Page 111 of Fated In Blood

The raised brand in the center of her back was as big as an orange, the edges puckered and angry red, the scar itself pale but threaded through with slender blue lines.

Every line emitted a faint bluish glow.

A tracking mark.

I’d never seen one but had heard of them.

My lips pulled back, my fangs punched out, and I was glad Evangeline’s eyes were closed, glad she couldn’t see the undiluted hatred twisting my face. “Does this hurt?” I ran my finger along the rough edge, barely able to breathe. “This looks painful, Evie.”

“No.” She sighed contentedly when I adjusted her position for a closer look. “Just feels…strange. Cold, I think. First it burned, now it’s cold.”

I tried to think around my anger, working out the perils of taking her back to Crimson House, already knowing that would be too dangerous. We’d put everyone there at risk, because Silas would never give up his daughter so easily.

No, he’d hunt her to the ends of the earth, for being vampire and for escaping his trap.

Fuck.I hoisted her up into my arms and reached out to Blake, praying we weren’t too far apart.

I need your help. Find me the closest safe house and meet me there.

Evangeline had been marked by a spell Silas paid good money for.

A tracking spell like this was complicated magic, came at a steep cost, and there were only a few witches capable of casting this powerful of magic. Most of them were dead, which meant this spell was centuries old.

Now there were only a handful alive who could break the spell’s effects.

Evie now had a literal target on her back. Her family could track her anywhere, and there wasn’t a single place in the world I could hide her for long.

44

EVANGELINE

Ifloated on a powdery cloud while Riordan dusted me off and slipped me back into my clothes like he’d dressed me a thousand times before. Finally, he zipped up my jacket. The familiar embrace of that soft leather made me sink deeper into this blissed-out state where I didn’t have a care in the world.

Honestly, this was better than fucking Xanax.

I was trying to stay mad at Riordan, really, really trying, but God, after what happened between us, with the taste of him still coating my mouth like honey, all I wanted was to snuggle deeper into his arms.

“We can’t go back to Crimson House.” It took a minute for Riordan’s words to register. “We wouldn’t be safe there. Blake’s scouting an alternative location for us. We’ll move as soon as I hear back from him.” I frowned, trying to figure out what he meant.

“Is there a reason Crimson House isn’t safe?”

“Silas will be hunting us now. He can’t dematerialize, but your Uncle Dante is the best tracker in the world. If we lead your family of slayers back to Crimson House, we put everyone in the clan in danger. I can’t take that risk.”

I nodded, winding my fingers into the lapels of his jacket. He was right.

Silas was deadly on a normal day, but now, fueled by rage and frustration, he wouldn’t stop until he found me. If he uncovered an entire society of vampires living peacefully—okay, somewhat peacefully—in plain sight, he’d slaughter them all.

Riordan smelled like smoke. Smoke and fire and danger, and I pressed my nose deep into the smooth skin on his chest and took a deep gulp. I wasn’t even hungry anymore, but my fangs throbbed in response to his musky scent. Then his words finally sank in.

“Dante isn’t thebesttracker in the world,” I muttered defensively. “I’m pretty damn good myself.”

“I never said you weren’t, Silver.” He ran his hand down the back of my head, and I nestled closer against his chest, his heart beating right beneath my cheek. I was greedy for this kind of contact, craving his touch like I craved his blood.

Which was going to be a real problem because I still kind of hated him, but I really liked what he did with his mouth.

But I couldn’t fall for him,I couldn’t.

Leaves rustled overhead and Riordan tensed, his whole body stilling. My eyes flew open, scanning the mossy rocks and towering pines for any sign of movement.

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