Page 35 of Cursed Heirs

Alena:He used black magic to do it. The tattoo isn’t even there anymore. And, I guess, with him being Xavier’s sire, it also played a part in him being able to do something like that to him.

Talon:Shit, this whole thing is so wrong and fucked-up.

Alena:It absolutely is. And I’ve been ordered to keep out of all of it.

Talon:We’ll change that soon. Once you get back here. Once Ore’s grounding is done.

Alena:Orpheus Hart is grounded?

Talon:Wings-wise.

Alena:Wow.

Talon:Well, he’s also confined to his chambers, so maybe a bit of the other meaning thrown in there too actually.

Alena:What? Why? What happened?

Talon:I’ll leave it to him to tell you the details, but let’s just say that he crossed paths with Isabella and it didn’t exactly end well. For her.

I looked out at Tal. “Really? You told her about my punishment?”

“Only vaguely. She wants to know what’s going on with us. This is her missing us, Ore. It’s a good thing.”

“If that’s so then why hasn’t she messagedmewith any of this?”

“She said she didn’t want to cause you any undue stress while you’re recovering from the attack.”

Hmm.No, it seemed like more than that.

“Well, I’m recovered now, so thisprotectionof hers can cease.”

“And you can show her that in person when she gets here later this morning. Only a few hours to go now.”

I handed his phone back to him.

“Xavier is in trouble.”

“I know and it sounds worse than when we first met him.”

“Without his magic, all bets are off.”

“Well, his dad is there and so is Professor Wilhelm who’s helping him master control over the demon now he’s a pure vampire with no magic to keep those urges in check.”

“It’s not gonna help.”

“Why not?”

“Because all of that means X avoiding his greatest fear of losing control to the vampire. He needs to lose it. In a safe environment against someone who can survive it. He needs to lose it and experience that it’s not the end of the world if he does.”

“That’s majorly dangerous.”

I lifted a shoulder. “Part and parcel of being a vampire.”

“Something he needs to accept instead of continuing to avoid,” Tal realized aloud.

“Exactly, baby bird.”

My phone buzzed and I pulled it from the inside pocket of my silver and black embellished blazer.

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