Page 4 of The Aether

“Who are you?” he asked. “And what have you done to me?” he wanted to add.

“Vivian Stephens.” Her tone had lost its former chill and now had a breathy quality able to blank his mind.

Damian let the sound wash over him and found the effect pleasurable. Enough that he wanted to talk to her forever. “Viv—”

“Get away from her!” Sebastian barked the order, his unease growing and wrapping around Damian like a python. Belatedly, he recognized the emotion as jealousy edged with fear.

“Watch your tone, Drake,” he replied casually. They both knew he could kill the man in an instant. “I’m simply gathering facts.”

“And yet you still haven’t removed your bloody hand.”

Rarely was Damian surprised, but Sebastian’s comment disconcerted him. Heat crept up his neck as he dropped his arm, and for the first time in his life, he felt true embarrassment.

Bowing his head in apology, he said, “I beg your pardon, Miss Stephens. I meant no offense.”

What she would’ve replied, he’d never know. From the terrace, Leopold’s warning shout rang out.

Acting instinctually, Damian threw his balled fists in the air and encased them all in a protective bubble a mere instant before the vine struck. Like a fingernail tapping glass, its inches-thick thorns clinked against the barrier, then drew back to try again. Harder and more frenzied with every attempt.

“Mr. Drake, I need you and your son to hold my protection spell in place while I deal with that damned vine once and for all.”

“Where did you go?” Alastair asked with raised brows. “You certainly weren’t here with me, old man.” Squinting, he watched Damian. “You were recalling your meeting with her, weren’t you?”

“Sod off.”

In a highly irregular action for him, Alastair made smooching noises and laughed at Damian’s promise of retribution.

“Whether you go to the ball or not, this dance of yours is going to be fun, my friend.”

“There will be no dance.”

“I hate to be the one to rain on your self-isolation parade, but I believe you won’t have a choice.” Alastair nodded toward the terrace.

On the other side of the French doors, Vivian stood in a shimmering pale-blue, off-the-shoulder ballgown, her hand poised to knock. Her distraught, tear-stained face propelled Damian out of the chair and had him yanking open the door to get to her.

CHAPTER2

“Miss Stephens! What is it? What’s wrong?”

Damian’s frantic concern cemented Vivian’s decision to break her engagement to Sebastian tonight. From the moment the Aether touched her face, she’d been obsessed in her desire to know more about him, to learn how he had ruined her engagement without trying. If she could be swayed by a simple admiring glance and become obsessed by a brush of his fingertip against her skin, she had no business marrying another man.

“I…”

How did she explain her instant attraction? He’d think her insane. Hadn’t she discovered nearly everyone who ever came in contact with him was instantly enchanted? Why did she believe she was any different?

“Vivian?” His tone was gentle, as if attempting to calm a child.

Embarrassment consumed her, and heat infused her body, traveling at the speed of light to her face. No doubt, with her telltale complexion, she resembled an overripe tomato.

“Forget it, I—”

Then he touched her.

A simple clasp of her hand to draw her in out of the chilly English air, and all thoughts flew from her mind as she allowed him to lead her.

The click of the door woke her from her trance. Unable to meet his penetrating stare, she sought a distraction, and across the room, she found just the thing. Or rather, the person.Alastair Thorne.Outside of the Aether, he was the most dangerous warlock in existence. One never to be trifled with, lest he smite the person foolish enough to get on his bad side.

Apprehension for her recklessness caused her heart to take flight. She’d foolishly sought Damian out, never expecting he wouldn’t be alone, and now she was faced with not one powerful being but two. Both strangers. Both men with reputations that should’ve made her think twice before crossing their paths.

---