Page 35 of Blood Gift

I looked up at him and wondered if he would ever understand me. Didn’t he know better by now? That tactic was not one that worked well with me. So, I recited my address to Gentry before ending the call.

He exploded. “What are you trying to do?”

“Holden, think about it.” I jumped up from the couch, full of energy and ready to go a few rounds with him if only because he was right there in front of me. “You’re here to protect me, right? He has no powers. None. You could tear him limb from limb in the time it takes me to blink an eye. Correct?”

“Yes,” he whispered from behind the fangs that had already descended again.

“And there are countless spells placed on this penthouse, with the express purpose of keeping any who wish me ill out of here. Correct?”

“Yes. But that didn’t stop Kristoff.”

“And if it’ll make you feel better, you can spend the next month keeping watch on the balcony while I sleep,” I said, hands on my hips. “For now, all you have to do is watch over me. Can you handle that?”

“What I can’t handle is the way you keep insisting on walking into danger.”

“It’s only danger according to you,” I pointed out. “I, for one, would like to hear how he plans to tap dance his way out of this.”

“Bullshit. You’re letting him up here because you’re weak.”

In a flash, he froze, eyes wide with surprise.

I raised my arm, light radiating from my palm and wrapping itself around him. Rendering him incapable of movement.

“Now,” I whispered, “Let’s go over the balance of power in this relationship. Yes, you’re a vampire. Yes, you’ve been charged with my protection. I appreciate your efforts. However, you. forget. yourself.”

I lifted my arm, raising him in the air until the top of his head brushed the ceiling. “You forget who’s in charge here. That would be me, by the way, in case you need prompting. All I have to do is decide I’m tired of you and just like that, your life is over, and I move on to a new Nightwarden. There are plenty of you. The only reason I won’t do that right now is because I don’t feel like dealing with the inconvenience that would bring down on my head. Even so, it’s important that you remember who you’re dealing with.”

I stepped closer, still staring up at him.

Only his eyes could move, and they followed my movements.

“I’m the most powerful witch of my generation and maybe almost any other. I’m the Promised One, the one ancient sages predicted centuries ago. I’ll do whatever I want, and you’ll hold your tongue unless it’s absolutely crucial that you speak up. Understood? Blink once if you understand.”

He waited. Then blinked.

“Thank you.” I lowered him to the floor. “Now, keep this in mind if you decide to lunge at me when I release you. And remember what it’ll mean for the rest of you Nightwardens if you hurt me. All right? I trust you will.” With that, I released him from the spell. He gasped for air once the constriction around his chest disappeared.

The doorbell rang. “Perfect timing,” I murmured, glancing at him as I walked past to answer the door.

I hated doing it, I truly did. I didn’t want to go back to the same demanding, bratty, volatile witch I was before. Even so, a little show of force couldn’t hurt when the situation demanded it.

The first thing I noticed when I opened the door was how distraught Gentry looked.

I could relate. I had to remind myself how much more powerful than himI was to stiffen my spine a little. I raised my chin. “Yes?”

“I have to come in. Please.”

“As long as you’re prepared to deal with my Nightwarden,” I stepped aside and opened the door a little wider. “By all means. I only hope you don’t believe in karma.”

He entered in spite of my thinly-veiled threat and nodded in Holden’s direction. “I don’t mean anyone any harm. I mean that. Those days are behind me.”

“With your powers?” I asked, sitting on the sofa.

Holden stood behind me.

I thought I was doing a fairly good job at playing the powerful, untouchable High Sorceress.

Inside me was another story. Inside, I was shaking. Weeping. Wishing the morning had never happened.

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