Page 70 of Untraced Magic
My lips pursed. “Right. Got it.”
“Vamps aren’t often seen in here.” Reid said then, looking back at me once more. “But when they are, you may not know when you see one. Not all are pale, as the tales are false; some can walk in the sun. But be warned, as their faces are made to attract their prey, even when some are centuries old.”
My brows hit the roof. “Seriously?”
He nodded.
“And because I know you’re going to ask, their typical main course is human blood, but if they haven’t fed in a while, their second choice is a special blend of witch blood.”
Fear traced down my spine, remembering how close Jett had come to me, and it dawned on me that I was his prey that night.
If not for Tyler turning up, I may have been as good as dead.
“Witches are harder to spot. There are no broomsticks obviously,” Reid said with a laugh, and I did the same. “We blend in, and that’s how we prefer things. Only a sensor mage like Wes can sense if someone is a witch.”
I blew out a breath. “Wow. Okay, that’s a lot to take in.”
He shrugged. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg. You’ll learn more as time goes on and once the spell is broken. You turn twenty-five on Friday, right?”
I nodded. “Yeah. Not sure if I should call it a birthday or my reckoning,” I said, laughing nervously. This was all happening so fast, it was hard to take in.
Reid settled his elbows on the bar beside me, surveying the room. “I’m sure you’ll be fine.” He turned his attention back to me. “If anything, maybe your gift might be super sensitive for a while until you learn to control it.”
I bit my lip. “What was it like for you? Learning to control yours?”
Reid stiffened slightly. “A bit like your gift, mine is rare. I’m a blood mage, meaning my blood can heal others.”
My brows raised. “Thatisspecial.”
He raised a shoulder, wrinkling his nose. “Like any gift, it has its pros and cons,” he retorted.
“How can healing people have a con?”
He chuckled lightly. “You have a lot to learn around here.” He patted me on the back. “Just concentrate on yourself for now.”
He was right, though. Obsidian magic was apparently in my blood, and it would come for me, whether I liked it or not. Mystomach flipped over on itself again, as it had been all day, unsure what would become of it.
Reid finished serving a customer, turning to me when they were out of earshot. “Have you taken any self-defense classes before? It may be worth considering.”
A nervous laugh surfaced again. I didn’t know Reid very well, having only worked with him once, but I got the feeling he was sincere.
“Ah, no. Protecting myself from crazies hasn’t exactly been high on my list of priorities.”
He eyed me sideways as he wiped a rag over the bar. “Maybe Tyler could teach you. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.”
I fought the urge to narrow my eyes at him. Did he suspect something was going on between us? Admittedly, there had been the occasional public touch, and Tyler hadn’t disguised his protectiveness toward me, but we’d kept to ourselves for the most part.
“Speak of the Devil!” he said, turning his attention away from me, and I spun to see Tyler approaching from the far side of the bar.
My insides scattered at the sight of him. Wearing jeans and a black jacket, he had a subtle edge about him that sent a shiver of approval through me. His gaze undid me, as if he could see right through every stitch of my clothing, exposing me bare.
Tyler conjured feelings within me, so genuine, so raw, that if I didn’t have both eyes open, I wouldn’t trust it to be real.
Stormy irises disguised the moment. Our secret, for now.
He rested on the bar stool across from us. “My ears are burning,” he said, hinting to the fact that he’d heard his name in our conversation.
Reid nodded at him. “Ty.”
