Page 93 of Crimson Shadows
“I don’t believe you for one second.” I take a seat next to her on the log, close enough that our shoulders are touching.
“I don’t care,” she mumbles.
“Ouch. And here I thought we were coming to an understanding.”
“Of what, exactly?”
“Of who you are to me.”
For a moment, we sit in silence, listening to the distant sounds of the forest. I can hear the faint rustling of leaves, the lap of the water from the lake not far from here. It’s peaceful, which is so at odds with Adelaide’s anxiety, which is clawing at my insides, making me squirm slightly. I’m connected to her at such a basic level, if I stop to think about it too long, it scares me.
“What are you doing out here?” I ask finally, breaking the silence.
“I needed some fresh air,” she says.
“It’s dangerous.”
“How is it any more dangerous than being in my room and being attacked by crazy, ancient vampire women?”
“Okay, but out here, more than crazy vampire women can get to you.”
“You forgot ancient.”
“Hmm?”
“Crazyancientvampire women. And it’s not even. It’s one. One vampire.”
Hearing the crack of a twig, I look up to see Christos approaching. I scowl at him. He is my cousin and my nemesis, if we want to get all super villain about it. I can’t stand the arse-kiss, and I know he hates me just as much.
“What do you want?” I snap, causing Adelaide to look up.
“Ah, cousin,” Christos sneers, his eyes glinting with malice. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“What do you want, Christos?” I repeat, my voice low and dangerous.
He smirks, running a hand through his jet-black hair. “I saw our new girl sitting here all alone and thought I’d see if everything was okay, perhaps offer her some comfort.”
“She’s not alone.”
“No, not anymore,” he drawls. “More’s the pity.”
“Get out of here, Chris. You have seriously picked the wrong day to wind me up.”
Christos glares at me, his magick sparking around him. He is looking for a fight, and I’m fully prepared to give him one. I rise in one fluid motion and grab his shirt.
“Back off,” I growl. I can feel my magick swirling around me, a dark cloud of power and authority.
Christos tries to shrug off my grip, but I tighten it. I can feel his magick thrumming beneath his skin, but it’s no match for mine. I’m the heir to the Dark Fae throne, and he seems to forget that.
“You don’t scare me,” Chris sneers.
“You should be scared,” I say, my voice cold and hard. “Because if you so much as look at her the wrong way, I’ll make sure you regret it.”
“You think you can protect her from me? I know what she is, and she is about to learn that she doesn’t get a fucking choice when it comes to me and the power I want.”
Adelaide’s harsh rasp as she takes that threat on board is a beautiful thing. I can feel the power in me rise up exponentially. She isn’t even touching me, and yet she is boosting my power.
Suddenly, Chris lunges at me, his fists flying in a move I didn’t expect. Physical blows are beneath us, usually. But if he wants to see that my father has trained me inallforms of combat, bring it.
