never be able to fully subdue me, not that he knows that, but the idea of being hypnotized and completely out of control of my own body is definitely terrifying.

“I’ll remember that,” I finally say.

Jagger’s wide smile is enough to soothe the hesitance in me, the curiosity of whether he’s a true threat or not. I haven’t felt anything malicious from him or detected any hint of something rotten in the way his desire or blood tastes, but I know better than anyone it’s never a good idea to let your guard all the way down.

“Don’t be afraid, dove,” he says, partially singing the words in a way that makes my body feel relaxed, like I’ve stepped into a warm bath. “I may be your captor, but I have no intention of harming you.”

I believe him. It’s easy to after the way he’s looked after me, fed me, made me laugh despite being on the road to my inevitable death.

“So you’re saying you’d never show me your shifted side?”

Jagger’s teal eyes flash to mine as he stops suddenly. There’s pain there, strung tight along his features before he blinks it away and keeps moving,

“You don’t ever want to see that side,” he says.

I furrow my brow. “Who says?”

He huffs out a dark laugh, cocking a brow my direction. “Brave, reckless. Do you ever do anything that is for your own well-being?”

“Sometimes,” I say, smiling at him. “Life is short,” I continue, absently tracing my fingers over my heart. “And cruel and unforgiving.” I swallow hard. “If you’re not squeezing out whatever little pleasure in this goddessforsaken life that you can, then what’s the point?”

“Is that an invitation?” Jagger asks, his voice dropping into that seductive hum that has my breath catching. Even though it’s a small influence, it’s enough to spark excitement along my bones. “Because I’m feeling terribly left out in thesqueezingdepartment.”

A laugh rips from my lips, unexpected and unfiltered. The sensation fills my body with a sort of hope that has nothing to do with the siren’s powers and everything to do with surprising joy.

“Poor, sweet siren,” I say. “I didn’t mean to exclude you,” I admit with a sigh. “It happened so fast.”

My skin flushes at the memory of being chased and caught by Zev. I can still taste his blood on my tongue. I have the urge to turn around and see if he’s listening or if he even cares, but I keep my eyes forward.

“I wouldn’t be fast with you,” he says, and warmth unfurls in my core.

“No?” I ask, my eyes trailing the length of his body. Goddess, he’s gorgeous. And powerful and playful and slightly dangerous. All the things I would want in a reoccurring partner. Not that I’m allowed to have such things, but if I were…

I think of Six and the way he’s been a warm, comforting presence. Teasing me with heated words, unraveling me with just the power of his mind.

I think of Jagger and how fun it would be to feed and laugh and go on adventures together.

I even think of Zev and how I’d never be able to stop biting him or fucking him or doing my best to rile him.

I allow myself to live in the fantasy for only a few moments before taking a dagger to the heart of it.

I can’t Link with my captors.

I can’t Match with Six.

If the collector core doesn’t kill me for assassinating the Collector, then his deranged son certainly will. And if by some miracle from Aletha I survive them, then my heart will eventually finish the job.

“No,” he answers, nothing more.

My lips part. “You want to elaborate on that statement?” I ask, unable to stop my curiosity from spiraling.

He shakes his head, his delightful smile shifting to pure mischief. “If you really want to know what I’d do to you, you’ll let me show you.”

“Oh, really?”

Jagger pauses in the road, turning to face me, getting so close I can hear his blood thrumming through his veins.

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