Page 67 of Cursed Heirs

“No. No, he—”

“He hurt my son, Alena.”

“No, Orpheus is fine. It didn’t really hurt him, it just made him tired.”

“You know that’s not true. Constantine used black magic on him, as he continues to do so with you.”

“He’s not doing anything to me. He’s the only one who’s told me the truth of everything.”

“Histruth. Nothing more.”

“Stop!” she hissed, getting more agitated each time I said something unsavory about Constantine—her master at the moment.

Her reaction gave me the in that I needed.

And so did the little cuts on her knuckles, the sign of being spirited away through a forest by vampire speed, scraping against branches and twigs on the way through.

It was small, but access to her bloodstream, nonetheless.

Vital to what I needed to do here to help her.

Being what she was, it wouldn’t last long before the wounds healed. The fact they hadn’t already was curious and likely a side effect of what he was doing to her.

“He doesn’t care about you,” I told her.

“Stop!” she cried again, jerking toward me and getting up close in her rage.

I needed her just a little closer before I could reach out with my bound hands.

I just needed brief contact.

“He’s merely using you for his own ends.”

She slapped me across the face, my head snapping to the side in my weakened state.

As her arm came down, I briefly brushed my hand over one of her cuts, managing to summon a flicker of my silver magic, just enough for my spell to enter her bloodstream.

Unfortunately, with my power so weak, it would take time to take effect, and—

Constantine stormed into the room, obviously having heard the fuss.

He snarled my way, then instantly calmed down when he saw the red handprint across my cheek and Alena standing there fuming in indignation.

“What are you doing in here, Alena?”

“I wanted to see everything. You said I could explore while you met with your acolytes and that hidden person who kept touching you.”

He went to her and slid his hands down to her hips, holding her in an intimate way that made me sick. “I did tell you not to venture into any warded areas. For your own safety. But you clearly defied me out of anger at my perceived intimacy with my lieutenant. It’s not that at all, to be clear, Alena. We are merely colleagues who share the same vision for what needs to be done.” He reached out and cupped her cheek. “The only being I want to share intimacy with is you.”

He managed to placate her far too easily and as a far-off look took her over and she effectively stared into space, Constantine turned his head and grinned out at me.

With a flick of his fingers, his whispers were at my ear, something only I could hear, as though he were right up close.

“Isn’t she a delectable specimen? So nubile and naïve. Now putty in my hands.”

I hissed under my breath.“She’s not yours to have.”

“I beg to differ.”

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